The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations is governed by a 13-person Council consisting of three representatives from each faculty association and one past president.

The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations is governed by a 13-person Council consisting of three representatives from each faculty association and one past president.

MOFA is a vehicle for communication and coordination across the faculties of professional scholars in Manitoba contributing to regional, national, and international social, scientific, cultural, state, and economic development within ecological integrity. We convene to secure our integrity as protectors of rigorous knowledge and free human expression across social, spatial, and historical boundaries.

MOFA was formed in 1994 to advocate on behalf of Manitoba’s professors and academic staff. The organization is governed by a constitution and associated bylaws. MOFA is represented by members of our associations who are appointed through a democratic process. The MOFA constitution and by-laws are available here.

MOFA advocates for the integrity, autonomy and accessibility of higher education and the protection of academic freedom in a free and democratic society. To this end, MOFA has developed the following vision for a robust higher education sector in Manitoba.

Principles for a Quality University System

The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations (MOFA) represents about 1,600 academic staff at Brandon University, Université de Saint-Boniface, University of Manitoba, and University of Winnipeg. Manitobans depend on us to educate students and provide other services to the province and wider society. To achieve those goals, we believe that government policies about universities are best guided by the following principles.

1. Our universities should excel in teaching, research, and service to the community.

2. Our universities should be affordable for all Manitobans who desire a post-secondary education.

3. Our universities should promote the participation and success of under-represented groups, including Indigenous Manitobans.

4. Our universities require adequate, stable, and predictable government funding to achieve these objectives.

5. Our universities can only reach their potential when they are free from unwarranted political interference.

Agreement on these principles is important because inappropriate government policies in Manitoba and elsewhere threaten the independence of universities and their capacity to balance the needs of students, business, and society. Universities are best able to operate at their full potential when governments provide funding and guidance, without interference or being prescriptive.

In recent years, Conservative government policies have threatened the integrity of Manitoba’s universities through funding cuts, increased tuition fees, and government interference in both collective bargaining and institutional operations. These policies undermine the autonomy of educational institutions, the quality of programming, and the affordability of higher education for Manitobans.

While universities do have an excellent record in preparing students for employment, it is clear that preparing students for very specific and narrowly defined jobs is not the paramount objective of universities. Rather, universities prepare the whole student for work and life generally, while also maintaining academic standards and upholding the university sector for future generations.

Policies of any political party, whether left or right, should never dictate university operations in ways that compromise the capacity of Manitoban universities to serve the best interests of students, citizens, and the wider community.