College of Arts Change Proposal
Members outside the college of arts who wish to peruse the change proposal can do so at this link.
Further comment on its contents by AUS will be forthcoming.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Cascio on responsible restructuring
Members may like to inform themselves on the implications of restructuring by way of the following article:
Cascio, Wayne F. "Strategies for responsible restructuring." The Academy of Management Executive 19.4 (Nov 2005): 39(12).
The journal can be found in the central library at HD 28 .A168 e (level 11).
The article is a compendium study of 500 US firms, and states: "The purpose of this article is to suggest several alternative approaches to restructuring. In contrast to employment downsizing, a strategy that regards people as costs to be cut, a responsible restructuring strategy focuses on people as assets to be developed. This focus recognizes that people are the source of innovation and renewal, especially in knowledge-based organizations..."
(with thanks to the organiser for the reference)
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
The Press profiles the College of Arts restructuring
An article by Matt Philp, "Bitter Dissent", reports on our current situation.
The article features commentary from threatened staff, AUS branch president, PV-C Strongman and the V-C.
Monday, March 13, 2006
Meeting on threatened arts redundancies, Thursday 1pm, S4
From an email from the branch president today:
All staff will be aware of the stance taken by senior management on the proposed cuts in the Arts. Staff are urged to attend this meeting to continue the campaign against the undermining of academic values and collegiality at Canterbury University.
Thursday 16 March at 1pm in Science Lecture Theatre S4
Save the Arts appeal letter
Below is a copy of the appeal letter which members are encouraged to send to prominent people outside the university, as soon as possible.
It can be copied and pasted from this format into a separate document.
Save the Arts at the University of Canterbury
We are seeking your support for a campaign to save the Arts at the University of Canterbury.
University managers have decided to make $1.6 million in cuts to the Arts in 2006 including up to 23 forced redundancies.
These cuts are being made in a context where:
This university has a long and proud reputation in the Arts and is a valuable public institution serving the people of Canterbury. The current managers are its short-term custodians and should not be allowed to do long-term damage.
If you oppose these cuts, please support this campaign by endorsing this letter and sending a copy of it to us and to the Vice-Chancellor.
Name
Address:
Signature: Date:
Additional Comments:
College of Arts Campaign
AUS Office
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Fax: 364-2733
aus@canterbury.ac.nz
Prof Roy Sharp
Vice-Chancellor
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch
Fax: 364-2856
roy.sharp@canterbury.ac.nz
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Memorandum of Support—ECLC Campaign
Below is the memorandum of support which members can sign in support of the ECLC campaign, introduced by a rationale from the Steering Group of the University Staff Childcare Action Group.
Dear Colleagues
Proposal to Outsource the University Creche to UCSA
You will recall that the University is considering a proposal that UCSA take over the running of the University Creche (ECLC), and possibly buy the buildings as well. A University Staff Childcare Action Group (USCAG) has been formed to oppose the proposal. It is made up of members of University Staff, including parents currently using the Centre, those who have used it in the past, and other staff who oppose the UCSA proposal. This is a diverse group from all walks of the University!
The purpose of this message is to ask you to consider becoming a signatory to a Memorandum of Support for the current staff childcare service provided by the University, and for continuation of that service. The memorandum is set out underneath some questions and answers which may be of assistance to you in deciding whether to give your support. They show how this proposal affects all University staff in some way or another.
Important Questions and Answers
Why should the UC maintain a childcare learning facility as part of its services?
For the following reasons:
Why is the outsourcing proposal not a good option for childcare provision?
Because it is inadequate and inappropriate:
Is there a need to change the ECLC management structure?
Improvements can, of course, be made, but they do not require outsourcing:
Should the UC continue to subsidise the ECLC?
Yes, if necessary, for all the above reasons, and because:
Memorandum of Support
Below we have set out a simple statement of support. If you agree with it (whether a member of USCAG or not), please copy and return it by email as soon as possible, together with your name and some professional details, either by email or manually, to Ursula Cheer, Law. The Memorandum will be used by USCAG in the consultation process.
