Q: Why would some courses continue and not others if there was a strike?
Courses at Memorial can be taught by members of MUNFA, LUMUN, NAPE or Western Health employees at the Western Regional School of Nursing.
The only courses that will be paused would be those taught by members of a union that are in a legal strike position. All other instructors can continue their teaching as scheduled.
This means during job action by MUNFA, courses that are taught by non-bargaining clinical faculty, members of LUMUN or NAPE can continue. This will allow students to continue their studies where possible while ensuring Memorial is meeting the obligations set out in the collective agreements with non-MUNFA unions.
There is a searchable list of course sections taught by non-MUNFA members so students can easily see which of their courses are continuing.
Q: What is the difference between a MUNFA and non-MUNFA led courses?
The majority of courses at Memorial are taught by members of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA). This union represents full-time faculty, librarians, counselling faculty members and co-operative and field education coordinators. It also includes contract faculty with teaching term or regular term appointments.
Courses are also taught by members of the Lecturer’s Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland (LUMUN) Per Course Instructors. This union represents individuals who teach no more than two courses per semester.
Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) represents instructors, demonstrators, research scientists, and research and technical personnel at Marine Institute.
Non-bargaining clinical faculty teach in the Faculty of Medicine’s undergraduate medical education and postgraduate medical education courses.
Q: My course is paused but I’m getting notifications in Brightspace that I still have quizzes and assignments that are due.
Course due dates set in Brightspace prior to job action may not have been adjusted. If your course is paused, all activity for the course is paused.
Q: Will tests and assignments go ahead?
Tutorials, tests, exams and assignments for classes taught by MUNFA faculty will be paused for the duration of the job action.
Q: What is the difference between MUNFA and non-MUNFA led courses?
The majority of courses at Memorial are taught by members of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Faculty Association (MUNFA). This union represents full-time faculty, librarians, counselling faculty members and co-operative and field education coordinators. It also includes contract faculty with teaching term or regular term appointments.
Courses are also taught by members of the Lecturer’s Union of Memorial University of Newfoundland (LUMUN) Per Course Instructors. This union represents individuals who teach no more than two courses per semester.
Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE) represents instructors, demonstrators, research scientists, and research and technical personnel at Marine Institute.
Q: My course is paused but I’m getting notifications in Brightspace that I still have quizzes and assignments that are due.
Course due dates set in Brightspace prior to job action may not have been adjusted. If your course is paused, all activity for the course is paused.
Q: During the strike, will Brightspace still be available?
Brightspace will continue to be accessible to students, however, MUNFA members may choose to pause access to their course shell(s) during job action.
Q: Will I still get my approved accommodations and write test or exams for courses that move to remote delivery in the event of a strike?
Yes, continue to follow the usual process for booking accommodations through the ACES Exam Booking Request Form. Please note that there may be delays hearing back from your course instructor, but your accommodations will still be applied to your course.
Tests and exams for online courses are scheduled and administered by CITL, please log into Memorial Self Service and check the Online Learning link under the Student Main Menu for the location, date and time of your exam.
Q: If one or more of my courses are taught in-person by per course instructors this semester, will those courses change to remote delivery during job action?
During job action by MUNFA members, if one or more of your courses is taught by a per course instructor (PCI), and it is currently taught on campus, the PCI can ask their unit head to pivot to remote delivery for the duration of the job action.
Please note this will only occur if the PCI chooses to request to pivot to remote delivery and if the unit head agrees to the change. If the course pivots to the remote delivery it will only be remote for the duration of any job action. Students will be advised of any changes to the mode of delivery for their courses.
Q: Can I reach my professor during a strike?
Office hours of MUNFA members are paused.
Brightspace will continue to be accessible to students, however MUNFA members may choose to pause access to their course shell(s) in the event of job action.