About

The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) is the voice of 10,000 faculty and staff teaching at universities, colleges, institutes and private sector institutions, offering support with grievances, bargaining, pensions, learning, and advocating for post-secondary educators’ interests in BC.

FPSE and its member Locals have been serving the needs of BC’s educators for over fifty years, providing resources and support and advocating for workers’ rights and benefits since the College Faculties Federation first formed in 1970.

Quick Facts

Discover how FPSE supports member locals with advocacy, resources, and expertise. From negotiating collective agreements to providing professional development opportunities, we are dedicated to empowering our members and strengthening post-secondary education. Explore the full range of services we offer to help member locals succeed.

Structure & Governance
  • The Federation of Post-Secondary Educators of BC (FPSE) is led by two full-time officers, President Brent Calvert and Secretary-Treasurer Sean Parkinson, and governed by several key bodies.
  • The Annual General Meeting and Convention serves as the primary policy-making body, where delegates from member locals set the Federation’s agenda and elect the President, Secretary-Treasurer, and two Vice-Presidents.
  • Between AGMs, governance is managed by Presidents’ Council, which includes the president of each member local and the full-time officers, who participate without voting rights.
  • The Executive Committee advises Presidents’ Council and consists of the President, Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-Presidents, and two Members-at-Large, selected from Presidents’ Council. Learn more about FPSE’s team and history.
History

Founded in 1970 as the College Faculties Federation, later becoming the College and Institutes Educators Association (CIEA) and finally the Federation of Post-Secondary Educators (FPSE) in 2004, FPSE has a longstanding history of advancing the rights of BC post-secondary faculty and staff—learn more at the FPSE Online Museum.

Policies & Procedures

Our policies and procedures guide our work and reflect our commitment to fairness, equity, and professionalism. Explore how these frameworks support member locals and uphold the values we share. Learn More

AGMs

The Annual General Meeting is a cornerstone of FPSE’s governance. It’s where members come together to set priorities, review achievements, and chart the path forward for our federation and member locals. Learn More

Job Opportunities

Join a dynamic and impactful organization. Explore current job opportunities within FPSE to become part of a team dedicated to advancing post-secondary education and faculty rights. Learn More

FPSE Member Locals

FPSE is a federation of 18 member Locals, each with its own autonomous, democratic structure. Member Locals have elected executives. Many Locals also have elected officers with paid time release for union business and providing grievance handling, bargaining, and other member advocacy services. Presidents of each Local are members of FPSE’s Presidents’ Council.

FPSE Team

FPSE is driven by collaboration between key governing bodies and committees. Presidents’ Council, made up of Local presidents, serves as the governing body between Annual General Meetings. Supporting this, the Executive Committee, which includes two full-time officers, provides guidance and strategic direction. Additionally, our Standing Committees bridge the gap between workplaces, unions, and communities, shaping priorities, policy development, and contributing to research and advocacy efforts.

Partnerships

As members of the BC Federation of Labour, the Canadian Association of University Teachers (and its National Union), and the Canadian Labour Congress, FPSE stands with 3.3 million union members in Canada who work for quality public services, good jobs, positive working conditions, and strong benefits.

Services

We provide our 18 member Locals with a broad range of services all designed to strengthen the capacity of our member Locals and to help bring about progressive solutions to the critical issues facing our members.