Memorandum of Support for University ECLC
The University must directly provide, properly resource, and oversee, quality childcare that meets the needs of its staff, as it has done since 1987.
I support the above statement
Name or signature:…………………………………………………………………………….
Member of academic staff? (Choose one): Yes/No
Member of general staff? (Choose one): Yes/No
Female staff member? (Choose one): Yes/No
Former ECLC user? (Choose one): Yes/No
Current ECLC user? (Choose one): Yes/No
Staff member recruited from overseas? (Choose one): Yes/No
Correspondence between AUS and UC V-C
A selection of recent correspondence between the Canterbury branch president of AUS, David Small, and the UC V-C, Roy Sharp, gives some context to current campaign against the cuts to staffing in the College of Arts.
David Small to Roy Sharp, 21 February 2006:
Dear Roy,
Further to our meeting last week, I'd like to suggest a course of action.
My suggestion is based on the following assumptions:
Financial:
1. That UC has already all but reached the target of your financial recovery plan
2. That this plan is based on a rate of surplus at the higher end of the TAMU guidelines
Academic Morale:
3. That morale among academic staff in the College of Arts (and possibly other parts of UC) is alarmingly low.
4. That a significant feature of that low morale is a very widely held perception among academic staff that a) management does not consult with them and b) there is insufficient long-term academic planning behind the latest moves to cut staff.
5. That this low morale is giving people a sense of disillusionment with UC and undermining their commitment to the institution, and that this has adverse financial consequences.
Academic Planning:
6. That the PVC Arts has initiated a thorough process of developing an academic strategy for the Arts and Social Sciences at UC.
Suggestion:
That the target date for the College of Arts meeting its contribution margin be pushed back by two years.
This would allow for the bulk of the financial improvements to be achieved by means other than forced redundancies. It could be achieved over this longer period by either slowing the transfer of resources to the College of Business and Economics, or generating a surplus not quite so close to the top of the TAMU guidelines or a combination of both these measures.
It would also mean that the adjustment could be made in conjunction with or, better still, in response to the academic strategic planning process in the College of Arts.
A move like this would, I am sure, go a long way to addressing the malaise and disenchantment felt by so many staff who were previously proudly committed to this university.
If such you were prepared to adopt such an approach, I would recommend to members the following:
a) that we do not obstruct the reduction/redistribution of staff in the College of Arts through a combination of attrition, voluntary severance, and flexible employment options; and
b) that the results of our morale survey remain confidential to Matthew and me.
Sincerely,
David Small.
David Small to Roy Sharp on 23 February 2006:
Dear Roy,
Just a quick note to ask whether you are any closer to a response to my suggestion about relaxing the time-frame for achieving the internal adjustments you are seeking. Pressure is mounting from members wanting to release the survey results.
Sincerely,
David
Roy Sharp to David Small on 27 February 2006:
David
Thanks for sending your suggestions.
The College of Arts will have to try and live within its 2006 budget. The Senior Management Team will have a chance to review and confirm the budget parameters and framework for the 2007 budget during this year. Before any final decision regarding the extent of the cuts is made there will be discussion about that at the Senior Management level.
I am not prepared to operate on the principle that there will never be any redundancies and that voluntary severance and attrition will be able to achieve the balance of staff numbers across the University that we need.
Roy
David Small to Roy Sharp, later on 27 February:
Roy,
At our recent meetings (15 Feb and 21 Feb), we presented you with the results of our morale survey and with a proposal for achieving your target contribution margins over a time period longer than you had originally proposed. You said that you would consider these matters and get back to us.
I note that our representations have not asked you for a guarantee of no redundancies. Rather, we proposed ways of giving effect to your stated view that redundancies should be used only used as a method of last resort, and your view that you attach considerable importance to staff morale.
Is this message your official and full response? If it is not, we would appreciate hearing what your response is by 5pm this Tuesday.
