The news just came in that the tenure track position in Social and Political Philosophy has been officially approved. I honestly never thought we would see this happen, but your persistence forced the administration to change their minds. Please take a moment to be proud of what you pulled off …
April 1, 2020
UofS: Approve the essential position of Social and Political Philosophy Tenure Track
Final supporters
Once again, we have a case of the University of Saskatchewan undervaluing and under-funding the Arts and Sciences college, and specifically the Philosophy Department.
The Social and Political Philosophy Professor is a position of great importance to the Philosophy Department.
- It is essential for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in philosophy, as one of the key areas of any philosophy program is Social and Political Phil.
- It is also essential for our school to continue to offer a Justice, Ethics, and Law Certificate, which dozens of students pursue every year.
- Our Graduate Program relies heavily on the Social and Political Philosophy Professor, and it may be in danger of falling apart without someone holding the position.
The Philosophy Department has been trying to get this position filled for 10 years. Finally, last Fall, the Dean approved the recruitment. So, they did the Job Search and made a recommendation that has been supported by the Dean. But now, despite having previously approved of the Job Search, the central administration will not make any appointments to colleges that are running a deficit.
- Faculty members have spent 100’s of hours for this job search
- Thousands of dollars were spent to do the job search
- Dr. Pierre-Francios Noppen was the official recommendations from faculty and students, suggesting him as the best candidate for this position
Long story short, the school approved the position, approved the search for it, and after hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars, the VP of Faculty Relations, Ken Wilson, is refusing to approve this appointment to our beloved Dr. Pierre-Francois Noppen.
The VP of Faculty Relations, Ken Wilson, is endangering the entirety of the Philosophy Department and the many programs and classes that they offer by refusing to approve the appointment of Dr. Pierre-Francois Noppen to the Social and Political Philosophy Tenure.
Updates
March 25, 2020
I am honestly overwhelmed by the momentum we have built together lately. This movement has quickly moved beyond anything I imagined possible when I first started this effort. None of this would be happening without the work all of you have put in to keep our mission visible.
19 Comments
I am a UofS alumnus. Our daughter is currently pursuing a degree in Philosophy at UofS. I believe this is a valuable department that is deserving of full recognition and support.
I'd like to echo Josh and others who've already commented on this. This move not only snubs Dr. Noppen, a hard worker and good man, but also hurts the dept. long term. With the astronomical expenditures in administration and other faculties at the U of S, it's just pathetically shortsighted to deny students the opportunity to engage with these ideas. Social and political philosophy are possibly the best avenues for critiquing and rethinking existing power structures—like the structures that lead to decisions like these! As an alumnus who benefitted from and was deeply impacted by these classes, I can promise you decisions like these factor into whether I or anyone like me will ever donate money to your institution. Rethink this.
This position is critical for the Philosophy Department at Usask. I can personally attest to the high quality of instruction I have received from Dr. Noppen and the entire faculty. This department rivals the international instruction I have received abroad and it would be a disappointment to see Usask take away this position, lowering the quality of an amazing programme. Thoughtful instruction on such topics as Ethics, Law, and Politics is needed evermore in our society and this position would demonstrate to our community the value Usask sees in these areas. If it is taken away, it would be a blatant disregard to the incredible progress made by Philosophy not just for the University, but for the community at large.
Philosophy is the basis of human knowledge and stunting our philosophy department not only hurts this department but will hurt every department across campus. Ethics is needed in our technological and medical fields, to make sure that advancements made in those fields help humanity and not solely special interests and capital. We need our leadership at our university to support our philosophy department or we will lose an essential element to knowledge, knowledge that guides our advancements, so that its for humanity's benefit and not for only for capital.
So many members of the department were excited to have a new tenure position approved. To have it taken away at the last minute, is heartbreaking! The department's future is bleak without this necessary position.
Dick move, Ken Wilson.
The world is desperate for clear thinkers who can read, analyze and communicate difficult themes. This happens in a dept of philosophy.
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The news just came in that the tenure track position in Social and Political Philosophy has been officially approved. I honestly never thought we would see this happen, but your persistence forced the administration to change their minds. Please take a moment to be proud of what you pulled off …
April 1, 2020
UofS: Approve the essential position of Social and Political Philosophy Tenure Track
Final supporters
Once again, we have a case of the University of Saskatchewan undervaluing and under-funding the Arts and Sciences college, and specifically the Philosophy Department.
