Issues in Depth

The UBC Faculty Association is the voice of faculty on a number of important issues. To see related posts on these issues including calls for faculty input, select the relevant tag or select the search icon at the top right of this page to use the search bar. Many topics are ongoing and faculty perspectives are always welcome. If you would like to comment on any item, please send an email to [email protected].

UBCFA Response – Draft Workplace Accommodation Policy for UBC Employees

The UBCFA has responded to the Draft Workplace Accommodation Policy for UBC Employees proposed by the University. Our correspondence to Hubert Lai, Q.C., University Counsel is available at this link

Annual General Meeting Agenda

Please find the full agenda from our 2021-2022 Annual General Meeting with more background and information here.

2021 Annual Report

Our 2021 Annual Report is available for view with our Annual General Meeting coming up on Thursday, June 16th.

Results of the UBCFA Executive Election 2022

Your UBCFA Executive Committee members volunteer their time to help guide the Faculty Association’s operational and policy decisions including advocacy, negotiation, education, communication and planning decisions. This year, the following offices were up for election: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Chair – Librarians & Archivists, Chair -Member Services & Grievance, Chair – Contract Faculty and 3 Member-at-Large positions. 

CUFA BC: Faculty mourn the deaths of 215 children from former Kamloops Indian Residential School

CUFA BC: Faculty mourn the deaths of 215 children from former Kamloops Indian Residential School (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Territories – Vancouver, BC, June 1, 2021) – The Confederation of University Faculty Associations of British Columbia (CUFA BC) stands in solidarity with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation and with all Indigenous faculty, students, and community members following the discovery of 215 children who were buried in unmarked graves at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. CUFA BC stands with First Nations in seeking the truth about missing and murdered children at the hands of the state in what is a horrific act of genocide whose legacy continues today.

CRA Announces New Simplified Rules for Claiming Expenses

Memorandum from the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)

New CRA Rules for Claiming Home Office Expenses due to COVID-19
for 2020 Tax Year

On December 15, Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) announced details of the new simplified process for claiming expenses related to working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A new flat rate deduction is being introduced for expenses up to $400, and a simplified detailed deduction for those wishing to claim more than $400. To assist in the assessment of which method is best, CRA has launched this calculator.

Welcome Back & Update from UBCFA

Dear Colleagues,

We hope you have begun settling into the term. There is no need to engage in platitudes about extraordinary times or exhortations that we are all in this together and doing a great job. We entered the new academic year anxious about our students, our families, our jobs; we are not certain how well we’ll do in our teaching and research or other professional activities under current conditions. The world seems an endless series of epidemiological, climatic, social justice, economic, and political disasters. We’re all doing what we can; we’re doing what we hope is well enough . . . 

Join the Dialogue: Call for Comments on Policy AP5

We hope you’ll take the opportunity to express your views on a proposal to amend the Deans/Principals Appointment Policy (AP5) and its associated Procedures. Send us your comments by September 30, 2020.