usfa@usaskfaculty.ca

Important Notice: USFA Office Closed

As a result of health concerns related to COVID-19, we made the decision to close our office until further notice. Association staff will be working remotely and may be contacted phone or email. Phone calls to the USFA office will be forwarded and our staff will continue to answer emails as usual. 

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COVID-19 Response

Dear USFA members, By now you have likely seen the university’s messages concerning Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the suspension of all classes on the Saskatoon campus and regional colleges today, tomorrow, and Wednesday. Remote delivery of classes begins on Thursday March 19, and continues for the remainder of the winter term. The university is also closing its recreation facilities. […]

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COVID-19: What if you think you’ve been exposed?

The work of USFA members is international in scope and it is entirely possible that some of you will be exposed to COVID-19. If you have, or believe you possibly have, been exposed, follow advice available on the Government of Saskatchewan website, which includes monitoring for symptoms, self-isolation and contacting Healthline811. In addition, advise your Dean […]

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Graduate Student Tuition Increases

The USFA’s External Relations Committee met recently with the Graduate Students Association, which is opposing a series of tuition hikes over the next several years, along with PSAC 40004, the bargaining agent for graduate students working as teaching assistants. “We are considering increasing graduate tuition by approximately 10 per cent per year for five years,” provost […]

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Invitation to apply: USFA Conference Fund (Winter 2020)

Did you know the USFA has a Conference Fund to which members may apply for financial support to attend conferences related to the USFA? This would include conferences, workshops or meetings related labour relations, academic freedom, employment equity and workplace health and safety.  Criteria for approval of requests includes: Relevance to the mandate and activities […]

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Expectations for Teaching, Research, and Service Part 2

A recent e-letter referenced a view once widely-held here that that faculty devote 40% of their time to research, 40% to teaching, and 20% to service. The intent behind the 40/40/20 model was to ensure that faculty had time to remain sufficiently current in their area of expertise so as to make scholarly contributions, that […]

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Reduced Appointment Retirement Plan (RARP)

USFA members over the age of 55, should they wish, have the right to participate in a Reduced Appointment Retirement Plan (RARP), which is a way to work less than full time (between 80% and 50%) before retiring. A RARP must have a duration of 12 months and can be as long as 36 months.  […]

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CAUT in solidarity with Ontario teachers and education workers

Many of you might be aware that tomorrow, February 21st, will see all four public school teacher unions in Ontario mount a coordinated strike for the first time in decades. Many Ontario faculty associations in Ontario are staging coordinated solidarity actions on the same day. “Ontario’s teachers are fighting for an education system that ensures […]

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Copyright Discussions at JCMA

There is a conflict between the Collective Agreement and information available on the website for the Vice-President Research regarding copyright ownership of works created by faculty. The Intellectual Property Policies (Section 2.2 Copyright Policy – Works Created at the University of Saskatchewan) suggests faculty members do not retain copyright in any work they create through the course of […]

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Expectations for teaching, research, and service

The Joint Committee for the Management of the Agreement has had discussions recently regarding assignment of duties. These discussions have included the three primary areas of responsibility that faculty duties entail – research, teaching, administration – expressed in percentages of time devoted to each area, most often as 40% research, 40% teaching and 20% administration. […]

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