First Nations University didn't violate academic freedoms
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 6:27 PM CT
CBC News
An arbitration board has found that First Nations University of Canada did not violate academic freedom when officials at the Regina institution searched employees' computers four years ago.
In the wake of the searches, five grievances were filed by the union representing university faculty. A three-person board examined the complaints and dismissed all of them.
The ruling is the latest chapter in a continuing saga at the Regina-based institution, which has been through several years of turmoil after allegations of wrongdoing and financial problems surfaced in 2005.
Several senior people were fired or left their positions. Since then, a former vice-president of the institution was charged with fraud. That case is still before the courts and the man accused, Wes Stevenson, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
The grievances relate to the actions of officials in February 2005 when an investigation and audit was launched. People behind the investigation went to a number of staff computers to copy files.
According to the decision, some university staff described the mood after that as "tense and paranoid" and that the atmosphere was one of "fear and intimidation."
Others suspected their emails were being monitored.
The arbitration board ruled that after considering the five grievances, there had been no violations of academic freedom contrary to the collective agreement. It also rejected the accusation that staff had been locked out while the computer hard drives were being copied.
In a news release earlier this week, First Nations University of Canada said the grievances were part of the justification the Canadian Association of University Teachers used late last year when it censured the school.
Janice Foley, the chair of the University of Regina Faculty Association, which represents instructors at the university, said she's disappointed with the ruling but added it's only one arbitrator's decision and it doesn't mean there are no problems at First Nations University.
A request for a judicial review is one option being considered, she said.
