Our 2018 salary settlement with the University included a commitment to re-allocate unused Faculty Professional Expense Reimbursement (FPER) funds. We've reached an agreement with Provost to divide all the FPER money that expired last spring and this spring equally among members and add it to this year’s FPER allowance (for faculty who were FPER-eligible as of May 1, 2020). That will happen on December 4, 2020. The FPER funds that expire April 30, 2021, will be added to next year’s FPER amount.
If you have a claim currently in progress, you’ll need to complete it in order to see an updated balance. The Office of Finance requests that faculty wrap up any open claims by December 4 and wait until those are reimbursed before starting any new ones. For more details, please see the email "FPER Resolution" from UWaterloo Communications dated November 26, 2020.
In related news, Finance has released a chart that explains which work-from-home expenses are eligible for FPER, a tax deduction, or both. Note that chairs and other furniture are not eligible for either, but, as per an email from the provost and Finance on October 30, employees are welcome to take chairs, computer monitors, and other small furniture/equipment home.