ARTICLE I - Professional Development and Membership Dues Reimbursement

I.1    On July 1 of each year of this agreement, a Professional Development and Membership Fund shall be made available to each AAU for the use by full-time members, including sessional lecturers/sessional lecturers in Visual Arts/sessional lecturers in Nursing, and ancillary academic staff in each Faculty and Library for payment of the costs of travel, accommodation and other related expenses incurred for attendance at learned or professional conferences, symposiums or for other authorized University travel and for payment of the membership dues of professional or learned societies, for academic journals and books, and for professional development. For each AAU the fund amount shall be calculated as follows: 

(a)    On July 1, 2021 of the agreement, calculate the amount “X”, in dollars, as one thousand eight hundred ($1,800) multiplied by the number of full-time faculty, librarian, ancillary academic staff, and ancillary academic staff – learning specialist members, and one thousand three hundred fifty ($1,350) multiplied by the number of nine-month sessional lecturers/nine-month sessional lecturers in Visual Arts/nine-month sessional lecturers in Nursing.

On July 1, 2022 of the agreement, calculate the amount “X”, in dollars, as one thousand eight hundred fifty ($1,850) multiplied by the number of full-time faculty, librarian, ancillary academic staff, and ancillary academic staff – learning specialist members, and one thousand three hundred eighty eight ($1,388) multiplied by the number of nine-month sessional lecturers/nine-month sessional lecturers in Visual Arts/nine-month sessional lecturers in Nursing.

On July 1, 2023, calculate the amount “X”, in dollars, as one thousand nine hundred ($1,900) multiplied by the number of full-time faculty, librarian, ancillary academic staff, twelve-month sessional lecturers, and ancillary academic staff – learning specialist members, and one thousand four hundred and twenty-five ($1,425) multiplied by the number of nine-month sessional lecturers/nine-month sessional lecturers in Visual Arts/nine-month sessional lecturers in Nursing.

On July 1, 2024, calculate the amount “X”, in dollars, as two thousand ($2,000) multiplied by the number of full-time faculty, librarian, ancillary academic staff, twelve-month sessional lecturers, and ancillary academic staff – learning specialist members, and one thousand five hundred ($1,500) multiplied by the number of nine-month sessional lecturers/nine-month sessional lecturers in Visual Arts/nine-month sessional lecturers in Nursing.

(b)    On June 30, calculate the amount “Y”, in dollars, of the unexpended funds in the Professional Development and Membership Fund.

(c)    The contribution to the AAU Professional Development and Membership Fund on July 1, shall be such that the fund has at least “X” (as calculated in Article I.1. (a)) but so that (X + Y) is not more than three times “X” (where “Y” is as calculated in Article I.1. (b)) dollars.

(d)    Funds designated in the Professional Development and Membership Fund shall not be used to cover expenses incurred by members attending required meetings or workshops at the request of the University.

I.2    Requests for professional development and membership dues reimbursement may be initiated by the member, the Dean or Head, the University Librarian or Law Librarian, but requests initiated by the member shall be approved by the member’s Dean or Head, the University Librarian or Law Librarian as the case may be.  Approval of a request under this Article shall be in accordance with criteria approved by the AAU.

I.3    A travel expense form shall be made available by the University.

I.4    Requests for travel advances and travel plans shall be submitted to the Dean, or Head, University Librarian or Law Librarian as the case may be, at least fifteen (15) days before the commencement of travel.  If the travel is cancelled or part of the monies advanced is not expended, the advance or part unexpended shall be returned immediately to the Dean or Head, the University Librarian or Law Librarian as the case may be.

I.5    A member may claim only actual expenses incurred and appropriate vouchers shall be submitted for such expenses.

I.6    Travel by private car shall be reimbursed at the rate specified in Article K or the equivalent economy plane ticket, whichever is less.  If there are no flights available, the equivalent of a coach train ticket shall be the basis of comparison.

I.7    The University shall have no responsibility for the private car used.  It shall be the responsibility of the member when using the member’s private car to verify with the University adequate insurance coverage to indemnify and save harmless the University of and from any liability by reason of the use or operation of the member’s private car; when two (2) or more members are traveling together in a private car, only the owner may claim the car allowance.

I.8    Effective July 1, in the years noted below, the maximum daily allocation of monies for meals and incidental expenses, 
    including gratuities, shall be as follows:

I.9    Other related expenses may be reimbursed subject to approval by the Dean or Head, the University Librarian, or the Law Librarian as the case may be. In circumstances where a public emergency has been declared, these funds may be used for a member’s work-related expenses.

I.10    The employer shall reimburse any necessary work-related pre-travel testing as required by public health authorities including but not limited to PCR/NAAT COVID-19 testing, for preparation to travel within or outside of Canada.