TUFA Newsletter

Quick Mentions:

BlueSky Now Live: TUFA is now posting updates on BlueSky. Follow us: @trentfaculty.bsky.social
Stay Connected This Summer: TUFA remains available to support members through the summer months. If you need assistance, email us anytime at [email protected].
Trent celebrates the largest ever graduating class.

Bargaining Update

TUFA Heads to the Table in June

We are preparing to begin formal negotiations with the employer later this month. TUFA’s bargaining team has been hard at work analyzing member priorities, reviewing current language, and developing our bargaining mandate.
We remain committed to transparency and will keep members informed as bargaining progresses. Stay tuned for updates and ways to stay engaged throughout the process.

Thank You for Attending the Bargaining Consultations

Thank you to all members who participated in May’s mandate setting meeting and the bargaining consultations we held over the last few months. Your input directly shaped the proposals we’ll be bringing to the table this month. We heard your concerns around equity, workload, and job security, and we’re advocating for improvements in these areas.
If you weren’t able to attend a consultation session but have something to share, reach out to the TUFA office, we’re always listening.

`Sector News`

(L-R) Moira Howes, TUFA President; Jenny Ahn, Executive Director; Nigmendra Narain, outgoing OCUFA President; Susan Wurtele, Past President, Outgoing Chair, and Incoming OCUFA Vice-President. Photo taken at the recent OCUFA Board of Directors meeting in May 2025

Program Pauses and Cancellations

Program pauses are a growing concern under the Ford government. A way for the University to reduce spending without the full commitment of a cancellation. However, these pauses still negatively affect your jobs. OCUFA has expressed concern over program suspensions at Ontario universities, such as the recent enrolment suspensions across 20 programs at York University. They warn that such actions may signal a troubling trend in the province’s public university system. Click here to read the full article.

Proposed Legislation Threatens University Autonomy

TUFA echoes OCUFA’s serious concerns about new legislation introduced by the Ontario government that would alter governance structures for colleges and universities. While we welcome inclusive language updates, we are alarmed by what appears to be an attempt to impose a one-size-fits-all governance model that overlooks the unique role of Senates in university decision-making. Faculty, academic librarians, and staff must be central to shaping institutional priorities, not external political forces. At a time when university applications are surging and institutions remain critically underfunded, we urge the province to prioritize stable investment and collegial governance over political interference. Click here for the full article.

Our People in the News

Trent Professor Receives Prestigious Fellowship for Cutting-Edge Water Research

Dr. Andrew Tanentzap, Canada Research Chair in Climate Change and Northern Ecosystems at Trent University, has been awarded the Killam National Research Council Paul Corkum Fellowship, valued at $150,000. In collaboration with NRC researchers, Dr. Tanentzap is developing low-cost, AI-powered water sensors to deliver real-time data on contaminants like mercury, making water monitoring more accessible, especially in northern and Indigenous communities.

This research builds on Dr. Tanentzap’s decade-long work in aquatic ecosystems and leverages Trent’s world-leading Water Quality Centre. As part of the fellowship, he will test these technologies in the field and lead public outreach to empower communities with timely, actionable data.

For more information click here.

Trent Professor Martin Arnold Wins Prestigious Open Ear Prize for Music Composition

Cultural Studies professor Dr. Martin Arnold has been awarded the Open Ear Prize from Amsterdam’s Oscillating Air Foundation, recognizing his deeply personal and innovative approach to contemporary composition. Arnold’s work blends experimentation and tradition, drawing on influences such as folk traditions, early music, avant-garde, and lo-fi electronics. His compositions evoke both familiarity and estrangement, creating a distinctive emotional and thoughtful listening experience.

Arnold’s musical journey spans decades, from studying at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague to shaping Toronto’s experimental music scene. His notable works, such as Burrow Music and Tam Lin, showcase his intricate melodic invention and unconventional use of instruments. Awarded biannually, the Open Ear Prize includes a bronze ear sculpture, a €35,000 cash prize (approximately CAD$50,000), and a dedicated concert of Arnold’s works this November in the Netherlands. Alongside his composing, Arnold is a passionate educator, encouraging students to question ideas and discover unexpected possibilities, a philosophy reflected in his own ever-evolving creative process.