QUFA Digest: September 2025 Update

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Hello QUFA Members,

Please see an updated September 2025 edition of Digest below.

Deadlines

  • Annual Performance Review: Annual Reports are due on September 30, 2025. See Article 28 of the Collective Agreement. Please note the different processes for full-time faculty and Term Adjuncts. The upcoming Annual Reports cover the 2024-2025 Academic Year (July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025). Please contact your Unit Head about accessing forms.
    • Term Adjuncts need to fill out Appendix F in the Collective Agreement. These reviews are important not only as an annual review, but they are requirements for General Right of Reappointment (GRoR) and Continuing Adjunct conversion applications. GRoR requires 3 completed evaluations and Continuing Adjunct conversion requires 6 evaluations. See Article 32 of the Collective Agreement for details.
    • For Term Adjunct Members who teach in the Spring-Summer Term, reporting is as follows: Spring teaching (May/June 2024) is part of the previous Academic Year (since it occurs before July 1). Summer teaching (July/August 2024) is included in the 2024-25 Academic Year Report. Spring/Summer teaching (May to August 2024) is also included in the 2024-25 Academic Year Report.
  • Tuition Support Plan: The fall submission window is September 1 – November 1, 2025. See Appendix N of the Collective Agreement and click here for the application form.
  • Fund for Scholarly and Creative Work and Professional Development (Adjuncts): The application deadline is October 6, 2025. The application and guidelines are located here.
  • Childcare Support Plan: The deadline will be February 1, 2026. Please see Appendix M of the Collective Agreement and click here for the application form.
  • Pension Activation at 71: If you are turning 71 in 2025, you will need to activate all pensions (UPP, CPP, etc.) by December 2025. Please reach out to the University Pension Plan through the secure member portal on the UPP Website ASAP for assistance. For the Canada Pension Plan, you will need to set up a My Service Canada Account and then follow links to apply for the CPP. If you have other pensions, please contact your previous employers’ pension offices. 

Events

  • New Member Quaff: New Faculty, Librarian, and Archivist Members (hired within the past 5 years) are invited to join QUFA for a social to kick off the fall term. Our annual New Member Quaff will be held on October 7 at 1pm at the Grad Club (162 Barrie St.). Please RSVP to Elizabeth Polnicky at ep43@queensu.ca by Monday October 6.
  • Fair Employment Week: QUFA is participating in the CAUT annual campaign to raise awareness about precarious working conditions for contract academic staff, and to mobilize solidarity for better pay, job security, and rights.  Please drop by our information table outside the Mac-Corry Food Court on Oct 21 and 22 from 9am to 4pm. Please find more info and shareable resources here.

Get Involved

  • QUFA Caucuses: We are looking for members to join our Caregivers Caucus, BIPOC Caucus, and New Faculty Caucus. The Caregivers Caucus connects members involved in care responsibilities (e.g., young children, seniors, family members with disabilities) to share experiences, concerns, and resources. The BIPOC Caucus supports and advocates for members who are Black, Indigenous, or racialized and/or visible minorities. It is organized to collectively discuss workplace matters specific to QUFA’s BIPOC members and work towards racial equity in our workplace. The New Faculty Caucus connects recently appointed faculty (up to 5 years) to share experiences and concerns pertinent to new faculty. To inquire about joining any of these caucuses, please reach out to QUFA Political Action and Communications Committee (PACC) Chair Vanessa Thompson at vt25@queensu.ca

For Your Information

  • New Members: If you are a recent hire at Queen’s, you can fill out an Association Membership form here. To learn more about being a Member of the union Bargaining Unit and a Member of the Association, click here.
  • QUFA Voices: Please see the latest edition here. Stay tuned for a new Voices archive on the website.
  • QUFA Podcast: Check out Campus Conversations.
  • You can always check our News & Events feed on the bottom of the website homepage for updates: www.qufa.ca
  • Visit QUFA on Facebook and Instagram.

Sincerely,

QUFA Staff