Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA)

OCUFA is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025-2026 Awards of Distinction! This year's awards recognize outstanding teaching and academic librarianship, equity and social justice, collective bargaining, service to the academic community, graduate student achievement, and investigative journalism. Congratulations to all the recipients! https://ocufa.on.ca/press-releases/ocufa-awards-celebrate-academic-achievement-community-contributions/

This is the final step in a painful 5-year journey. The CCAA process caused deep harm to Laurentian faculty, staff, and Sudbury. Thanks to strong advocacy, inappropriate corporate restructuring can no longer be used at public universities. Read the story on Sudbury.com

Supported by the OCUFA Mark Rosenfeld Fellowship in Higher Education Journalism, investigative reporters Tahmeed Shafiq and Jadine Ngan received GOLD at the National Magazine Awards for their critical story on one university campus published in The Walrus. Congratulations to Tahmeed and Jadine! Read the article on the Walrus website.

The OCUFA Mark Rosenfeld Fellowship in Higher Education Journalism supports investigative reporting on higher education issues across Canada. Bookmark the link for the next round of submissions in Fall 2026: tinyurl.com/3hakrjap

At our meeting this weekend, the OCUFA Board said NO to political interference in public universities and YES to collaborating with faculty experts to design teaching and learning programs! https://tinyurl.com/avpdkhff

Ontario university faculty today called for newly funded postsecondary seats to be allocated based on the diverse needs of Ontario’s economy now and in the future.

“All university degree programs are designed to benefit communities and the economy,” said OCUFA President Rob Kristofferson. “We hope to see the government evaluating these applications fairly to support the many degree programs that drive graduates’ participation in Ontario’s diverse economy.”

https://tinyurl.com/2w5ry8km

OCUFA President Rob Kristofferson wrote a letter to the The Toronto Star about how a strong economy depends on a diversity of talent. Graduates in STEM, health care, trades, education, arts, and humanities all bring essential skills that drive innovation, strengthen communities, and support a well-rounded workforce. OCUFA research shows that university bachelor programs of all kinds prepare graduates for well-paid opportunities across the entire economy.

Full text below and on the Star website:

In order to help students “future-proof” their careers, Ontario must “future-proof” our universities through long-term, stable investment.

University bachelor programs of all kinds prepare graduates for well-paid opportunities across the entire economy. And graduates of Ontario university humanities programs have the same median earnings as STEM graduates and the same employment rate after three years, in part because the skills learned at can be applied across so many fields.

This is why it’s so important for Ontario to properly fund its post-secondary education system. Ontario is currently in last place in per-student domestic funding in the country, about $7,000 below the national average. A fully funded university system would provide university students, faculty, and staff with the tools they need to set students up for success despite shocks to the labour market.

A university education can be “future-proof” because it equips students with the resiliency required to withstand an uncertain economic landscape. It’s time for universities to be funded adequately so they can be “future-proof” as well.

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Solidarity with Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) community services workers on strike! Learn more and find a picket: https://opseu.org/campaigns/worth-fighting-for/

OCUFA stands in solidarity with teachers and education workers across Ontario. Alongside Elementary Educators , AEFO , OECTA - Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association OSBCU - CSCSO, and Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) we stand together for publicly funded education from kindergarten to PSE!

Learn more about the history of our national counterpart Canadian Association of University Teachers as they mark 75 years!

This year marks CAUT’s 75th anniversary. To celebrate, we’ve taken a look back our history and how we came to be the organization we are today.

Learn all about how CAUT came to be in the latest issue of the Bulletin: https://www.caut.ca/bulletin/a-brief-history-of-caut/

New in the : our recommendations for the OHRC policy on family-status discrimination, a bargaining update from Wilfrid Laurier University Faculty Association, and a response to the government's proposed changes to HEQCO. Read all our back issues and subscribe to stay informed: https://ocufa.on.ca/ocufa-report/