The Social and Political Philosophy Professor is a position of great importance to the Philosophy Department.
- It is essential for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in philosophy, as one of the key areas of any philosophy program is Social and Political Phil.
- It is also essential for our school to continue to offer a Justice, Ethics, and Law Certificate, which dozens of students pursue every year.
- Our Graduate Program relies heavily on the Social and Political Philosophy Professor, and it may be in danger of falling apart without someone holding the position.
The Philosophy Department has been trying to get this position filled for 10 years. Finally, last Fall, the Dean approved the recruitment. So, they did the Job Search and made a recommendation that has been supported by the Dean. But now, despite having previously approved of the Job Search, the central administration will not make any appointments to colleges that are running a deficit.
- Faculty members have spent 100’s of hours for this job search
- Thousands of dollars were spent to do the job search
- Dr. Pierre-Francios Noppen was the official recommendations from faculty and students, suggesting him as the best candidate for this position
Long story short, the school approved the position, approved the search for it, and after hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars, the VP of Faculty Relations, Ken Wilson, is refusing to approve this appointment to our beloved Dr. Pierre-Francois Noppen.
The VP of Faculty Relations, Ken Wilson, is endangering the entirety of the Philosophy Department and the many programs and classes that they offer by refusing to approve the appointment of Dr. Pierre-Francois Noppen to the Social and Political Philosophy Tenure.
Updates
March 25, 2020
I am honestly overwhelmed by the momentum we have built together lately. This movement has quickly moved beyond anything I imagined possible when I first started this effort. None of this would be happening without the work all of you have put in to keep our mission visible.
19 Comments
If there was ever a time to entrench a position in Social and Political Philosophy, it is now. Society is in a state of rapid transformation and investment should made on the basis of what will be needed to manage the change, not on the basis of what has been profitable in a socioeconomic context that will soon be irrelevant.
I am a UofS alumnus. Our daughter is currently pursuing a degree in Philosophy at UofS. I believe this is a valuable department that is deserving of full recognition and support.
I'd like to echo Josh and others who've already commented on this. This move not only snubs Dr. Noppen, a hard worker and good man, but also hurts the dept. long term. With the astronomical expenditures in administration and other faculties at the U of S, it's just pathetically shortsighted to deny students the opportunity to engage with these ideas. Social and political philosophy are possibly the best avenues for critiquing and rethinking existing power structures—like the structures that lead to decisions like these! As an alumnus who benefitted from and was deeply impacted by these classes, I can promise you decisions like these factor into whether I or anyone like me will ever donate money to your institution. Rethink this.
This position is critical for the Philosophy Department at Usask. I can personally attest to the high quality of instruction I have received from Dr. Noppen and the entire faculty. This department rivals the international instruction I have received abroad and it would be a disappointment to see Usask take away this position, lowering the quality of an amazing programme. Thoughtful instruction on such topics as Ethics, Law, and Politics is needed evermore in our society and this position would demonstrate to our community the value Usask sees in these areas. If it is taken away, it would be a blatant disregard to the incredible progress made by Philosophy not just for the University, but for the community at large.
Philosophy is the basis of human knowledge and stunting our philosophy department not only hurts this department but will hurt every department across campus. Ethics is needed in our technological and medical fields, to make sure that advancements made in those fields help humanity and not solely special interests and capital. We need our leadership at our university to support our philosophy department or we will lose an essential element to knowledge, knowledge that guides our advancements, so that its for humanity's benefit and not for only for capital.
So many members of the department were excited to have a new tenure position approved. To have it taken away at the last minute, is heartbreaking! The department's future is bleak without this necessary position.
Dick move, Ken Wilson.
The world is desperate for clear thinkers who can read, analyze and communicate difficult themes. This happens in a dept of philosophy.
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If there was ever a time to entrench a position in Social and Political Philosophy, it is now. Society is in a state of rapid transformation and investment should made on the basis of what will be needed to manage the change, not on the basis of what has been profitable in a socioeconomic context that will soon be irrelevant.