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The CAUT, which represents 66,000 professors, librarians, researchers and other academic professionals at 122 Canadian universities and colleges, is alarmed by a series of deals between Mr. Balsillie’s Waterloo-based Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) and the universities to establish a school in international relations and research chairs in international law. The faculty union argues that the agreements appear to afford Mr. Balsillie’s private think-tank veto power over the hiring of faculty and the ability to influence curriculum and research — areas that have traditionally been the exclusive domain of academia.

“CIGI has no business at the table deciding what areas the chairs will focus on, and who should be hired, much less have a veto,” Mr. Turk said.

An outspoken defender of academic freedom, CAUT hopes its professional rebuke will motivate the universities to renegotiate or amend portions of their agreements with CIGI before the union’s next general meeting in six months.

Such a rebuke is an extreme step and intended to ostracize the offending institutions. The censures are widely publicized in academic circles in Canada and abroad. Academic staff are discouraged from taking jobs, conducting research, accepting awards and even attending conferences at schools that have been formally criticized.

“Censure is a move of last resort,” says Len Findlay, chair of CAUT’s academic freedom and tenure committee. “Nobody takes any pleasure in it. It’s a belated move that is meant to get their attention and express the gravity of the concern.”