Letter of Support from OC Faculty Association

The Okanagan College Faculty Association supports our students in every way that we can, and even though faculty roles are diverse, we all know that our students are the heart of Okanagan College. Because of this, faculty hone and develop their teaching and support skills with student needs in mind. Today, the students protest, and their actions and concerns are front and center as they speak their needs. Faculty are here in their support, as always.

Students and faculty struggled together through the pandemic, inventing new ways to connect and learn, without much fanfare. It was hard. We did it together. The college helped give us a venue for success, with unprecedented collegial teamwork of all stakeholders working together. Participation and opportunities for key information access are being eroded beyond pre-pandemic levels when the return to in-person teaching and learning would have predicted the opposite. As Faculty Association President, I would be remiss if I did not mention that the Faculty Association sees some commonalities between the concerns voiced by students, and our own experiences in the new direction the College is moving. So, when our students are declaring that they are being marginalized from key discussions on tuition increases, budget, and representation, we stand with them to support their right to be fully consulted in decisions that impact them. The role and importance of faculty and student voices forming the direction of the organization is not simply aspirational. It is legally defined in the BC College and Institutes Act and is reflected in our Board of Governors and Education Council composition.

Note: This letter was received as a show of support to OCSU members for the Walkout in 2022.