1. QCAA’s Week of Action Against Austerity started on Monday with an excellent teach-in on Consulting Firms, Benchmarking, and the Politics of Ratings, with a special focus on Nous. More than 100 people attended the event, which was co-sponsored by QUFA. Dr. Michael Savage, Senior Research Analyst at OCUFA and former Nous employee, warned us … Continue reading Newsletter #7 (6/3/2024)
Notes on finances from the Board of Trustees’ meeting agenda
With the Board of Trustees meeting this week, the administration has provided a series of reports for the Board’s meeting. In this post we provide details of two interesting developments: the updated financial projections for the 2023-24 year; and, a review of the Investment Committee’s Terms of Reference. A lower deficit and a win for … Continue reading Notes on finances from the Board of Trustees’ meeting agenda
Are You Ready to Rally?
The Week of Action Against Austerity Begins Monday! QCAA’s Week of Action Against Austerity (WAAA) is just days away! Are you ready to join us? In a historic show of cross-campus solidarity, students, staff and faculty will come together for a series of events to educate ourselves and mobilize towards a better Queen’s. The WAAA … Continue reading Are You Ready to Rally?
Newsletter #6 (2/28/24)
This week in austerity and budget cut news #6 There is no shortage of material for these newsletters! We have been gathering a lot of information on austerity measures at other schools and on Nous. So far the big lessons from elsewhere are to pay attention, learn as much as you can, and build community … Continue reading Newsletter #6 (2/28/24)
Week of Action Against Austerity, March 4-8, 2024
Week of Action Against Austerity Begins Monday, March 4 at 12:00 pm with a hybrid teach-in about the threat to our university posed by consulting firms, benchmarking, and the politics of ratings.
Newsletter #5 (2/20/24)
This week in austerity and budget cut news #5 Thanks to everyone who has shared this newsletter with colleagues. One of the most frustrating aspects of the current employment situation at Queen’s is the uneven communication across units about what people should be expecting over the coming months. Given the inevitable anxiety many are feeling … Continue reading Newsletter #5 (2/20/24)
Newsletter #4 (2/13/24)
This week’s round up of media coverage, university updates, and anti-austerity activities include: a list of action proposals from students, who met with the principal and provost, a report on the incredible solidarity at the Anti-Austerity Social, serious questions about the legitimacy of the data being collected by NousCubane, Bill 124 news, and a reminder that we are hosting a reading group at the Grad Club tonight - all are welcome!!
Punishing Staff for Being Starved: Critiques of the Nous Cubane “Service Effectiveness Survey”
On January 31, 2024, the Provost Office announced the “Queen’s Renew Project”, directed by Nous Group consultants who have been hired by the university for an undisclosed amount to help the administration make cuts to balance the budget. The first part of this project involves a survey measuring faculty and staff satisfaction with university services … Continue reading Punishing Staff for Being Starved: Critiques of the Nous Cubane “Service Effectiveness Survey”
Use Investment Income for Teaching and Learning
We all know these cuts are hurting the university. We call on the administration to consider alternative paths to achieve fiscal sustainability such as increasing the budgeted income from the Pooled Investment Fund (PIF) so that we can preserve the academic mission of the university rather than the value of its investments. As illustrated in … Continue reading Use Investment Income for Teaching and Learning
Newsletter #3 (2/6/24)
This week's round up of media coverage, university updates, and anti-austerity activities include: coverage, interviews, and call-ins on CBC Radio, the National Post, and the Queen's Journal; the launch of the Queen's Renew Project with a survey of employees, decisions to extend timelines for FAS, and a QCAA social and reading group!
Queen's Coalition Against Austerity 