Academic Freedom continues to be a hot topic in Canadian post-secondary, especially now with the sector experiencing crisis after crisis, leading to inevitable restructuring and redesign. In order to maximize academic freedom protections at universities, especially now, it is important to enable university employees to engage in dialogue and discussion related to this topic.
On Tuesday, May 6th, Dr. Shannon Dea will be joining us at VIU to help host a day of discussion and engagement around academic freedom. Dr. Dea is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and a Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Classics at the University of Regina. She is an established expert on academic freedom, and has written a column in University Affairs called Dispatches on Academic Freedom. You can read her work here.
The Academic Freedom Symposium, hosted for all employees at Vancouver Island University, will include a plenary address, and three workshops (see schedule below) on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Refreshments and lunch will be served.
Please register via this link: REGISTRATION
Tentative Schedule (all sessions facilitated by Dr. Dea)
8:30am--9:00am: Registration, refreshments
9:00am-10:30am: Plenary address:
"There's a Time and a Place for Academic Freedom: Defending VIU's Mission in the Here and Now"
Academic freedom was created in and for a particular historico-geographical context and has evolved as its context of application changes. The history of academic freedom provides a guide to how best to steward it in the here and now. The talk will conclude with practical advice for VIU
10:30am--11:00am: Break
11:00am--12:30pm: "Who has academic freedom in the classroom and how does it work?"
12:30pm--1:30pm: Lunch (catered for those who have registered)
1:30pm--2:30pm: World Cafe session: "Academic Freedom for emerging (and established) researchers"
3:00pm--4:30pm: Workshop: "Collegial Governance at a Teaching University"
This is a great opportunity to interact with Dr. Shannon Dea, VIU colleagues, and academic freedom. There is no prerequisite for attending--just a desire to listen, think, and if like, speak up. By delving into academic freedom, we can uncover more closely what it means to each of us, and what it means to our institution.
With gratitude for funding provided by the Vancouver Island University Faculty Association (VIUFA)
For more information, please contact kathleen.bortolin@viu.ca.