I still hope that we can work cooperatively to resolve these important matters.
Sincerely,
David Small
Roy Sharp to David Small, later on 27 February:
David
I am at an all-day meeting tomorrow until 5pm and then at a function. I don't have time before then to give "an official and full response" my full attention. I will try and respond before 5pm on Wednesday.
Roy
Roy Sharp to David Small, 1 March 2006:
David
I am happy for you to take my response as an official and full response. If you want clarification about any aspect of it then I would be pleased to talk further about it with you.
Roy
Tertiary Update on UC Arts morale survey
From last week's Tertiary Update (9 March 2006), on the recent survey of staff morale in the College of Arts:
Morale sinks as jobs go at Canterbury
Morale among academic staff in the College of Arts at the University of Canterbury is low and getting worse, according to research conducted by the Canterbury Branch of the Association of University Staff. The survey-based research also shows that staff are not happy with the amount of time available for research, stress levels are unacceptably high and they believe their opinions are not valued by University management. Staff members see no evidence of any long-term vision from the University’s senior management team, and almost half have been seriously thinking of leaving the University.
The release of the survey coincides with protests by staff and students at job cuts proposed for the College of Arts where it is expected that around twenty-three academic and general-staff jobs will be lost as the College moves to cut $1.6 million from its operational expenditure.
AUS Branch President, Dr David Small, said the survey of one hundred academic staff in the College revealed an alarmingly high sense of disaffection among the people who are employed to perform the core teaching and research functions of the University. “The survey shows, for example, that 82 percent of respondents think that the Vice-Chancellor is “uncaring” or “uncaring about the terms and conditions of employment of academic staff”, while 85 percent do not believe that the priorities of the senior management team are appropriate for the University,” he said. “Most respondents, 70 percent, believe that morale is worse than a year ago, and 73 percent reported that they are dissatisfied with the amount of time available for research.”
Meanwhile, at a meeting of more than 200 staff on Friday, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roy Sharp, said he will not be backing down on plans to cut the budget with consequential job losses in the College of Arts. He told The Press that he had not changed his mind about the direction he was moving in. “I expected [staff] to put their views forcefully and they did. That was no surprise,” he said.
Yesterday the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences passed a series of four resolutions expressing opposition to the proposed cuts and dismay at the failure of the Vice-Chancellor to provide adequate financial or academic reasons for them.
It has also been revealed that up to thirty jobs will be lost at the Christchurch College of Education as it moves to cut $1.5 million from its budget prior to its proposed merger with the University of Canterbury next year.
The staff-morale survey report can be found at this link.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Save our Staff Protest
Organised by the Save Our Staff Student Action Group.
Where: Library Steps
When: 1pm Wednesday 22nd March
Why: Over 20 Lecturers are going to be cut from the University from the 26th of April.
As students this will affect your education:
E-mail the organisers for more information and updates about the cause.
Thursday, March 02, 2006
University of Canterbury Staff Releases Morale Survey and Announces Campaign Against Redundancies
Media Conference
Thursday 2 March
1.30pm
Lecture Theatre A5
The Canterbury University Branch of the Association of University Staff will hold a media conference on Thursday (2 March) at 1.30pm.
Staff will publicly release the results of a survey of morale among academic staff at the university that was conducted at the end of last year.
AUS Canterbury Branch President, David Small, said the survey results reveal an alarmingly high sense of disaffection among the people who are employed to perform the core teaching and research functions of the university.
The AUS will also announce plans to resist the Vice-Chancellor’s plans to lay off staff in the College of Arts. Dr Small claims that the alleged crisis in the College of Arts has been artificially manufactured and points to figures released last week as proof that the university is in a healthy financial state, recording surpluses well above budget and at the upper end of government guidelines for universities.
He described the planned lay-offs in the Arts as “ill-considered, unnecessary and ad-hoc”, noting that they are being implemented in the absence of an academic strategic plan.
The full report on the staff morale survey can be downloaded here.
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