Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC

At work and in our communities, the lives of faculty and staff are affected by a myriad of public policy decisions made by government. As an advocate for members, FPSE regularly makes representation to all levels of government. The Education Policy Committee works on a range of policy issues.

• Committee Members
• Responsibilities
• Terms of Reference
• Member Resources
• Committee Meeting Calendar
• Resources of Interest to the Education Policy Committee

Committee Members:

Responsibilities:

1. To advise the Presidents’ Council on education policy issues.
2. To review the literature on post-secondary education and advise Presidents’ Council of emerging trends.
3. To monitor the education policy of similar labour organizations: BCFL, BCTF, CLC, CUFA/BC, CAUT, ACIFA, etc.
4. To analyze the initiatives of federal and provincial governments and to formulate necessary positions.
5. To review the positions of faculty professional organizations.
6. To review the activities of education organizations such as ACCC, AUCC, BCCAT, BCcampus, etc.
7. To develop and recommend specific education policy to the Presidents’ Council as needed.

Terms of Reference:

Reporting to: Reports regularly to the FPSE President and the Presidents’ Council.

Composition: The Education Policy Committee will be composed of one designated representative from each local and the FPSE President or Secretary-Treasurer or designate. The Non-Regular Faculty Committee may appoint one person to the Committee.

A member will be appointed by the Executive Committee, with voice but without vote, to act as liaison between the Standing Committee, the Executive, and Presidents' Council. 

Term of Appointment: Committee members will normally be appointed for a term of two years.

Chairperson: The Committee shall elect a new Chairperson at the last meeting of the Committee held prior to the convening of the Annual General Meeting and Convention. The Committee shall endeavour to elect a Chairperson who has served on the Committee a previous term as a local representative.

The Chairperson or designate shall have observer status at meetings of the Presidents' Council with voice but no vote. The responsibility of the Chairperson includes attendance by the Chairperson or designate at the Presidents' Council meeting immediately subsequent to a meeting of the Committee or upon request of the FPSE President.

The Chairperson shall attend the Annual General Meeting and Convention. The Convention shall provide orientation and planning opportunities for Committee Chairpersons and facilitate their meeting as a group.

The duly elected Chairperson of the Committee shall continue to serve as Chairperson where the Chairperson ceases to be a designated local representative to the Committee.

Meetings: Such meetings as are required to fulfill its responsibilities, limited only by the funding allocated to the Committee. The Committee may substitute or include a workshop or conference for a meeting.

Observers: By invitation of the Chair.

Quorum: A majority of locals.

Voting: Positions adopted by consensus among designated representatives; otherwise by simple majority of those voting (By-Law #6).

Funds: As allocated in the annual budget.

Links of interest to the Education Policy Committee:

• UBC Centre for Policy Studies in Higher Education & Training
• The Canadian Association of University Teachers
• BC College Presidents
• The University Presidents' Council