Wednesday, August 19th 2020
Back to In-Person Courses?
No information has been confirmed at this time on the return to classes this fall. However, some departments are exploring the possibility in returning to in-person teaching in addition to continuing with remote teaching.
In the absence of adequate compensation and a safe return plan for all, we recommend that members refuse to return to class.
Reminders
Internet fee reimbursement of up to $15
In accordance with Article 10.1.5 of the Collective Agreement, a member who teaches an online course will be reimbursed up to $15.00 per month for internet fees upon presentation of receipts for the semester in which the course is given.
For this purpose, please contact your department.
Deadline to submit a claim for the purchase of technological equipment
This message is addressed to all those who taught one or more courses during the Winter 2020 Session and/or the Spring-Summer 2020 Session.
In accordance with the Letter of Understanding agreed upon on June 17, 2020 regarding additional compensation, we remind you that you have until August 31 to submit your claims for the purchase of technological equipment to support your online or distance learning activities.
Please submit your detailed invoices and proof of payment to lr-acad@uottawa.ca and by adding info@aptpuo.ca in CC.
For more information, please see the Letter of Understanding here.
Letters of Understanding for the Spring-Summer Session 2020
The Association would like to remind you of the Letters of understanding (LOU) reached between the Association and the Employer concerning your working conditions for the Spring-Summer session.
You can consult the letters of agreement by visiting the COVID-19 Information section of the main menu on the APTPUO website or by clicking on the links below :
Letters of Understanding – Spring-Summer Session
- LOU – Student evaluations (Main unit)
- LOU – Student evaluations (Toronto / Windsor)
- LOU – Student evaluations (OLBI)
- LOU – Academic and Professional and Development fund
- LOU – Compensation
Enrolment Period Deadline for the APTPUO Extended Health Insurance
This message is to inform you that the enrolment period for the APTPUO Extended Health Insurance ends on September 30, 2020.
More information on the Extended Health Insurance here.
Health and Safety
In this time of health crisis, if you are required to work on campus and if you believe that your health and safety would be compromised by doing so, you have the right to refuse any work that is hazardous to your health and safety.
It is the Employer’s responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace as per Article 3.5.1 of the Collective Agreement and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The Employer must also provide the appropriate safety equipment.
You may also be entitled to request accommodation if your situation requires it. Thus, the Employer“has a legal duty to accommodate members” as outlined in Article 2.4.1 of the Collective Agreement.
In all cases, before exercising your rights, we encourage you to contact us so that we can accompany you in your efforts.
Resources
APTPUO Guide 1.0
The Fall Session is just around the corner!
Whether this is your first time giving a distance education course or not, we have prepared a basic guide in April to help you transform your course!
Teach with Zoom!
Available TLSS Trainings
The Employer has adopted Zoom as one of its recognized teaching softwares.
Sign up for one of the TLSS Webinars for tips and tricks on how you can adapt your course on Zoom.
Practical Guide
By Alison Flynn & Jeremy Kerr
We also recommend the guide, Remote teaching: A practical guide with tools, tips, and techniques, by Alison Flynn and Jeremy Kerr to further assist you in the preparation of your remote courses.
#uoDISsatisfaction
For the first time in years, we are witnessing a strong mobilization and solidarity between student unions and employee associations across campus. The associations under the Inter-Union Coalition are collectively working towards a common goal – to ensure high quality education and equitable learning, teaching and working conditions for all.
To find out more on our current campaign, please visit www.uodissatisfaction.ca.
Related News
University of Toronto’s Reopening Plan is NOT Safe Enough
APTPUO stands in solidarity with the front-line university workers at the University of Toronto who are calling on the Administration to make the safety of its community a priority by halting the return to in-person teaching.
We invite you to sign and share their petition here.
Courage to Act
Survey on the Roles of Higher Education Institution Staff Members in Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence.
You are invited to participate in the short 5-10 minute survey, Courage to Act, which is a national project to combat and prevent sexual violence in post-secondary institutions in Canada.
For more information, please visit https://www.couragetoact.ca.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact couragedagir@gmail.com.
You can complete the survey here.
In Search of Professor Precarious by Gerry Potter
We were honored to welcome Gerry Potter last October at our (in)visible conference!
The APTPUO is pleased to announce that Gerry will premiere his recent documentary to which we have contributed financially, In Search of Professor Precarious, and you are invited to attend virtually and for free!
The world premiere of the documentary In Search of Professor Precarious by Gerry Potter will take place over an entire weekend, from Friday, September 4, 2020 at 7:30 pm to Sunday, September 6 at 7:30 pm.
The Canadian documentary feature examining the issues, the stories and struggles of precarious contract faculty in post-secondary institutions,
To see the film free of charge, go to the film website during those limited times: http://professorprecarious.com
Precarious Professors Moving Forward
Panel/Webinar
That’s not all, the premiere will be followed by a free, live panel/webinar!
The panel/webinar will take place on Sunday, September 6 at 7:30 pm, shortly after the premiere, on Zoom where guests will be addressing current issues for precarious contract faculty.
The panelists:
- Dr. Joe Berry, contingent faculty in history and labor studies, activist and author of the classic Reclaiming the Ivory Tower and editor of COCAL updates;
- Dr. Sarika Bose, chair of CAUT’s (Canadian Association of University Teachers) contract academic staff committee;
- Frank Cosco, chief steward, vancouver community college faculty association;
- Pam Johnson, leader of ontario colleges’ former “Contract Faculty Forward” group and an OPSEU (Ontario Public Service Employees Union) strike steward;
- Chandra Pasma, senior research officer, CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees), co-author of “Contract U“.
Hosted by the film’s director, Gerry Potter, a longtime precarious professor, activist and filmmaker of In Search of Professor Precarious.
Here are the details to attend the panel/webinar:
Please click the link below to join the webinar at the time of the webinar (no pre-registration required):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88378716131?pwd=RUFCZjFUZ0pSb0JmQWMvRHlGeEhmdz09
Passcode: 375259
Participate to the forums!
With Fall just around the corner, there is no better time than now to join the conversation in the APTPUO Forum! Exchange on the best practices for distance learning, share advice or experiences with your peers or ask questions!
To participate in the forums, please visit https://aptpuo.ca/forums.
The APTPUO recognizes that its offices and operations at the University of Ottawa are on unceded and unsurrendered Algonquin territory.