CUASA Time Release Policy

Adopted on January 18, 2024

Approval Authority:     CUASA Council

 

Introduction

This suggestion to Council comes from the Finance Committee, with the support of the Steering Committee. It is aimed at streamlining the process of time release for the members of CUASA’s Steering Committee and allocating the release in a fair and equitable manner, in the best interest of the Association.

It is based on the policy of CAUT (https://www.caut.ca/about-us/caut-policy/lists/administrative-procedures-and-guidelines/release-time-policy) It is also based on articles 18.8 and 41.4 of the Collective Agreement (https://carleton.ca/deputyprovost/wp-content/uploads/CU-CUASA-2021-2024-Collective-Agreement-WEB.pdf).

Its implementation will depend on an agreement from Carleton University, as it calls for administrative and accounting changes on their part. CUASA will bring the matter to the JCAA and/or to collective bargaining.

 

Background

The principal purpose of the CUASA Release Time Policy is to provide time free of regular academic duties, for officers and chairs of standing committees, so that they can devote time to the work of the Association. Payment of release time funds also serves the purpose of attracting able and experienced volunteers as candidates for office and provides a tangible recognition that the Association values volunteer contributions.

The Release Time Policy is based on the principle that payment of release time funds should be made available for a variety of purposes, provided that an appropriate amount of time is to be delivered to the association by the officer and that the funds are not made available for the personal benefit of any officer so as to be used as a salary supplement.

 

1           Value of Release Time Units

The value of one unit shall be sufficient to allow release from two one-semester courses or the equivalent.

 

2           Positions Eligible for Release Time Funds

The positions eligible for a unit amount of release time are members of the Steering Committee* and the unit amount is 0.5 course credit of release time per year. During a bargaining year, other Release Time Units can be be distributed at the discretion of the Steering Committee of the Association.

(*) Note: Time Release for the President of the Association, the Grievance Policy and Administration Committee Chairperson and the Collective Bargaining Committee Chairperson are governed by article 18.8 (a) of the Collective Agreement and are not governed by this policy.

 

3           Vacancies

In the event that a vacancy occurs and is filled at the December meeting of the Council of after, 0.25 credit of release time will be paid to the elected member.

 

4           Disbursement and Administration of Release Time Funds

4.1 The Steering Committee shall be advised of the officers’ units’ arrangements for release time by July 1 and will indicate its approval by July 31, in each case. Steering Committee approval is necessary in each case and such approval shall be subject only to the principles stated hereinafter. In the event of a dispute between an officer and the Steering Committee, Council will decide the issue at its fall meeting of that year.

 

4.2 The release time funds will be disbursed to the unit in each case subsequent to the Steering Committee’s approval and upon receipt of an invoice from Carleton University stating to which accounts the funds are to be credited and for what purpose. In no case will the funds be paid directly to the CUASA officer or otherwise be made available to the officer for personal use.

 

4.3 The release time funds may be used for either or both of the following three purposes:

– They may be used to secure the course or other equivalent release.
– Or they may be paid into a research grant account in the name and for the use of the CUASA officer, which account should be administered by the University in the same manner that it would administer a grant from a Canadian research council in the officer’s academic discipline
– Or they may be transferred to a professional development account under similar institutional control.

 

4.4 The disbursement must be requested and completed within the CUASA fiscal year coinciding with the officer’s term.

 

4.5 Librarians are eligible to receive time away from Library duties. For professional librarian employees, a full-course equivalent shall be deemed to be one working day per week over the contract year (article 18.8.c).