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VOX

VOX is a publication sponsored by the USFA and is published by an independent Editorial Board. It is a forum for the expression of opinions of USFA members. Materials published in VOX do not necessarily express USFA policy, the views of the USFA Executive or the Editorial Board. Submissions of general interest less than 300 […]

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2024 USFA Executive Elections: Call for Nominations

This is a call for nominations in the election to fill six vacancies on the USFA Executive Committee commencing July 1, 2024: Category A: one vacancy (2 year term) Category B: one vacancy  (2 year term) Category C: one vacancy (2 year term) Category D: one vacancy (2 year term) Category E: two vacancies (2 […]

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Removing inappropriate comments from SLEQ

Responses to SLEQ are confidential, not anonymous, and it is possible to have inappropriate comments removed. This clearly came through in comments from respondents to our Campus Safety and Student Abuse of Faculty Questionnaire with the suggestion that accountability is needed for anonymous evaluations. Comments from students are treated as confidential and while student identity […]

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Negotiations update (March 2024)

Our last negotiations update was provided through a verbal report at the Fall General Meeting. Another verbal report will be provided at the upcoming Spring General Meetings on May 1st. We have had 16 bargaining sessions with employer representatives, and we have seven more sessions scheduled before June. We are keen to conclude in this […]

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Campus Safety and Student Abuse of Faculty – Suggestions from you

Our recent questionnaire on the topic of campus safety and student abuse of faculty garnered 193 responses. Of these, 121 provided detailed answers to three open-ended questions included in the questionnaire: What was the nature of abuse? (Select all that apply, with an option for “Other” and space for specifying details.) Do you have suggestions […]

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Faculty Associations support STF job action

On Monday, the USFA, University of Regina Faculty Association (URFA), Saskatchewan Polytechnic Faculty Association (SPFA), and Saskatchewan Teacher’s Federation (STF) held a joint press conference on the state of funding for education in Saskatchewan. (View the press conference here.) Whether it is early childhood and primary or post-secondary education, we share the same concerns and […]

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An important message concerning the Assignment of Duties

Last week faculty members received an email from the Office of the Vice-Provost Faculty Relations regarding the Assignment of Duties process, which is nearing deadlines for completion (Department Heads must complete assignments by March 31, and Deans must approve them by April 30 for the 2024–5 Academic year). You should be aware that, in the […]

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Student Abuse of Faculty Questionnaire: What we heard from you

Thank you to everyone who responded to our questionnaire regarding student abuse of faculty. We received 193 responses (nearly 25% of the faculty complement). You can view the results in a graphic format here. Just over two-thirds of respondents told us they have experienced abuse from current or former students with most abuse (75%) taking […]

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STF Job Action – How you can support STF members

As part of its ongoing efforts to reach a new collective agreement that holds the provincial government accountable for fixing the problems in schools, the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) has announced it is implementing rotating strikes. The USFA stands in solidarity with STF’s efforts to reach a settlement that includes provisions to address critical issues […]

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Campus Safety – Did you know…?

U of S has a campus safety app. The USafe App is available for Android and iPhone, and gives you direct access to Protective Services and other important safety tools and information, including: USask Alerts: Notifies you of USask Alerts in active and urgent situations (you will have enable notifications in the app). Safewalk/Friend Walk: Provides live […]

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