March 5 memo
We are delighted to report that the FAUW president and the provost have signed the final version of a Letter of Understanding (LOU) to clarify new faculty employment agreements (EAs) at University of Waterloo. Download the LOU.
Application to employment agreements: This LOU applies retroactively to any EAs teaching stream faculty members signed as part of the implementation of the new Policy 76 and Policy 77. The LOU also applies retroactively to all EAs signed by tenure stream faculty members since the new EA templates were implemented in 2023. In addition, the LOU will apply to all future EAs signed by any FAUW members.
Key elements of the LOU:
- This document addresses all concerns received from members and aligns any ambiguities in the EAs with University policy.
- Assignment of teaching is now clearly defined by Policy 40 – The Chair.
- Disciplinary actions, devotion of “professional time,” and group benefits are aligned with FAUW’s Memorandum of Agreement and University policy.
- The EAs use language different from that in Policy 73 - Intellectual Property to describe work products; the LOU aligns the EAs with the definitions in Policy 73.
- A Letter of Understanding cannot change University policy. Policies supersede all agreements and changes to policy require the process outlined in Policy 1.
- The LOU has been reviewed by FAUW legal counsel.
Action required: No further action is required; the LOU has been signed by the President of FAUW on your behalf and is already in force. Please contact FAUW with any questions you have about the Letter of Understanding or employment agreements.