On Forming a

FACULTY ASSOCIATION

by Dr. Francis Burstein

The Faculty Association of Capilano
College came into existence first as an
idea approved by a large majority of the
faculty and by the Principal. In January,
1969, at a full day College conference
held at Capilano Garden, a_ faculty
member (Frances Burstein) concerned
about the fact that many _ individual
faculty members felt isolated, unable to
communicate with many of their
colleagues or to participate effectively
within the college community, circulated
a petition advocating formation of a
Capilano College Faculty Association.
All of the faculty present signed the
petition, and Mr. Glenesk took the
occasion to announce to the assembled
group the formation of the Capilano
College Faculty Association.

On February 5, 1969, the first,
organizational meeting took place, with
19 instructors attending. The nature of
the proposed association was discussed,
and the meeting rejected a suggestion
that it consider itself one of the
College's "Dower" units. At this first
meeting the question of any formal
definition of the purpose of the group
dissolved into a more general defining
statement of the problems the group
wished the Association to examine or to
help solve. These problems were:
rehiring policy, definition of the role of
Coordinator, liaison with other existing
groups, teaching load, summer school
session.

The Academic Problems Committee
proved the large catch-all committee in
the Association's contact with the
Administration during this first semester
of the Faculty Association's existence.
After a large open meeting, the
Committee Chairperson presented to
Dean Brooks in written form, and
expanded in oral form, a number of items

32

the committee very strongly desired to
discuss with him. From this point on
through the semester, several meetings
including both the Dean of Instruction
and the Principal took place, with much
discussion; and on several matters (e.g.,
probation requirements, mid semester
grade submissions, establishment of
remedial and other courses) the opinions
of the committee was reflected in
immediately succeeding administrative
decisions and directives. Two other
serious coneerns of the committee,
teaching load (which was given top
priority as an academic problem) and
faculty involvement in registration, with
faculty responsibility for course
selection approval, proved much more
complicated. A series of meetings on
teaching load, resulted in very valuable
exchange of information and
clarification of problems. The
administration did not feel it could offer
what the faculty majority reeommended
as a good teaching load, but made every
effort to at least remain within the
limits the members had agreed they felt
must be considered absolute maximum
possible.

Recognizing the complexity of the
problems involved, the Steering
Committee and the Academic Problems
Committee membership agreed that the
recommendations of the Principal would
be acceptable to them. It was out of
such discussions and_ efforts at
understanding and achievement of
compromise solutions designed to
recognize as many legitimate problems,
fears, or opinions as could be seen as
relevant, that the Capilano College
Faculty Association and the College
Administration first began to work
together, in an amicable, flexible
relationship. A new executive, defined
by the newly approved Constitution as
The Directory, came into existence
through an election held on April 2, 1969.

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