Committees
Standing Committees (Article XI, AUFA Constitution)
ASSOCIATION GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
The Association Grievance Committee (AGC), mandated by Article X1.1(v), is responsible for investigating complaints and whether or not to pursue grievances.
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GRIEVANCE APPEAL COMMITTEE
The Grievance Appeal Committee (GAC), mandated by Article X1.1(v), is responsible for conducting appeals of Association Grievance Committee grievance denial decisions.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE
The Communications Committee is responsible for external communications and media relations on behalf of the Association. It also issues the Association’s newsletters, The Communicator and The Negotiator (the latter only during bargaining years).
SURVEY COMMITTEE
In the year prior to the final year of the Collective Agreement, the Survey Committee (SC) shall develop a survey to be distributed to the membership prior to Negotiations.
The SC shall normally be composed of two members of the Executive and at least three other members of AUFA who collectively have expertise in survey methodology. Every effort shall be made to ensure equitable representation of the membership on the SC, including members of all three Faculties and from varying job classifications (Librarian/Archivist, Instructor, Professor, and Part- time members). The members of the SC shall jointly select a Chair.
PROPOSALS COMMITTEE
The mandate of the Proposals Committee is set out in Article XI 1(ii) of the AUFA Constitution: “In the final year of the current Collective Agreement, the Proposals Committee (PC) shall draft proposals to be included in the Collective Agreement. The PC shall keep a record of the results of the first survey, MOUs, MOAs, and issues identified by the Executive and AGC. The PC shall conduct Round Table meetings of the membership to provide information and receive feedback necessary to prepare its proposals, normally by January 31 of the year in which the Collective Agreement expires. The Chair of the PC shall submit the proposals to the membership for approval at a general meeting of the Association, normally no later than March 1 of the year in which the Collective Agreement expires. The PC shall conduct a second membership survey, as outlined in Article XVII below. The PC shall be composed of the President or President Elect, Senior Grievance Officer or other member of the AGC, Records Officer of the Negotiating Team, Chief Negotiator who shall be a non-voting member, and at least two other Association members. Every effort shall be made to ensure equitable representation of the membership on the PC, including members of all three Faculties and from varying job classifications (Librarian/Archivist, Instructor, Professor, and Part-time members). The members of the PC shall jointly select a Chair.”
NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
The Negotiating Committee represents AUFA in negotiations with the Board for a collective agreement.
Anthony Pash, Chief
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Nominating Committee is responsible for nominating the Executive Officers of AUFA.
Article X 2 of the AUFA Constitution, states that the Executive officers shall be nominated by a Nominating Committee elected in the manner outlined in Article XI 3 (i) to (vi). The Nominating Committee shall inform members of the Association by mail of the nominations it has made at least two weeks in advance of the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee shall make every effort to ensure equitable representation of the membership on the executive. Additional nominations can be made in advance in writing to the Union Officer, or from the floor. Prior to the meeting the Union Officer shall communicate to the membership the names of all nominations to all positions.
Ad Hoc Committees
AWARDS COMMITTEE
Lois Vallely-Fischer Award for Democratic Student Citizenship
This AUFA award recognizes the contributions of a senior baccalaureate student who has contributed to the quality of democratic discourse, critical thought, and legitimate contestation in campus or community life, and who has demonstrated leadership in defending student political rights and the interests of disadvantaged groups.
Patrick O’Neill Award for Labour Activisim
This AUFA award recognizes the contributions of a senior student baccalaureate student who has advocated for the rights of the students and employees of Acadia within the university, within the Wolfville and Valley communities, and to the provincial and federal governments.
CAUT DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD
The CAUT Dedicated Service Award is presented to individuals in recognition of exceptional service to their academic staff associations.
Recipients of this award include:
Paul Abela
Janice Best
Andrew Biro
Karmen Bleile
Rachel Brickner
Darlene Brodeur
Anna Kiefte
Erin Patterson
Vernon Provencal
Jessica Slights
Marc Ramsay
Cindy Trudel
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
INVESTMENT
An ad hoc committee of AUFA, the Investment Committee monitors and manages the Association’s investment portfolio.
JOB ACTION
The purpose of this committee is to coordinate the activities of the membership in in the event that a reduction or withdrawal of services is deemed necessary to achieve a fair contract.
NUMERACY
This committee was formed to collate and track numerical data of interest to AUFA. This might include: the number of members in each rank and step; Article 28.10 data; allocation of 25.54 funds; number and size of courses, and other data that might be important in negotiations or in managing AUFA’s relationship to the employer. The committee will also report on this data for internal use by AUFA.
PART-TIME ENGAGEMENT
The Part-Time Engagement Committee works to represent the interests of AUFA’S part-time members. The committee is co-chaired by the Part-Time Faculty Outreach Coordinator and the Part-Time Representative of the AUFA Executive.
