WHO WE ARE

The Manitoba Organization of Faculty Associations (MOFA) is comprised of members of faculty associations from Brandon University, Université de Saint-Boniface, University of Manitoba, and University of Winnipeg representing approximately 1,600 individual academic staff.

 

MOFA is a proud member of the Canadian Association of University Teachers. We are based on both Treaty 1 and Treaty 2 territories, and the homeland of the Métis Nation.

MOFA strongly believes that we need a post-secondary education system that:

  1. Will be provided with adequate public funding, with clear multi-year funding commitments that will allow our institutions to best serve Manitobans.
  1. Will be affordable and accessible to all, with the long-term objective of reducing the use of student loans and private finance to pay for our education.
  1. Will be of high quality and will continue to provide our graduates with the flexible critical thinking skills that will continue to shape our society.
  1. Will exist free of political interference, with institutions being allowed to make decisions about how to serve the public.
  1. Will lower barriers to participation for Indigenous people and members of other equity-seeking groups, and will provide supports to ensure that all students can succeed in post-secondary education.

Mofa Council

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.

Allison McCulloch
President

Professor of Political Science (BUFA)

Patrick Noel
Vice President

Associate Professor of History (APPUSB)

Michael Shaw
Treasurer

Senior Instructor, Biology (UMFA)

Peter Ives
Secretary

Professor of Political Science (UWFA)

Brianne Selman
Member

Librarian (UWFA)

Clea Schmidt
Member

Professor of Education (UMFA)

Robert Chemomas
Member

Professor of Economics (UMFA)

Scott Grills
Member

Professor of Sociology (BUFA)

Alexis Braun
Member

Academic Advisor (BUFA)

Scott Forbes
Past President

Professor of Biology (UWFA)

Events

RESOURCES

Mofa Council

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.

Allison McCulloch
President

Professor of Political Science (BUFA)

Patrick Noel
Vice President

Associate Professor of History (APPUSB)

Michael Shaw
Treasurer

Senior Instructor, Biology (UMFA)

Peter Ives
Secretary

Professor of Political Science (UWFA)

Brianne Selman
Member

Librarian (UWFA)

Clea Schmidt
Member

Professor of Education (UMFA)

Robert Chemomas
Member

Professor of Economics (UMFA)

Scott Grills
Member

Professor of Sociology (BUFA)

Alexis Braun
Member

Academic Advisor (BUFA)

Scott Forbes
Past President

Professor of Biology (UWFA)

Mofa Council

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.

Allison McCulloch
President

Professor of Political Science (BUFA)

Patrick Noel
Vice President

Associate Professor of History (APPUSB)

Michael Shaw
Treasurer

Senior Instructor, Biology (UMFA)

Peter Ives
Secretary

Professor of Political Science (UWFA)

Brianne Selman
Member

Librarian (UWFA)

Clea Schmidt
Member

Professor of Education (UMFA)

Robert Chemomas
Member

Professor of Economics (UMFA)

Scott Grills
Member

Professor of Sociology (BUFA)

Alexis Braun
Member

Academic Advisor (BUFA)

Scott Forbes
Past President

Professor of Biology (UWFA)

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CAUT
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Events

RESOURCES

MISSION

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.

Constitution and Bylaws

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.

Principles for a quality university system

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.