Weekly Update – June 26

June 26, 2020

Weekly Update – June 26

Return to Research Concerns in Faculty of Science

A group of Chairs and Directors in the Faculty of Science has sent a letter to Dean Macdonald expressing concern in delays with returning to active research. In the letter, the group shares concerns that Carleton is falling significantly behind other institutions in the province, and within the city of Ottawa, in its approval process for resuming research activities on campus.

We stand behind our CUASA Chairs and Directors and proudly support any grassroots advocacy being undertaken by CUASA members to ensure quality research resumption in a safe and timely manner.

You can read the full letter here.

Health and Safety

We wish to let members know that CUASA’s representatives on the Joint Health and Safety Committee have been very active recently, and we wish to express our gratitude to our representatives Carmen LeBlanc (French) and James Green (Systems and Computer Engineering) for their hard work and dedication to health and safety.

We wish to especially thank James for his service, as he will soon be departing his role as a CUASA rep on the JHSC. To that end, we are looking for a member who is interested in joining the JHSC as one of CUASA’s two representatives. You can learn more about the JHSC here. If you’re interested, please email [email protected].

Finally, we wish to also let members know that CUASA has been involved in health and safety discussions with CAUT, OCUFA and other faculty associations across the province. This is an essential topic at the best of times, but especially now under the COVID-19 pandemic and with plans being drawn up for possible return to campus in the future. Rest assured CUASA remains  dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of its members, staff, and the entire Carleton community.

Clarification on Summer Teaching Evaluations

Last week, we announced an agreement with the University on teaching evaluations for the summer term, saying members had to opt-in to administer teaching evaluations. We wish to clarify that this agreement was reached after the University had already proceeded with administering the teaching evaluations for early-summer courses. This agreement is subject to retroactive without prejudice application, and data collected from courses that were evaluated will not be used for career decisions.

CUASA Business and Events

CUASA Office Closure

Please note that the CUASA Virtual Office will be closed from next Wednesday, July 1, reopening on Monday, July 6. No services will be provided during this time.

Nominations for Steering Positions

We are still accepting nominations for the following Steering positions:

• External Relations Officer
• Communications Officer
• Chair, Equity
• Chair, Nominations and Elections
• Chair, Internal Affairs
• Instructor Representative

Information on the nominations process can be found on our How to Volunteer page. The work of the Association continues, despite the current environment we find ourselves in. Remember that our Association is only as strong as its membership, so we count on the time and commitment of our members to achieve our goals. Some of these positions come with a course release subject to the availability of funds.

Call for Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to represent CUASA on the Carleton University Pension Committee (please see Terms of Reference for Pension Committee Appointees). If you’re interested in serving on the Pension Committee, please contact [email protected].

Carleton Community Announcements

Teaching and Learning Services is hosting instructor-led workshops to provide an opportunity to connect with colleagues and share experiences and ideas around teaching online.

Welcome to My Online Classroom is a workshop series led by instructors, for instructors, with a specific focus on sharing a wide variety of ideas, strategies, and approaches to teaching online. You can learn more about these sessions here.

Dialing Up: Conversations on Remote Teaching is a new informal series of conversations between colleagues on remote teaching. The sessions provide a space to exchange ideas, ask questions and collectively brainstorm the world of online teaching. Learn more about these sessions here.

Academic Community at Large

OCUFA and Eckler Ltd. host seminar on financial wellbeing during COVID-19 pandemic

In mid-May, OCUFA and financial consulting firm Eckler Ltd. organized a webinar on financial wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic. The seminar offered guidance, tips, and help for navigating financial challenges during the pandemic, including an overview of existing financial relief programs and other options Ontarians might consider in these uncertain times.

The half-hour seminar can now be streamed on the OCUFA website:
OCUFA & Eckler: Managing finances in difficult times