Category: USFA e-Letter

e-Letters are brief but timely communications about workplace issues.

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Reporting on Outside Consulting

You will have received a recent communication from the Vice-Provost Faculty Relations directing anyone who is a member of the USFA to report any outside consulting. It is the view of the USFA Executive that this directive conflicts with and undermines the agreed upon process in the Collective Agreement and we have raised it at the Joint Committee for the Management of the Agreement (JCMA).

The Collective Agreement (Article 18.6.1) expressly entitles members “to engage in consulting, employment, and clinical practice outside of the University, provided that it does not interfere with the assigned duties” of the member.

Article 18.6.2 of the Agreement requires members to annually report “all outside consulting, employment and clinical practice in excess of 12 working days per year, except that performed on weekends, vacations and holidays.” Members are not obliged to report that they do not engage in consulting; nor are they obliged to report that they engage in consulting for fewer than 12 working days per year.

Should you encounter problems with regards to the reporting of outside consulting, contact the USFA office immediately.

If you have questions about these or other Collective Agreement provisions, simply let us know in a reply to this email and someone will get back to you.

The objectives of JCMA include reviewing matters of mutual concern between the USFA and the employer, especially those arising from the management of the agreement. You can find more information about JCMA in Article 32 of the Collective Agreement.

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Rally in The Bowl October 26 Noon

ASPA is holding a rally on Monday, October 26th at noon in The Bowl and the USFA Executive Committee is asking every Association member to take 15 minutes out of their day to attend.

Representatives of the unions on campus met recently and it is readily evident that we have a common challenge. The approach to labour relations at the U of S needs to change. As an employer, the University needs to move towards reason and respect and away from bullying behaviour.

ASPA has had a tough go at the bargaining table. They have just completed a conciliation process as mandated by the Saskatchewan Employment Act. The employer ended the process by walking away from the table.

Monday is President Stoicheff’s first full day on campus. Let’s welcome him and let him know that he has a real opportunity to bring positive change to the practices of the Human Resource Division.

We need you to come out to the bowl and bring your colleagues, whether they are ASPA, USFA, CUPE, PSAC or PAIRS. Let’s send a positive message of change and respect together.

There will be a free burger for the first 500 attendees.

 

 

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Living Thinkers: Resisting Bias, Building Resilience

The USFA Committee on Women’s Issues invites you to attend a film screening and panel discussion of Living Thinkers: An Autobiography of Black Women in the Ivory Tower, a film by Roxana Walker-Canton.

Tuesday, October 6th
Neatby-Timlin Theatre (Arts 241)
Doors open at 3:30 pm

This film examines the intersection of race, class and gender for Black women professors and administrators working in U.S. colleges and universities today. Through their diverse narratives, from girlhood to the present, Black women from different disciplines share experiences that have shaped them, including segregated schooling as children, and the trials, disappointments and triumphs encountered in academia. Even though it focuses specifically on the experiences of African American women in the U.S. academy, the film provides an opportunity to open discussions of the ways that women, and indeed, any group that has been marginalized in the academy, navigates structural biases that range from comments ‘in the elevator’ or meeting, to overwork – in efforts to address under-represented voices and perspectives, to few role models in leadership roles.

Panelists:
Alexandria Wilson, Education Foundations, College of Education
Yelena Bird, School of Public Health
Caroline Tait, Psychiatry, College of Medicine

Film trailer: http://www.wmm.com/advscripts/wmmvideo.aspx?pid=265

Download Poster PDF
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Get Research Right – Let’s talk research

Yesterday afternoon, the USFA hosted an event at Louis’ Loft to discuss the need to address the crisis of research and science policy and funding in Canada. It was attended by USFA members, former Environment Canada and National Research Centre scientists, and local candidates from four parties.

Clear from comments during the discussion, there is an overwhelming view that change is needed before it’s too late. The approach to funding research (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR) and the embarrassingly short sighted policies of the current government are proving deeply damaging. As one researcher put it, “It’s an absolute disaster when all new federal science money in the last decade goes towards funding corporate research and development instead of discovery based research.”

We heard that some researchers have benefited greatly from the government’s approach but it comes at the expense of others. The lack of success in grant competitions is not about technical issues or lack of experience There is less funding available for the number of applicants than ever before and fewer small grants to individual researchers are being awarded. Excellent academics struggle and lose their grants in order that others see their grants grow in size.

Speakers also outlined how subtle roadblocks established over the last decade have prevented the dissemination of research, openly prevented public engagement, and diminished Canada’s position as a world leader of research in the public interest. Canada’s reputation for research has already been damaged and remains threatened by such impediments to inquiry and dissemination. But there is another way forward. The public interest is best served by unfettering our researchers and funding them properly.

More than once the point was made that it is misguided to believe that discovery driven research is not key to innovation and job growth and that business is keeping up investment in research and development. Misguided as well is the belief that social science and humanities research is not worth funding.

Researchers need to be vocal. The choices federal governments make about research and science policy and funding are important issues. We need to engage our colleagues, our community and those seeking elected office.

Join us on October 2 at Station 20 West, 3:00 pm in the multipurpose room to continue the conversation.

