Weekly Update – February 5
February 5, 2021
Weekly Update – February 5
Summer Term Mostly Online
Carleton President Bacon announced this week that the Summer 2021 term will be mostly online, and the University anticipates some on-campus learning may be possible depending on public health developments.
The President also mentioned the increased demand last summer and said the University is developing an extensive summer schedule.
An increased demand for courses means a potential increase in workload for CUASA members. As such, we want to take this moment to remind CUASA members that they have the right to decline extra teaching in the summer if they so choose. Any overload that is taught during the summer is to be compensated with the Summer School Stipend, per Article 42 of the collective agreement. It is up to our members to express a desire to teach in the summer if they wish, not for the University to decide this on its own.
We also wish to remind our retirees that there are provisions under Article 39.9 for them to teach as well. Finally, we wish to remind our members on term appointments that if their units are able to demonstrate a need for the same type of employee, then their appointment should be renewed.
Should there be any questions or concerns with anything noted above, please do not hesitate to contact the CUASA Office at [email protected].
Clerk of Senate
Recently, the University issued a call for nominations for the Clerk of Senate position. The position is open to full-time tenure-track faculty members.
We wish to let CUASA members who may be interested know that the Clerk of Senate position is considered managerially excluded from the bargaining unit. This aspect of the position is not noted in the call for nominations.
Nominations for Steering Positions
We are still accepting nominations for the following Steering positions (click on the title to read the position description):
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 (please ask if interested).
Retired Representatives on Council
Per Article IV of the CUASA Constitution, there are two positions on Council for non-voting associate members representing retirees. Both of those positions are up for election this year for three-year terms beginning April 1, 2021. Any retired members interested in running for election to one of these two positions is asked to contact Irwin Reichstein at [email protected].
Academic Community Updates
Act now: Demand the government provide the necessary funding to secure the future of Laurentian University
In a surprising move, Laurentian University has filed for court protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) due to financial challenges it is facing as a result of reckless administrative decisions and the erosion of public university funding.
Laurentian University is a public institution, not a private sector corporation. As such, it is the responsibility of government to ensure sustainable operating funding. This funding would put an immediate end to Laurentian’s financial challenges and prevent inappropriate and costly legal proceedings.
Together, we need to put pressure on both the provincial and federal governments to provide Laurentian with the funding it needs, not just to survive for a few more months, but to secure the public institution’s long-term future.
Make your voice heard: Click here to send a letter demanding the provincial and federal governments intervene to protect this vital public institution.
Click here to read OCUFA’s statement on the situation at Laurentian, and click here to read CAUT’s statement.
Winter 2021 operating plans for Ontario universities
OCUFA has collected information about Ontario university and university-college operating plans and course delivery strategies for the winter 2021 term. It has compiled a database of university plans, including mode of delivery, faculty choice over delivery mode, access to research spaces and offices. faculty accommodations, and student questionnaires on courses and teaching. For more information, click here.
Call for submissions: 2020-2021 Annual OCUFA Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards
Each year, OCUFA is proud to celebrate outstanding achievement in teaching and academic librarianship at Ontario universities. Through the Teaching and Academic Librarianship Awards, we recognize those individuals whose pedagogical leadership and support have made a positive and enduring difference to their students and colleagues. The deadline for nominations is May 28, 2021. For more information and award guidelines, click here.
CAUT and partners launch Education for All Campaign
CAUT has joined forces with the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS), the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the National Union of Public General Employees (NUPGE) to launch the Education for All campaign. Together representing more than one million students and workers, the coalition is putting forth a vision of a more affordable, accessible, high quality, and publicly-funded post-secondary education (PSE) system. To read more, click here.
French court’s ruling is a further injustice for Hassan Diab
CAUT is dismayed at the recent ruling by France’s Court of Appeal that Canadian academic Hassan Diab must stand trial. Click here to read the full statement.
