Through hard work, we will succeed

Dear campus community,

As you know, the bargaining teams agreed to appoint William Kaplan to conduct a binding Interest Arbitration process that will lead to a new Collective Agreement between Acadia University and the Acadia University Faculty Association. In the absence of a negotiated settlement, I want to thank both teams and Mr. Kaplan for reaching this agreement.

The most important outcome of this decision is that the strike by AUFA members is over, and our students can return to class to complete the academic year.

As we welcome faculty, instructors, librarians, and archivists back to campus, we also welcome our students back from the Winter Break and, more importantly, back to their studies.

We have endured an enormous amount of stress and uncertainty in recent weeks. By working together now and focusing on our students, we can get to a better place.

I want to assure students that we will determine appropriate financial compensation for the disruption and loss of service experienced during the strike. For now, let’s focus on the positives. The strike is over, and our campus will be back in full operation on Thursday. Pandemic restrictions are easing, and our students can look forward to completing their term, while the Class of 2022 can continue plans to celebrate their achievements at convocation.

Our Senate will meet shortly to consider details about how the term will be completed, with a goal to provide as much instruction time as possible and minimize further disruption to the academic year. I thank them in advance for their careful consideration so we can move forward.

We have more in common than we have differences at Acadia, and over time as we work through those differences, we will be stronger because of it. Our motto, in pulvere vinces, means that through hard work, we conquer. This has been hard, and moving forward will require care and patience, but we can do it.

I thank each of you for being an integral member of our campus community.

Sincerely,

Peter

Dr. Peter Ricketts
President and Vice-Chancellor