Please Give Generously to the UWFA Scholarship and Bursary Fund

On April 6, in a UWFA general meeting, and in a follow-up meeting on April 8 with Collegiate, UWFA Members spoke strongly against the Employer’s attempts to impose days without pay or other pay concessions upon us.  Many Members objected to the Employer’s endeavour to solve their financial woes by once again downloading the responsibility for their own decisions, in which UWFA Members have had no say whatsoever, upon UWFA members, who have continually subsidised the University over the years with their low salaries and high teaching loads. 

However, Members also expressed concern that the Employer’s decisions might negatively affect students, and accordingly UWFA Members voted unanimously in favour of establishing a fund to address the University’s current shortfall in student scholarships and bursaries.

That Fund has now been established in cooperation with the University of Winnipeg Foundation.  Thanks to the Foundation’s generously waiving their 5% administration fee, 100% of new money pledged toward this Fund will go directly to students.  Every student whose scholarship or bursary is covered by UWFA donations will be informed that it comes thanks to the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association Scholarship and Bursary Fund.  All contributions are eligible to attract any matching monies that may become available through the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative (MSBI).

The Employer’s request for 7-10 days without pay would have cost UWFA members somewhere in the region of 4-6% of their salaries.  The Employer has also publicly boasted that Administrators and excluded employees have “voluntarily” given up between 3% and 10% of their salaries in 2009-2010, to raise $250,000.  In an attached chart (see next page), we’ve shown what it would mean for UWFA Members to make a donation in the range of 2% to 10% at various salary levels. We urge all Members to consider whether they are able to make such a gift.

We recognise that many Members–paying off student loans, supporting family members, and just trying to make do on historically low salaries–cannot afford to stretch themselves to make a large donation to the UWFA Fund.  However, we strongly urge all Members to make the donation they are able to make.  And we urge all to pledge now.  Our goal is to exceed $250,000 and to have the participation of as many UWFA Members as possible. 

A press release announcing this fund will note that we are responding to the needs of students in a time of significant economic difficulty.  We want to be able to issue a follow-up press release before the end of June to announce the resounding support given by UWFA Members to this initiative.

We know that many UWFA Members have already donated or pledged for specific scholarships or bursaries.  More than 75% of UWFA members are already donors to the University, and over the last five years we have donated over $375,000, mainly to scholarships and bursaries.  Even if you cannot pledge more, we ask that you designate that your current pledges and donations be credited to the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association Scholarship and Bursary Fund, so we can track and report on the collective participation of UWFA Members and on the quantum raised.  The attached form has a category that allows you to indicate that this is your wish.

Whatever may happen in these difficult economic times, UWFA Members have voted with one voice to try to ensure that University of Winnipeg students do not take a disproportionate hit.  We are confident of the generous response of Members in supporting the University of Winnipeg Faculty Association Scholarship and Bursary Fund.  Please complete and return your pledge form today.

For further information, please contact:

Pauline Greenhill, 786-9439
p.greenhill@uwinnipeg.ca

Mavis Reimer, 786-9185 
m.reimer@uwinnipeg.ca

The Scholarship and Bursary form is on the last page of the May 2009 issue of the UWFA News or from the UWFA Office (3S02).