The Joint Committee for the Management of the Agreement has had discussions recently regarding assignment of duties. These discussions have included the three primary areas of responsibility that faculty duties entail – research, teaching, administration – expressed in percentages of time devoted to each area, most often as 40% research, 40% teaching and 20% administration.… Continue reading Expectations for teaching, research, and service
Articles
The Unifor Lockout at Co-op Refinery Complex
After members of Unifor Local 594 voted 97% in favour of strike action against the Co-op Refinery Complex (CRC) last December, the CRC locked out the workers. Unifor contacted labour organizations, including USFA and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (of which USFA is an affiliate), asking them to participate in a national boycott of co-ops… Continue reading The Unifor Lockout at Co-op Refinery Complex
Search and review processes are important to USFA members
It is clear from responses to our recent e-Letter regarding the appointment of senior administrators that the search and review processes for these positions are very important to USFA members. We received a number of emails from members in response to our e-Letter. Some expressed disappointment, while others expressed anger. We heard from many that… Continue reading Search and review processes are important to USFA members
The Perils of Publishing -Do You Trust Your Co-author(s)?
There is a broad diversity of what constitutes authorship across disciplines. You have responsibilities when you accept to have your name as an author on a publication. In collaborative research, one cannot be responsible for all aspects of data collection, conduct of research, analysis, or writing. Nonetheless, authors cannot absolve themselves completely of subsequent problems… Continue reading The Perils of Publishing -Do You Trust Your Co-author(s)?
Increase in Senior Administrative Appointments
USFA Chair Doug Chivers sent a letter to President Stoicheff and the Chair of the Board of Governors on November 12, 2019 expressing concern over (i) the increase in senior administrative appointments, and (ii) the number of such appointments made without the benefit of a formal and competitive search process. The USFA’s letter requests an… Continue reading Increase in Senior Administrative Appointments
Important Notice: Claims now being accepted for reimbursement of professional fees
If, as a condition of employment, you are required to maintain a certification or license in order to perform your academic duties, you may be eligible for reimbursement of some or all of your licensing or certification fees (Article 22.12.2). Claims for reimbursement must be submitted between November 1 and December 1, 2019. What you need to… Continue reading Important Notice: Claims now being accepted for reimbursement of professional fees
Discussions continue nationally and locally on teaching evaluations
On March 1, 2019, The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) released its report investigating complaints of misuse and inappropriate interpretation of the scores on student evaluations of teaching. The report points out that many factors figure in students’ responses, some of which have nothing to do with quality of teaching: class size, time… Continue reading Discussions continue nationally and locally on teaching evaluations
Assignment of Duties: Annual meeting and equitability
This is the time of year when the process for the Assignment of Duties is underway. Provisions for the assignment of duties are covered in Article 11 of the Collective Agreement. Department Heads, or Deans in non-departmentalized Colleges, “following consultation and discussion with faculty at a meeting,” assign duties. This annual meeting is an important… Continue reading Assignment of Duties: Annual meeting and equitability
Arbitration Decision: Grievance 2017-01 Surreptitious and Non-consensual Recording of College Committee Meetings
In a recent arbitration hearing, Arbitrator Anne Wallace Q.C. considered the issue of audio recording of College Review Committee (CRC) meetings and deliberations. The Association filed a grievance when it appeared that one College’s CRC deliberations were being recorded without the knowledge or consent of some of its committee members and without the matter having… Continue reading Arbitration Decision: Grievance 2017-01 Surreptitious and Non-consensual Recording of College Committee Meetings
Possible CUPE Job Action
The USFA Executive is concerned about the current state of labour relations on campus. We are working hard to improve these relations and we call upon USFA members to help with this effort. The USFA shares a common interest with the other unions on campus in negotiating fair compensation, job security, and safe working conditions… Continue reading Possible CUPE Job Action