Bargaining Updates

The Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) has initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to identify a vendor to build and design our new website. 

About the TFA

Founded in 1964 the Toronto Metropolitan Faculty Association (TFA) represents over 1000 faculty members, librarians and counselors at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU). The TFA represents, protects and advances the interests of its members in their employment at TMU. The TFA aims to promote an effective environment for teaching, learning and scholarly, research and creative activity at TMU.

Project Goals

The TFA’s current website is out of date and needs a refresh. The goal of this project is to build and design a new website for the TFA. The new website should be straightforward to navigate, more visually appealing, integrated with our social media, and house relevant content for TFA members. We want to easily migrate over relevant content from our old website to our new website. Our current site is built using WordPress, we are open to new platforms but have a familiarity with WordPress.

Process and Timeline:

The designer will coordinate with the Membership Engagement and Communications Officer. An initial meeting will outline a vision, goals and scope for the website redesign. The TFA will provide a list of other websites in the sector that we hope to emulate. The rest of the process, timelines for wireframe and design drafts, will be agreed upon at the initial meeting. 

The desired delivery date for this is May 31st, 2024. 

Deliverables

• A finalized website.
• Handover training. 

Budget 

The budget for this project is $7,000.

Proposal Instructions

All proposals should be received by 5pm on February 21st, 2024. Please submit your proposal by email to dave.bush@torontomu.ca. Use the subject line: TFA Website.  

As part of the proposal, please address the following:

• Agency name, name of contact, email, address, website, and phone number.
• An outline of approach to website design, style and process.  
• Years of experience.
• Three of their best, most relevant websites design work.
• Two client references.

This RFP is open to all bidders. For additional information or clarification, please contact the TFA’s Membership Engagement and Communications Officer David Bush: dave.bush@torontomu.ca

TFA Request For Proposal – Website Redesign – PDF

As organizations that represent students, faculty, and workers at Toronto Metropolitan University we are concerned with the TMU administration’s response to the October 20th letter to the Dean signed by over 70 students from the Lincoln Alexander School of Law. The launching of a formal external review as to whether the Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct was breached by the law students sends a chilling message to the broader TMU community about the free exchange of ideas on campus. 

On October 26th, 23 individuals from 16 companies, who are members and alumni of the Legal Innovation Zone signed a letter that said they were going to re-evaluate their relationship with TMU unless more robust action was taken. The next day TMU announced it was launching a formal external review. The appearance that this investigation is driven by the complaints of donors and lobby groups is troublesome.

Whether individuals or organizations agree or disagree with the political statements made by the law students, members of the TMU community should have the right to voice their political opinions. TMU’s core values, outlined in its 2020-25 Academic Plan make it clear that “learning can be transformative but can also, naturally, generate discomfort – it is important, therefore, to create safe spaces for difficult conversations.” How can we make safe spaces for the exchange of ideas when the University initiates an external review of students who engaged in political expression? The University’s own Student Code of Non-Academic Conduct clearly states that “the University recognizes students’ right to express themselves and engage in respectful debate and discussion.” 

The University’s stated commitment to free speech notes that TMU “does not avoid controversies, difficult ideas, or disagreements over deeply held views. When such disagreements arise within the University or within a broader social context, the University’s primary responsibility is to protect free speech within a culture of mutual respect.” TMU recognizes that there are limits to the right of free speech that are recognized in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. When speech on campus is used in a way that is itself unlawful or prevents the lawful exercise of free speech by others the University may intervene. The statement by the law students has not been deemed illegal nor has it shut down the speech of others. It is the Administration, not the students, whose actions are the ones curbing the free exchange of ideas and speech on campus.  

The law students who signed the letter in solidarity with Palestine have faced a public backlash. Their names have been read out in the legislature and they have had their future careers threatened. The formal investigation of the students sends the wrong message to students and workers about engaging in the free exchange of ideas on campus. Unfortunately, the message is one of suppression and threat. Neither of these is desirable and both will discourage the expression of ideas that may be unpopular but whose examination can occur in no other way.

We understand and respect there are a range of opinions about Israel-Palestine in the TMU community. As organizations on campus we oppose all forms of anti-semitism, Islamophobia, racism and any other form of hate. We strive to achieve and support the respectful exchange of ideas which should be free of reprisals and harassment. Rather than foster a culture of openness and critical discourse, the Administration’s response has undermined TMU’s commitment to free speech and our core values. 

This semester the TFA will be hosting four membership drop-ins at our office. 

Have questions about the TFA? Want to get involved in the TFA? Come by our office to meet the new TFA executives and new staff members and talk about the TFA. Light refreshments will be provided.

When: 

• Wednesday, January 31, 2024, 12pm – 2pm
• Thursday, February 29, 2024, 2pm – 4pm
• Tuesday, March 26, 2024, 1pm – 3pm
• Monday, April 15, 2024, 11am – 1pm

Where: TFA office, Kerr Hall South, 40 Gould Street, Room KHS-46