The University of Alberta’s Margaret-Ann Armour has won many awards for her work in improving the situation of Canadian women in science and technology.

For sheer enthusiasm and passion for learning, the students who impress Armour the most are folks over 50. It’s why she relishes being an instructor for the Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA) which offers more than thirty courses each May to about 400 students in the U of A Education Centre.

“It’s just wonderful,” says Armour who has told ELLA students she’d like to put them in a first-year chemistry class to show what engagement in a course really means.

ELLA’s roots go back a long way. In 1972, the U of A Faculty of Extension began offering an annual spring program for adults 50+. In 2001, when budget constraints forced the Faculty to terminate the spring sessions, the students stepped up. The volunteer-driven ELLA now runs the program in a unique partnership with the University.

ELLA is always seeking high-quality instructors. Courses are non-credit, with no exams or required homework. The 70-minute classes run Monday to Friday for three weeks. Instructors receive $1,250 per course. Several double-period art instruction courses are also offered.

Interested instructors are encouraged to contact the appropriate Sub-Committee Chair for further information: Jill Swann-Lussier (Humanities) jilllussier@yahoo.ca; Dawna Dey-Harrish (Fine Arts) dawnadey@shaw.ca; Liz McCord (Sciences) lizmccord@shaw.ca.

We hope you find this site useful. It contains source documents such as the collective agreement and the Association’s constitution. It also contains selected documents on important issues such as academic rank and titling.

Discussion Forum on Academic Titling

On the issue of academic rank and titling, we have established a forum on this site where members who have registered on the site can express their views and exchange ideas.

We hope that this will advance the discussion and allow the Association to aid in the development of MacEwan and the interests of its members.

Association’s Work in 2010

The work of the Association is currently concerned with wages in the 3^rd year of the collective agreement, academic rank and titling as mentioned and the representation of members’ employment interests, amongst numerous issues. I urge you to review the sections of the website entitled ‘Who we are’ and ‘How we help’ to understand what the FA does for you.

Get Involved: Executive & Committee work

Finally, please consider helping the Association by standing for one of the Executive positions or assisting in one of our committees such as Negotiating, Grievance, Faculty Welfare, Finance, Ethics or Governance.

Travis Huckell

Interim President

MacEwan Faculty Association