The CMCFA has been discussing the teaching posture (remote delivery or in-person) for the Winter 2022 semester with management since early October 2022, particularly in discussions between the RMC Vice-Principal Academic (VPA) for management, on the one hand, and Sylvain Leblanc and Charles-Philippe Courtois for the CMCFA, on the other. A joint survey for RMC faculty was developed to understand faculty’s perspectives on and preferences for remote delivery or on-site teaching in the Winter, but the CMCFA and Management ultimately could not agree on the questions to be asked.

On Oct. 27, the CMCFA became aware of an article (https://www.kingstonist.com/news/rmc-planning-full-in-person-class-by-january-2022/) which states that RMC “is planning a full return to in-person classes for its undergraduate student population by January 2022” and quotes the RMC Public Affairs Office throughout. The article presents “four additional conditions for in-person instruction to take place:

1. The students must be in Kingston
2. Professors must be willing to teach in-person
3. The local health conditions are favourable
4. There is an approved course-specific health and safety plan”

Although the CMCFA was surprised to learn of RMC’s Winter posture from the Kingstonist, the FA supports the four conditions for in-person teaching listed above. The second condition in particular implicitly recognizes that there are many good reasons why faculty may not be in a position or may prefer not to return to on-site teaching in the Winter, and this is what the CMCFA has also heard from our members.

We hope to hear details of the Winter 2022 teaching posture from management soon, and we will keep you updated on any new information we receive.

Sincerely,

Sylvain (Sly) Leblanc

CMCFA Vice-President