May 30th: Update to Membership
New Collective Agreement: FAQs
SAFA knows that members have questions about how the new Collection Agreement changes your work at SAIT, so we will be running a series of FAQs on the most common questions we receive. If you would like to know more about a topic related to the new CA, send your suggestions to [email protected].
Workload FAQ
When will the new workload processes start?
The new Section 36 for Workload and the LOU for implementation of the Faculty Workload Guidelines will come into effect on July 1, 2022 (new academic year).
What is changing in Section 36?
The new Section 36 states that faculty workload will be assigned by the Dean (or designee) in accordance with a new Faculty Workload Guideline document in consultation with the faculty.
Workload is based on three components, which we are now calling Class Contact Hours (CCH), Class Management Activities (CMA), and Professional Duties (PD). There is no longer “assignable work” – all work must fit into the three components of CCH, CMA, and PD.
Who will create and update the Faculty Workload Guidelines document?
A committee will be formed by faculty and administrators (appointed by SAFA and SAIT, respectively) to create and then update the guidelines on a regular basis. Faculty input will be vitally important in developing these guidelines. These guidelines will define components of all three areas of workload (CCH, CMA, and PD), provide implementation examples, and outline the new grievance process. SAFA’s draft submission for the Faculty Workload Guidelines is found here.
What if I do not agree with my workload assignment?
There will be a new Workload Grievance Process outlined in the Faculty Workload Guidelines document. The process will require faculty to submit grievances to a Workload Monitoring Group (WMG) that will be formed of equal numbers of faculty and administrators. This means your workload concerns will now be heard by your fellow instructors instead of just SAIT administration.
This process is in development – see the attached LOU for details. In the meantime, please report all workload assignment issues to SAFA at [email protected].
Are asynchronous teaching activities recognized in my workload assignment? Yes, Section 36.04 now states that CCH is 50 minutes of synchronous or asynchronous scheduled instruction.
How does a decrease in my work week hours impact my workload? The decrease in work hours should reduce your Professional Duty assignments.
Scenario: Kim is a full-time instructor in the School of Business. The change in work week hours has the following impact on their workload:
Old CA | New CA | |
Weekly Work Hours | 40 | 37.5 |
Total Yearly Hours | 2080 | 1950 |
Yearly Work Hours minus leave* (YWH) | 1592 | 1427.5 |
Total CCH | 540 | 540 |
Estimated CMA | 540 | 540 |
PD (YWH – (CCH + CMA) | 512 | 347.5 |
*leave = vacation days, personal days, holidays
If my work week decreased from 40 hours to 37.5 hours, does my maximum CCH decrease to 18.75 per week? No, S36.04 language has not changed. It still states CCH will not exceed the following unless agreed to by the instructor:
- The greater of twenty hours or 3% of the applicable CCH, in any given week averaged over a 15-week period.
- Six hours in any given day, or
- Four consecutive hours in any given day.
While you will have the same CCH and CMA assignments as before, the reduction in work week will decrease the time spent on professional duties.
Is the definition of CCH changing? Not at this time. SAFA did sign an LOU for a joint committee to “work collaboratively to explore the best method of workload assignment for approved programs at SAIT” that will involve investigating moving from class contact hours to a model such as credit-based workload assignment. Click here for the LOU document for details.