PRINCE GEORGE – The transition to online learning has caused challenges for many at the College of New Caledonia including students and faculty.
The union representing faculty at the college has filed two grievances related to the transition to online learning.
There are 10 other post-secondary institutions across the province that have also filed similar complaints, as all saw the same issues arising.
The union has a filed complaint related to the transition to online learning, citing faculty was not compensated properly for the time to transition from in-person to online.
Another complaint was aimed at concerns related to the intellectual property with materials now published online by faculty members, and what the college will do with that material moving forward.
The other separate complaint is related to early retirement buy-outs which the union says do not allow them to negotiate and they say could result in potential job losses.
Vice President, Chief Steward with the CNC Faculty Association, Jan Mastromatteo says the matters are now in front of the BC Labour Relations Board.
Students who spoke to CKPG News are also upset, many are frustrated with how the faculty had delivered online learning.
“At times it feels like we’re teaching ourselves,” said Katherina Morris, who claimed at times she got more help from tutors than from her instructors.
Morris acknowledged the pandemic has been tough but said it seemed like the teachers were learning as they were teaching.
The College of New Caledonia says in a statement, in part:
Several of the matters raised by the Faculty Association of CNC are the subject of an application to the BC Labour Relations Board relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. CNC will vigorously defend our activities at the Board in serving students during the pandemic, as well as the significant support that we continue to provide to the CNC faculty.
Other aspects that the Faculty Association has raised are proceeding through arbitration, in which an independent third party will review concerns with the collective agreement. CNC believes we have complied with all aspects of the collective agreement and will reflect those positions in our submissions.
CNC is dedicated to student success in difficult times and working closely with all employees to make that possible.
