Partner Perspectives: OCUFA

The interns had the pleasure of meeting with our esteemed partner, the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA), and gaining insight into the organization’s important work across Ontario’s postsecondary sector. 

OCUFA is the voice of more than 18,000 faculty members and academic librarians across the province. The organization works to promote high-quality postsecondary education while advocating for the rights and interests of academic staff.  

 Over the course of our meeting with Jenny Ahn, we were provided with a comprehensive overview of the organization’s core functions and its broader impact across the province. OCUFA plays a vital role in supporting faculty and academic staff, particularly through its work in collective bargaining, grievance support, policy change advocacy, and political advocacy. These areas formed the foundation of our discussion, as Jenny offered detailed insight into what each field entails and how they contribute to strengthening Ontario’s university system. 

Our conversation also addressed broader challenges within the sector, including the issue of university funding. Jenny emphasized that Ontario remains the lowest-funded province in Canada in terms of per-student funding. Building on this, we explored the importance of advocating for sustainable funding and strong institutional support for both faculty and students. 

Throughout the meeting, Jenny thoughtfully answered our questions and highlighted OCUFA’s continued commitment to protecting academic freedom, ensuring that faculty are able to teach, research, and express ideas without undue interference. It was an engaging and informative discussion that deepened our understanding of the policy landscape surrounding higher education in Ontario. 

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Jenny for taking the time to meet with us and share her expertise. We also thank OCUFA for their continued partnership with OLIP, and we look forward to further opportunities to learn from their work!