Important Information from SJRI’s Acting Director | David Butz

Hello SJRI-affiliated faculty,

I’m writing in my capacity as Acting SJRI Director to provide some important information regarding the following:

SJRI Annual General Meeting – Hold the Date (May 7th)

SJRI’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday May 7th. All affiliated members are invited to participate. The tentative schedule is as follows:

  • Buffet lunch: 12:00-1:00
  • Business Meeting: 1:00-2:00
    • Reports by Director and Faculty Steering Committee
    • Votes to affiliate new members and elect new Faculty Steering Committee members
    • Votes on other motions as necessary
  • Nutrition break: 2:00-2:15
  • Member Engagement: 2:15-4:30
    • A semi-structured discussion of SJRI’s five planning/activity streams (knowledge practice, sustainability, member engagement, community connections, mentorship) aimed at eliciting constructive feedback and suggestions from affiliated members
  • Potluck supper at June Corman’s home: 5:30+

You are invited to attend all – or any part – of the AGM, according to your interests and availability. More details will be forthcoming as plans develop.

Applications Invited for SJRI Affiliation (due April 20th)

Please advise relevant colleagues that SJRI’s FSC is now inviting applications for affiliation from social justice-oriented tenured and tenure-track Brock faculty members and professional librarians. Interested individuals may apply for SJRI affiliation by submitting the following information to SJRI’s administrative coordinator, Maria Callaghan (mcallaghan@brocku.ca) by April 20th:

  • A current cv;
  • A one-to-two page statement of intent outlining the relevance of their research to social justice and their planned involvement in SJRI.

Voting on affiliated membership will take place at SJRI’s Annual General Meeting on May 7th.

For more information about SJRI affiliation please visit this webpage.

Call for SJRI Faculty Steering Committee (FSC) members (due April 20th)

We are seeking to elect two new members to the SJRI Faculty Steering Committee (FSC), each for two-year terms to commence July 1, 2015 (shorter terms can be negotiated in the event of pending sabbaticals, etc.). The FSC is the governing body responsible for SJRI’s overall direction, financial oversight, and long-term viability.

Interested individuals may indicate their willingness to serve on the FSC by submitting the following information to SJRI’s administrative coordinator, Maria Callaghan (mcallaghan@brocku.ca) by April 20th:

  • A current cv;
  • A one paragraph statement outlining their interest in serving on the FSC, and their capability to do so effectively.

The existing SJRI FSC will review nominations and recommend appropriate candidates for election at the SJRI Annual General Meeting on May 7th. In recommending candidates, the FSC will aim to have members from two or more faculties in the university as part of its total complement.

For more information about what is involved in being on the FSC please visit this webpage.

Call for Notices of Interest to organize an SJRI-funded Graduate Student Thematic Symposium (due May 1st)

SJRI’s FSC invites Notices of Interest from affiliated SJRI members in mounting a funded graduate student symposium in Spring 2016 around an intellectually-significant thematic/problematic, which is transdisciplinary in nature, relevant to social justice, and likely to be attractive to Masters and PhD students.

SJRI offers a core budget of up to $3,000 (+ $2,000 for limited student travel support); financial administration of the project; logistical support; knowledge mobilization know‑how and infrastructure; and assistance with supplementary grant‑writing if needed.

A one-page Notice of Interest should be submitted to SJRI’s administrative coordinator, Maria Callaghan (mcallaghan@brocku.ca) by May 1st.

For a more detailed Call for Notices of Interest please visit this webpage.

Call for Applications to SJRI’s Spring Grants Competition (due May 15th)

The Spring competition for the SJRI Grants program is now open. This includes both the Seed Grants ($7000) and Local Engagement Grants ($2000). All SJRI affiliates may apply. Applications should be submitted to SJRI’s administrative coordinator, Maria Callaghan (mcallaghan@brocku.ca) by May 15th.

Rachel Hirsch, SJRI Projects Facilitator, is available to work with you on your SJRI grant application. Consulting with Rachel will increase your chances of success.  Contact her soon (ext. 6624; rhirsch@brocku.ca) if you plan to apply to the Spring competition. She works at arms-length from the adjudication process.

Please visit this webpage for complete information about the application requirements, process and adjudication. Questions about the application process should be directed to Maria Callaghan (mcallaghan@brocku.ca).

SJRI Projects Facilitator – Maternity leave and replacement

SJRI’s projects facilitator, Rachel Hirsch, will be taking a 52 week maternity leave commencing June 22nd 2015. We are in the process of finding a suitable person to replace Rachel during her leave, but there is likely to be a gap during the summer between Rachel’s departure and her replacement’s start date.

Please keep this in mind as you are planning for the coming months, and take advantage of Rachel’s projects facilitation skills before her leave begins.

Meanwhile, best wishes to Rachel (and Andrew) for the rest of her pregnancy and the transition to parenthood!

Take care, David

David Butz
Professor, Department of Geography
Acting Director, Social Justice Research Institute
dbutz@brocku.ca

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