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November 23, 2006
- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
Students sue university for not providing adequate resources
(OTTAWA) For the first time in Canadian academic history, students are suing their university for not providing the promised
high level of pedagogical service. The precedent setting case could give students a direct say in resource allocations for
quality teaching at Canadian universities.
A group of students at the University of Ottawa are suing the publicly funded corporation through Small Claims Court for
breach of contract in not providing teaching assistants (TAs) to lead the workgroups in SCI 1101 (Science in Society, fall
2006 term), in this class of over 100.
While it is the accepted norm to allocate TAs for workgroups in any class that predominantly uses a workgroup-based method,
the administration ruled without justification to allocate only the minimum number of TAs corresponding to marking needs in
a lecture-type class, thereby significantly decreasing the value of the course. The students are seeking 2/3 reimbursement
of the tuition fees for the course and legal expenses.
“The university Mission Statement states that ‘[it] places its students at the core of its educational
mission‘ and that ‘[it promises] a high-quality learning environment’, said student Edwidge
Valery, “well, OK, let’s have it”. “We are tired of vacuous policy statements and
an unresponsive administration” added student Nick Loeb. “We have made significant efforts to improve
conditions yet they treat us like a knitting club” concluded student Alex Vyse.
“It was clear in the design of this course, all through the 11-month and 16-committee approval process, that
the pedagogical method was based on workgroups and required TAs” stated student Tammy Kovich who is one of the two
TAs for the course and one of the many students who fought to have this course approved, the first of its kind in the Faculty
of Science.
“It was a shame to see the administration and the President and VP-Academic themselves block and deflect our
requests, intended only to provide what was expected” said student spokesperson Valérie Duchesneau.
The claim was deposited with the Small Claims Court, Superior Court of Justice, Ottawa, and served to the university today.
A court date is expected within months.
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For further information contact:
Valérie Duchesneau, student spokesperson, 613-564-5400 ext.2331, valerie.duchesneau@hotmail.com
Tammy Kovich, TA, 613-875-0394, lovelyvegan@hotmail.com
Federico Carvajal, TA, 613-851-2726, fedecarva@gmail.com
Gilles Patry, President UofO, 613-562-5809, president@uOttawa.ca
Robert Major, VP-Academic UofO, 613-562-5737, rmajor@uOttawa.ca
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