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    • 03 SEP 20
    • 1

    Message from New Executive Director

    Headshot of Michael ConlonMichael Conlon, FSA Executive Director

    Dear FSA Members,

    I am honoured to be assuming the role of Executive Director of the FSA and I wanted to provide you with some background on what I bring to the role. I began my tenure with the FSA on August 4th after serving as the Executive Director of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA). Prior to that appointment I served as Executive Director of the British Columbia Confederation of University Faculty Associations (CUFA BC). Before joining CUFA BC I was the Executive Director of the Association of Administrative and Professional Staff (AAPS) at UBC. I bring a wide array experience across the post-secondary education sector in British Columbia and nationally in collective bargaining, labour relations, government relations, and communications. I also bring extensive experience in board governance, public policy, and member advocacy and I am delighted to be back in British Columbia where I have deep personal and professional roots.

    This is a particularly challenging moment for BCIT and the FSA as we all navigate the challenges of working through a pandemic. The pandemic has increased workload and caused a high degree of stress and anxiety amongst the membership, and throughout the sector. These challenges are particularly acute for those without adequate childcare, or other family responsibilities, and those members precariously employed.

    As we move closer to the start of the academic year, the key issues I will be focusing on advising the President and your Board on are; health and safety protocols for students, staff, and faculty, workload related to emergency remote teaching, equity challenges – particularly as it relates to childcare, the effect that a truncated or modified K-12 school year will have on the capacity for members to teach remotely, the mental health and stress challenges posed by these unprecedented working conditions and the short, medium, and long term fiscal pressures the pandemic will create for our sector.

    I also look forward to working with BCIT to build upon the existing relationship and ensure the long term sustainability of the institution once the pandemic passes and we return to life as we knew it. In the interim I am excited to be working with your FSA Board and the great staff team at the FSA and I look forward to meeting as many of you as soon as possible – hopefully in-person at some point in the near future! – as I orient myself to the unique challenges and opportunities facing BCIT and your association!

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  • Posted by gquiring on September 4, 2020, 8:13 am

    Welcome back to BC! Wish we could have you over for dinner to catch up!

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