Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY

Faculty Association president hopes strong non-confidence mandate can open up communication at TRU

Feb 18, 2022 | 4:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — Earlier this week, Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association (TRUFA) announced the results of a non-confidence vote undertaken by its members.

The results show that 81 percent of TRUFA’s membership lack confidence in Thompson Rivers University President Brett Fairbairn, while 83 percent of voters don’t have confidence in TRU Board Chair Marilyn McLean. According to TRUFA President Tara Lyster, there are several issues at play that prompted this vote by the union.

“The investigation that is happening is one piece, but it’s moved further than that, in the communication with faculty, in new processes that have been implemented at TRU around complaints. Communication around how we returned to campus in the fall and how we returned to campus in January,” Lyster explains. “There are lots of different things that have coupled together. This is where we’re at now. The faculty felt strongly — 311 voted they had no confidence in the TRU president.”

Of the 689 TRUFA members who were sent the ballot, 56 percent responded. As to the next steps for Lyster and the Faculty Association, she says the TRUFA Executive plans to meet to discuss options. She suggests the key to resolving the divide between administration and the rest of the stakeholders at TRU is open communication.

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“I think we have a culture problem at TRU and I think that’s been identified by this non-confidence vote. There are faculty that are not happy about what’s going on, and they’re feeling like we need to have a conversation about what’s going on,” Lyster says. “For me, I’d really like to see all stakeholders involved sit down and have a conversation about how we can move forward. I’m including TRUFA, TRU administration, CUPE and TRU [Students Union] because there have been concerns voiced from all groups on campus.”