The Acadia University Faculty Association (AUFA) has expressed serious concern about language in new contracts for faculty teaching distance education courses.

The proposed contracts ask faculty to agree that "copyright of all course material will remain with Acadia University and the Division of Continuing and Distance Education. The course developer may use course material for publication in the form of textbooks, courseware, manuals, etc. with the permission of the Division of Continuing and Distance Education." (emphasis added).

Further, the faculty member would be obligated to "offer the course for a minimum of three years with only minor revisions where necessary; any other changes to the course during this period must be approved by the Director, Division of Continuing and Distance Education."

Dianne Looker, a member of the AUFA Executive who first became aware of the university administration's new distance education contracts said she was surprised and angered.

"This is a direct attack on the autonomy and intellectual property rights of faculty. It is simply unacceptable," said Looker.

Representatives of AUFA will be meeting with the university administration during the week of March 15 to insist the proposed contract be rewritten to remove the objectionable clauses.