Champlain Regional College: Saint-Lambert Staff and Faculty Await Plan for Greater Academic Autonomy for Campuses

SAINT-LAMBERT, QC, Sept. 22, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - Staff and faculty of Champlain Regional College are eager to learn the details of Central Administration's plan for restructuring the Director of Studies position to increase the academic autonomy of the three campuses, which should be presented September 23rd at the meeting of the Board of Governors. At the previous meeting in June, the Board of Governors rejected the management team's proposal to further centralize academic management and instead voted to increase the academic autonomy of the campuses.

"Champlain Regional College spent an extraordinary amount of time and money reviewing the Director of Studies position and expectations are high. It's a test that will indicate the state of governance at the college," said Christine Kerr, Spokesperson for the Campaign for Saint-Lambert Autonomy.

The Board's decision at the June meeting was made in response to a review of the Director of Studies position, which was initiated following the departure of the previous Director of Studies in November 2014. This was the third Director of Studies to leave the college in six years. The board hired an independent consultant to consider possible structural changes related to academic management. The consultant's report, which was made public on May 13th, recognized that academics do not benefit from central management.

Unanimous Support at Saint-Lambert Academic Council
The Saint-Lambert Academic Council, which is comprised of the Assistant Campus Director for Curriculum and Faculty Development and representatives of management, professionals, support staff, teachers and students, responded to the consultant's report by voting unanimously to recommend that the Board increase local responsibility for academic leadership.

"When you consider that the Sherbrooke Central Administration has no teachers or students, it is simply common sense that academics should be completely managed on the campuses where the students and teachers are," said Malcolm Harper, the chair of Academic Council.

SOURCE Fédération nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Québec (FNEEQ-CSN)

For further information: Christine Kerr, Spokesperson, Campaign for Saint-Lambert Autonomy, [e-mail], Cell: 514-910-9364