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CAUT Forum for Aboriginal Academic Staff

CAUT is sponsoring its 5th Forum for Aboriginal Academic Staff to be held November 6 and 7, 2015 at the Radisson Hotel Downtown Winnipeg.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada has documented Canada’s practices of cultural genocide and their ongoing effects. The report outlines the actions necessary to redress the legacy of colonialism and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation. The TRC also puts forward powerful recommendations for structural change at Canadian educational institutions, change necessary to achieve truth, justice, and healing. But these recommendations come at a time when governments are harshly cutting expenditures and the entire public education system is under threat. This forum will be a critical opportunity for dialogue among academic staff from across Canada to examine local and national strategies for implementing the Commission’s recommendations – and challenge the destructive economic policies that stand in the way of repairing the damage done by Canada’s colonial project.

The USFA Executive Committee has passed a motion to fund the attendance of three members at this conference. If you are interested in attending simply let us know in a reply to this email by noon on Friday (October 2). Should more than three members express interest, there will be a draw to determine who will be funded by the USFA to attend.

Those funded by the USFA to attend will be required to provide the Executive with a written report following the conference.

The registration form and hotel information are available only on the CAUT website at http://events.caut.ca/aboriginal-2015/. Please note hotel reservation cut-off is October 5.

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Get Research Right Reminder

Leading up to the October 19 federal election, scientists and researchers are meeting across Canada to discuss the need to address the crisis of research and science policy and funding in Canada.

3:00 September 29, Louis’ Loft U of S Campus

3:00 October 2, Station 20 West

The USFA is not endorsing any candidate or party, but we know our members are a part of the Canadian populace that exercises its right to vote. We encourage our members to join a candid discussion about party and candidate positions on research policy and funding, and to give thorough consideration to this topic when it comes to making choices on election day.

For more information visit:

itsaboutchoice.ca

getscienceright.ca

trunorthsmartandfree.ca

 

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Get Research Right – federal research policies hit close to home

Research and policy choices made by the federal government are hitting close to home, according to faculty scientists at the U of S:

“… as a university professor, the message has become as clear as it can be: we are no longer welcome to use the science infrastructures within government buildings. The rules and regulations have become so rigid that it is almost impossible to routinely use government labs as we did only a few years earlier. A wall has been under construction over the past 9 years and it is now close to completion.”

Read more of the story by Anas El-Aneed with input from Randy Purves in the latest issue of Collectively Speaking.

Read more about the Get Research Right campaign at itsaboutchoice.ca.

We need to have a candid discussion about party and candidate positions on research policy and funding, and we need to give thorough consideration to this topic when it comes to our choices on election-day.

Join the conversation

Louis’ Loft: September 29, 3:00-6:00 pm

Station 20 West: October 2, 3:00-5:00 pm [Please note the new start time for this event.]

 

 

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Get Research Right – research policy and funding is a federal election issue

Join the conversation

Louis’ Loft: September 29, 3:00-6:00 pm
Station 20 West: October 2, 2:00-5:00 pm

Academic staff, librarians, and research scientists in Canada are outraged over the Federal Conservative Government’s repeated undermining of Canadian research and scholarship.

Muzzling

The government has chosen to muzzle scientists by gradually tightening media protocols for federal scientists and other government workers. Prominent researchers have been prevented from discussing published, peer-reviewed literature.

Cuts

The Federal Conservative Government is also choosing to cut staff and programs that support and facilitate research in Canada. Library staff and programs have been cut, and precious library materials dumped, burned, or scavenged by private consultants.

Funding future?

Government policies have curtailed and transformed university research funding programs: more and more CEOs and politicians decide what research projects are worth funding, instead of peer researchers and scholars. The Federal Government has chosen to increase funding for industry-related research, decrease funding to granting councils, and change the way grants are awarded.

An election issue

The choices of federal governments about research and science policy and funding are an election issue that directly impacts us. We need to have a candid discussion about party and candidate positions on research policy and funding, and we need to give thorough consideration to this topic when it comes to our choices on election-day.

We need to talk

Please plan to attend one or both of the gatherings at Louis’ Loft and Station 20 West to discuss these issues. Ask your local candidates where their party stands on research and science policy and funding. And on October 19 choose a government that will get research right.

To learn more visit itsaboutchoice.ca.

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Reminder: USFA Scholarship Application Deadline June 1, 2015

Online applications for the USFA Scholarship will be accepted until 11:59 p.m. Monday, June 1, 2015.

The USFA Scholarship Program is open to students who are immediate family members of USFA members. Immediate family includes spouse/partner, sons, daughters or children for whom USFA members are legal guardians.

The application form for the 2014-2015 USFA Scholarship Fund Program is now available online at http://students.usask.ca/money/scholarships.php?award=301364CS01. Scroll down and select “USFA Scholarship Program Application Form.”

There are two sections to the online application form: the first section must be completed by the student and the second section must be completed by the Faculty member. After both sections are completed, both the student and the Faculty member will receive confirmation emails.

Each year $250,000 is contributed to the USFA Scholarship Fund. The $250,000 is divided by the number of credit units eligible applicants have successfully completed for credit courses taken between May 1, 2014 and April 30, 2015. Applicants will be emailed in late July 2015 with the results of their application.

Scholarship money will be applied directly to the recipient’s student account. Any balance of account, after outstanding tuition and fees are paid, will be refunded by cheque and will be mailed to the student’s address listed on PAWS.

For further information, contact the Awards and Financial Aid office at awards@usask.ca or the Faculty Association Office at usfa@usaskfaculty.ca or 966-5611.