Welcome Back!
As a new academic year gets underway, we want to welcome all SAFA members, returning and new, to the Fall 2026 semester. For some members, summer provided an opportunity to step away and recharge, while others continued teaching and supporting students throughout the summer months. As campus becomes busier and the new academic year takes shape, we’re looking forward to reconnecting with members across SAIT.
The start of a new year can bring plenty of questions, changes, and competing demands. As always, SAFA is here to support you. Whether you have questions about your collective agreement, workload, working conditions, or something happening in your workplace, reach out to your SAFA representative. We’re here to help members understand their rights, work through concerns, and make sure members’ voices are heard.
Here’s to a good Fall semester ahead!
The SAFA Executive Team
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Is Your Workload Working? Take Action Early
Classes are underway, and this is often when the difference between a faculty member’s assigned workload and the actual work required becomes clear. If the first few weeks of class are showing that your workload is not realistic, you should raise the concern now.
As a reminder, faculty workload includes three parts: Class Contact Hours (CCH), Class Management Activities (CMA), and Professional Duties (PD). Your workload assignment from your Academic Chair should account for all three, not just the hours you spend teaching. Detailed information about workload definitions can be found in the Faculty Workload Guidelines (posted on SAITNow).
What might be a workload concern?
You may want to raise a concern if:
- the time needed for preparation, grading, student support, or other CMA is greater than anticipated;
- class size is significantly affecting the amount of work required;
- assigned Professional Duties, curriculum work, scholarly activity, or other responsibilities cannot reasonably fit within your available work time; or
- your workload assignment does not accurately reflect what you are actually being asked to do.
Raise the concern in writing
The first step in the Workload Complaint Process is to submit your concern in writing to your Academic Chair. Explain what part of the workload is not working and provide specific examples. Your Academic Chair is expected to respond to your concern in writing within 5 workdays. If the issue is not resolved, you can then notify SAFA of your issues and move forward with the formal Workload Complaint Process.
Document what is happening
If workload is becoming a concern, track your actual work hours each week. Record the time you spend on teaching, preparation, grading, student support, meetings, curriculum work, professional duties, and other assigned responsibilities. Specific information is much more useful than simply saying, “I’m overloaded.” A record showing where your work time is actually going gives you concrete evidence to use when discussing the issue with your Academic Chair or other leadership.
Don’t wait until the end of the semester. If your workload is already showing signs that it is not manageable, the first few weeks of class are a good time to raise the issue. Questions about your workload or how to start the complaint process? Contact the SAFA Office for support.
In Solidarity,
Craig Coolahan
SAFA Labour Relations Officer
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We Can’t Wait to See You!
🍂 Reconnect with friends and colleagues at the upcoming Welcome Back Event! 🍂
This member-only reception will include free food and 2 drink tickets per attendee. Cash bar and complimentary taxi chits will be available at the event.
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 4pm – 7:30pm
Location: MacDonald Hall, Heritage Hall, Main Campus
🚜 🦙 Members are invited to bring their families to a day of fun at Cobbs Adventure Park! 🛝🦘
This event is open to all SAFA members and their families, with complimentary passes to the corn maze, axe throwing, play areas, and lunch courtesy of SAFA. Please note that one-on-one animal experiences are not included in the SAFA event admission.
Date: Saturday, September 19, 2026
Time: 11am – 5pm, lunch served 12pm-2pm
Location: Cobbs Adventure Park, 1500 84th Street NE, Calgary
Tickets: Maximum 10 tickets per family. Email [email protected] for tickets or additional information. DEADLINE to request tickets: Thursday, September 10th at 12:00 (noon)