I want to present a profile on Mark Stevens, professor in the Motive Power Technician program in Pembroke. I have met Mark on a number of occasions primarily dealing with the intake suspension related to his program. Mark is a Master Mechanic who also has operated his own business for many years prior to joining Algonquin.
Notwithstanding the claims of senior administration, there has been no remediation related to the program that Mark was been made aware of. The last time PQR was completed was 2012-2013 and that one was the first and only one ever done. Keep in mind, as well, that the new campus opened just four years ago with dedicated space specifically for this program.
You should also be aware that since 2014 Mark has requested a one-week PD course which specializes in electric vehicles. The training center for this course is recognized around the world and has been largely followed. Each request was denied by management. Mark was trying to get ahead of the curve with a niche offering in this area to support his program. The US Military has taken this training as well as many secondary education institutions. The Petawawa military base is as close as you can get to Algonquin! I can only assume that the Canadian military would have the same interest as the US Military.
The mind-numbing piece of information on this was when I found out that he had secured with the help of Pauline Edmonds a plug-in hybrid electric car for free.
Mark will be presenting to the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Governors in May. I thought it was important to provide some background on some of the faculty whose programs have been impacted by the seven program intake suspensions.
We will continue to report on our findings from the College Employment Stability Committee. It is clear that we will need to pay continued attention to the various expenditures the college has made over the past few years such as the losses associated with the Jazan Campus.
Pat Kennedy, President
OPSEU 415