For all of us teaching and researching our way through this pandemic, COVID has been difficult.

Many of us have reworked courses from the bottom up on short notice to incorporate a completely different pedagogy. Many of us have had to rework our research programs as important lines of inquiry have come to prove unfeasible.

We’ve all been muddling through—putting in the extra hours, to make this experience as positive for our students as we can. Putting in the extra hours to maintain the integrity of our research and to meet our professional commitments across the Island, across the country and across the world.

But for the most part, we’ve done it all ourselves—with little support and few new resources from UPEI Administration.

Since the start of this pandemic, the UPEI Faculty Association has been working tirelessly to improve the working conditions of Members, engaging with Administration to develop strategies and to put in place additional resources that will help us meet these unprecedented challenges. To date, though, we have made little progress.

But in contrast to many of our colleagues at institutions across the region and across the country, our Administration has demonstrated little interest in providing Members with additional supports in these unprecedented times.

We need action.

We need to hear from Faculty Association Members.

Do you have a story or anecdote (100-500 words) that you’re willing to share on the UPEIFA blog about the difficulties you’ve faced teaching through this difficult time? Do you have the technology you need? Have you asked for resources that have not been provided? Are your working conditions safe? Have you had to take measures yourself to keep them safe?

We want to hear from you.

After all, our working conditions are students’ learning conditions—and students need a safe and engaging learning environment to succeed. 

Email [email protected] with your story. We’ll do the rest.

And if you are willing to share your story as part of a video series, please let us know. We’re interested in potentially sharing 30-second vignettes on our website/social media.

The Faculty Association wants to get our members’ stories out there.

Together, let’s work to change our working conditions so we can focus on what we do best: being great teachers; being great researchers.

All stories will remain anonymous unless we receive written consent to publicise the author’s name.