FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND EDUCATION
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MPhil Upgrade Seminars The Philosophy Section successfully guided two of its graduate students through their MPhil Upgrade Seminar as follows: • Ms. Janice Smith. Topic: “Orality, Rationality and Epistemic Justification in Caribbean Philosophy.” February 14, 2023. • Mr. Rudolph Ellis. Topic: “Towards a Reconciliation of Post-Colonial Self in the Discourses of Poeticism and Historicism in Caribbean Philosophical Thought.” April 21, 2023. EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT The Department continued to advocate for staff in terms of timely approval of posts, issuing of contracts, access to the e-system, payment for services rendered, and promotion/career progression. In the main, we were successful. Approval was granted for a regular lecturer in the English Language Section, so advertising, interviewing and selection followed for the appointment to be made for 2023–2024. Multiple adjunct and temporary full time posts were also approved across the Department. However, approval was not granted when a regular full time lecturer post in Philosophy was requested. Additionally, approval of posts was delayed at the start of the second semester when colleagues encountered emergencies and additional staff members were required. Due to the relatively low 2022–23 student intake, projections made for student numbers, especially in the Academic Literacies courses, had to be lowered after the first few weeks of each semester. This change resulted in a reduction in the hours assigned to adjunct staff and a redeployment of full-time staff in several courses. Several Instructors were required to straddle courses, necessitating quick adjustment to course material, but most executed teaching with grace. We also continued to encourage leave-taking so that staff can find spaces to rest and advance research in more ways than they are usually able to do while fulfilling teaching and other duties. In that regard, Dr. Caroline Dyche (Lecturer) returned from Sabbatical Leave and Mrs. Julian Hylton-Chambers (Instructor) proceeded on Sabbatical leave. Dr. Sandra McCalla went on No Pay Leave and was replaced temporarily by Mr. Simeon Mohansingh for 2022–23. In terms of progression, Instructors Mrs. Kelleen Sewell-Ayton and Ms. Dadre White were offered renewal of contract on indefinite employment, retroactive to August 1, 2022, and Mr. George McCaulsky, Ms. Tereka Brown and Ms. Loverne George were offered regular 2-year Instructor contracts, also beginning August 1. During a lunch meeting on June 14, 2023, we bid farewell to Professor Lawrence Bamikole who was scheduled to retire at the end of the academic year.
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