This is a joint message from Lori Curtis, President, Faculty Association of the University of Waterloo and James W. E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic & Provost.
We are pleased to update the University community on progress of the Policy 76/77 revision process. Following receipt of the report of the policy development committee on September 23, the Faculty Relations Committee (FRC), which we co-chair, has spent the majority of our meeting time identifying and discussing the major terms we consider of importance in reshaping the policies. This has been a collegial, collaborative, and productive discussion which has resulted in agreement on several major areas.
FRC has agreed on terms related to:
- ranks, progression, and permanence of teaching stream faculty in parallel with current promotion and tenure processes;
- structure and expectations regarding a one-term-in-six professional and pedagogical development term (currently called the “non-teaching term”) and other supports;
- a maximal course teaching load;
- opt-in transitional pathways available for current Lecturers into the new structure;
- discontinuing the rank Lecturer for new appointments;
- restrictions around the cumulative length of definite term appointments within the teaching stream faculty ranks; and
- guidance on the fuller participation of teaching stream faculty in collegial governance and in accessing internal and external funding for which they are eligible.
FRC will continue to meet with the aim of finalizing terms of agreement by the end of 2021. It is the unanimous opinion of FRC that this work on refining and clarifying the terms in the FRC forum will allow the subsequent policy-writing process to proceed expeditiously, focused on points we have already agreed upon.
With joint optimism that the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose will continue to guide our discussion through to completion of this process, we commit to updating you again at the end of 2021.
Tell us what you think in our Policy 76/77 Comment Form: We want to keep hearing from members to help guide our discussions at FRC, and we will share updates and answer your questions as often as we can.