Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation -- University of Oregon / Workload

From CGEU

GTFF - GRADUATE TEACHING FELLOWS FEDERATION, University of Oregon

ARTICLE 9 - WORK AGREEMENT/WORK ASSIGNMENT

Section 1. The University reserves the right to assign GTFs those duties and responsibilities that best meet the needs of the institution based upon the qualifications and abilities of the GTF.

Specialized courses, upper division courses, and those courses not traditionally assigned to GTFs will be assigned only after a review of the qualifications of the GTFs. GTFs will be consulted regarding the suitability of the assignment.

Section 2. Course assignments for the following academic year shall be offered to GTFs in a timely fashion to allow for adequate preparation. If course assignments offered in writing are subsequently changed, the hours spent in preparation for the original assignment shall be credited for the purpose of determining workload. If within the year the assignment for which preparation credit was assessed is offered to the GTF, the credited time will again be included in the workload. In no instance will more than twenty (20) hours be so credited - or deducted - in any given term.

Section 3. A GTF has the right to a clear statement of duties that outlines the GTF's participation in the academic process. Therefore, at the time of hire, GTFs shall be provided with a copy of the department's GDRS. A GTF may request a meeting with his/her supervisor or department head to obtain clarification of his/her duties and responsibilities. The department or employing unit will orient the new GTFs to resources utilized to fulfill the appointment at the beginning of each quarter.

Section 4. Each department will prepare a General Duties and Responsibilities Statement (GDRS) describing the conditions under which GTF assignments are made. The GDRS shall include the following information:

a) A general description of the job requirements.

b) The supervisory individual who shall oversee the implementation of the GDRS.

c) Availability of Graduate Teaching Fellowships in the department.

d) Eligibility requirements and application process for appointments.

e) Appointment and reappointment process.

f) Workload and work assignment information.

g) Health and safety information, including any training requirements, use of required personal protective equipment, accident reporting and workers compensation coverage.

h) Requirements for satisfactory progress towards graduate degree.

i) Discrimination Grievance Procedures pamphlet. (See online version)

The GDRS of each department shall include health and safety information. The format for this information will be provided to departments in the GTF appointment manual prepared by the Graduate School. Standard language regarding workers compensation coverage and accident reporting will also be provided to the departments for mandatory inclusion in the GDRS. A format for departments to use (if applicable) to provide GTFs information regarding the following will also be included in the manual:

· Use of personal protective equipment

· Required safety training and appropriate departmental record keeping

· Location of emergency procedures, evacuation plans, MSDS and first aid supplies

· Safe operation of equipment, machinery and tools

· Hazardous waste procedures

· Hazard communication

· Safe handling of radioactive materials

· Excessive exposure to VDTs

· Exposure to blood-borne pathogens

Work load and/or work assignment information shall include course attendance requirements, office hour expectations, registration duties, grading, preparation, meeting with supervisors and/or co-workers, safety training and any other duties included in the GTF work assignment for both academic year and summer term appointments.

GDRS revisions shall be submitted to the Graduate School by May 15 of each year. A copy of the revised GDRS will be forwarded to the GTFF.

Section 5. At the time of hire, GTFs shall be provided with a copy of the department's GDRS. A GTF may request a meeting with his/her supervisor or department head to obtain clarification of his/her duties and responsibilities. The department or employing unit will orient the new GTFs to resources utilized to fulfill the appointment at the beginning of each quarter.

Section 6. In accordance with Article 31, the GTFF will be responsible for distribution of the current collective bargaining agreement to GTFs.

Section 7. Each administrative unit shall endeavor to apprise GTFs of available assignments prior to commencement of each term, to afford the GTFs an opportunity to indicate their preference of assignments. Where possible, a GTF shall be given written notice prior to the beginning of the assignment; however, when unexpected variations in student enrollment occur, assignments may be made only after students register for classes. An effort shall be made to avoid conflicts between the GTF's course schedule and employment schedule.

Section 8. GTFs who will be required to be at work during periods of academic recess, except during registration period, shall be given no less than thirty-five (35) calendar days written notice. GTFs required to work at special events, conferences, attend retreats, assist in language fairs or perform other similar non-routine activities shall be given fifteen (15) calendar days written notice. When such activities require travel, GTFs are eligible for reimbursement and per diem in accordance with prevailing rates. In the event of an emergency, and with the mutual agreement of the GTF and the unit head, a lesser notice period can be arranged. If timely notice is not given and the GTF refuses to work during these activities, disciplinary sanctions will not be imposed. When possible, departments and programs will hold meetings at which GTF attendance is required during regular workday hours rather than at night or on weekends.

ARTICLE 18 - SUMMER SESSION

Section 2. The workload or FTE for summer session appointments will be specified in the summer section GDRS (see Article 9, Section 4). During the summer session GTFs may be appointed on overload at an FTE level that exceeds .49 with the approval of the Dean of the Graduate School. The University will endeavor to make equivalent appointments throughout the University for comparable summer assignments. This agreement establishes minimum pay levels, but not the maximum pay levels that Departments or employing units may pay GTFs during the summer session.

ARTICLE 19 - TEACHING WORKLOAD

Section 1. A department may offer a limited number of GTFs, as determined by the department, the opportunity to teach multiple sections beyond workloads specified in the department's GDRS during one term of an academic year appointment. GTFs who accept this responsibility in one term will not be required to teach in one of the two remaining terms based on agreement with the department.

Section 2. A department may ask returning GTFs with a regular contract for the full academic year to volunteer to teach this additional fall term section. No GTFs will be required to do so who have not volunteered.

Section 3. First-year GTFs are not eligible for participation in this program.

Section 4. GTFs will only be assigned to teach multiple sections of a course or different course they have taught in the past or will be teaching concurrently during the term.

Section 5. In the event that more eligible GTFs volunteer than the department has sections to staff, the head of the department (in consultation with the faculty) will select the GTFs using the following criteria:

a) Successful teaching in the course to be assigned, according to student and staff evaluations on record.

b) Academic progress requirements faced by the GTF during the term off (with priority given to students with scheduled dissertation defenses, deadlines for submission of the prospectus, or qualifying exams).

Section 6. The department will determine which term is the "off" term according to the needs of the curriculum and the academic needs of the graduate student. Once the "off" term is determined and the GTF agrees, the department will not change the assignment except at the request of the GTF and only then if scheduling permits. GTFs participating in this program will receive a tuition waiver during their "off" term.

Section 7. It is understood that the GTFs assigned to teach on this plan will be on a pay distribution plan that provides eight (8) equal monthly payments based on their individual salary level for the months of October through and including May of the applicable academic year. They will also receive one-half of their monthly salary rate for the months of September and June. GTFs participating in this program will be paid for all work performed based on the number of sections they teach. GTFs who successfully complete this program will also be eligible for a "summer sandwich" and they will otherwise suffer no economic disadvantage under the current collective bargaining agreement.

Section 8. Participants in this program must be in residence during the "off" term and enrolled in courses according to the requirements of the Graduate School for GTFs.

Section 9. This article does not establish precedent nor does it in any way impact the current practices regarding teaching assignments for GTFs not participating in this program.