TRAVEL ADJUDICATION
AUFA makes available up to$5000 per year to assist members to attend events, conferences, or workshops that are related to your work as a member of the Association. Activities with a focus on labour and political action, academic freedom, social justice, and other such topics, or professional development activities directly related to a committee you are sitting on or other work you are doing as an AUFA representative will be given priority. This fund is additional to what is regularly spent to sponsor attendance at CAUT meetings and training. All current AUFA members are eligible to apply. There will be two application deadlines per year: October 15th and March 15th .
WOMEN'S
The AUFA Women’s Committee works to promote awareness around women’s issues and gender equity in the Acadia University workplace. By facilitating networking, education, and learning opportunities, AUFA-W seeks to address the complex and multifaceted barriers that stymie equity both at Acadia University and beyond.
AUFA Reps to Affiliated Groups
ANSUT COUNCIL
Founded in 1997, the Association of Nova Scotia University Teachers (ANSUT) represents the faculty associations of eight universities in Nova Scotia.
CAUT COUNCIL
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) is the national voice for over 68,000 academic and general staff. As well as many other activities CAUT lobbies governments, provides collective bargaining and legal support to member associations, and actively advances the social and economic interests of its members.
CAUT DEFENCE FUND
The CAUT Defence Fund meets as needed to approve strike/lockout benefits for member unions.
NOVA SCOTIA STUDENT, STAFF AND FACULTY ALLIANCE GROUP
An alliance of 19 unions and associations, representing over 18,000 students, staff and faculty, formed to call upon university administrators to consider the implications of the ‘new normal’ created by COVID-19.
Committees Required Under the 16th Collective Agreement
ACADIA UNIVERSITY CHILD CARE
For the 16th CA, the Committee is responsible for overseeing the development of a plan to establish a university childcare center (MOA).
EMPLOYMENT EQUITY (EEC)
The purpose of the Employment Equity Committee (EEC) is to identify discriminatory barriers to employment equity and develop an Employment Equity Plan. (Art. 3.60)
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The purpose of the Committee is to examine and review financial statements and information pertaining to the operation of Acadia University (Artice 28.30).
Article 28.30 states: There shall be a Standing Committee on Financial Information which shall meet not less than three (3) times a year. The purpose of the Committee is to examine and review financial statements and information pertaining to the operation of Acadia University. Through these meetings, it is hoped that an understanding of the University’s financial policy and position will evolve, thereby leading to a better informed University community. The Committee shall have seven members, three appointed by the Association and the Associate Vice-President (Finance) and Treasurer, the University Budget Officer, and the Provost, and the Vice-President (Finance), or designate, of the Acadia Students’ Union.
GROUP INSURANCE BENEFITS
The Group Insurance Benefits Committee oversees all Group Insurance Benefits and make recommendations concerning changes in these benefits. (Arts. 26.50 and 26.51)
INDIGENOUS, ASSOCIATION AND BOARD COMMITTEE
The IABC shall be to develop recommendations for an Indigenous employment strategy for Faculty members, including but not limited to establishing priority initiatives, determining the professional responsibilities and workload of Indigenous faulty, determining hiring and retention protocols, establishing timeframes for implementation of the strategy and evaluation processes, and advising DRCs/LRCs when appropriate. By 1 July 2024, the IABC shall forward its recommendations to the Parties. (Memorandum of Agreement)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Intellectual Property committee caries out out business relating to aspects of intellectual property specified in the Collective Agreement (Art. 33.25)
JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT
The Joint Committee functions in an advisory capacity to the Board and the Association with the general aim of ensuring that the Collective Agreement is administered in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect. (Arts. 30.10 and 30.11)
JOINT OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
The Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee Is mandated is to oversee the health and safety of all campus employees and to monitor compliance with the Nova Scotia Occupational Health and Safety Act. (Arts. 17.91 and 17.92)
PAY EQUITY AND APPOINTMENTS
The Pay Equity and Appointments Committee monitors and reports on all appointments made in any given academic year.
(Art. 39.20)
SABBATICAL LEAVE
The Sabbatical Leave Committee reviews and make decisions on all applications for Sabbatical Leave based on the information provided
under Article 24.13 (Article 24.12).
Committees Established by University Policy
APPEALS COMMITTEE, POLICY AGAINST HARASSMENT AND DISCRIMINATION
This committee hears appeals of decisions made by the Equity Officer and appeals based on investigative procedure concerning the University Policy Against Harassment and Discrimination.
BUDGET ADVISORY
The Budget Advisory Committee was created by Acadia administration and its terms are set by the President and/or Chief Financial Officer. Its purpose is to review the budget prior to its release. In some years, AUFA is invited to have a representative serve on the committee.
SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE POLICY
Two faculty representatives selected by AUFA are part of the Sexual Health Working Group. Working with the Sexualized Violence Response and Education Coordinator, the Sexual Health Working Group annually reviews the Sexualized Violence Policy and reports on any recommended revisions. The Sexualized Violence Response and Education Coordinator maintains aggregate data (detailed in section 11) and will present it to the Sexual Health Working Group annually by May 15.
Acadia University is built on the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq Nation. We are all Treaty People.
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