Organizational Capacity and Political Activities of Canadian University Faculty Associations.

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for the Study of Higher Education, June, 1994.In this study we examine the organizational capacity and political activities of Canadian university faculty associations in the development of higher education policy. We attempt to describe, from the perspective of the faculty associations, their political role both internal and external to the university and the extent to which faculty associations perceive themselves as being able to influence issues of policy. We report the findings of a national survey of university faculty associations including data on organizational structure, finance, perceived influence on institutional and provincial government, policy, services and programs, and other factors related to their role as political pressure groups.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC