Planning for Patents

A new procedure allows a researcher to make a clear written statement to the Research Services Office regarding his or her interest in patentable intellectual property. The expectation would be to minimize potential misunderstanding between the researcher and RSO administrators of agreements during the course of negotiations of an agreement that meets the researcher's stated interests. The procedure provides the researcher with a mechanism to take control of the negotiation process by providing clear written direction to RSO.

The new procedure includes a form. Submission of the Declaration of Interests of Principal Investigator form is voluntary. Completion of the form by the researcher gives RSO and the university as a whole a complete picture of the researcher's interests regarding intellectual property.

High Participation Rate in the Benefits Survey Needed

Although the decisions of the Academic Benefits Management Committee (ABMC) are always based on a multiplicity of sources of information, advice, and data, the survey sent to members every few years is particularly helpful in directing the work of this important joint committee of AASUA and the Board of Governors. So, please take the time to give the survey your full attention when it arrives electronically next month.

The opportunity to enhance existing benefits or introduce new ones is constantly under review by this joint committee, which is regarded across Canada as a very successful model for benefits management. (Members will know that at many other universities, those responsible for the benefits plan also manage the pension plan. Because in Alberta the four universities and the Banff Centre share a pension plan, this is not the case at UofA.)

This year, the ABMC, now eight years old, has tendered the contract for benefits, and also extensively revised its terms of reference to clarify its procedures and its relationship to the compensation negotiations process. The committee is relatively autonomous in that it makes minor changes so the plan reflects

• trends in public service benefits packages across Canada,
• changes in legislation concerning what is and is not taxable, and
• changes in overall use of the plan by members as the demographic of academic staff gradually changes.

Material changes require wider consultation and approval. The survey forms part of that wider consultation.

The learning curve that one undergoes in order to serve on this committee is very steep, but the work is most rewarding. In that regard, AASUA’s members owe a profound vote of thanks to Professor Tom Scott, of the School of Business, for his tireless commitment to the welfare of members and of the plan. His analyses are careful, and his insistence that benefits apply fairly and advantageously to members unrelenting. As Tom completes his long service on this committee this year, Professor Frank Trovato has been shadowing him in order to replace him in 2012-2013. AASUA is very grateful that Frank is willing to undertake this work. Replacing Tom will be a formidable challenge.

The number of members’ files dealt with in 2011 is impressive.

AASUA’s brigade of Member Services Officers: Kevin Becker (senior MSO), Rick McKown, Karyn Popplestone, Jasmine French, and Leanne Rosinski advocate on behalf of members, represent them in investigations, assist, defend, negotiate settlements for them, and seek resolutions to the betterment of the membership at large.

In 2011, a significant number of members in all seven constituencies of the association—CAST, FSOs, APOs, Academic Faculty, TRAS, SOTS, and Librarians—needed representation, advice, and intervention. In addition to these needs, the MSOs deal with the other issues that lead to dispute resolution for members. In fact, the variety of reasons for contacting an MSO is as great as the perceptions of seven diverse constituencies of members and what their terms of appointment and employment, and working relationships entail.

Open House at AASUA Office, in College Plaza

On Thursday 26 January, from 3:00 to 5:00, you are invited to come to College Plaza and visit the offices and staff of the AASUA. On the northeast corner of Whyte (82) Avenue and 112 Street, we’re up on the sixteenth floor. Just turn left as you exit the elevators, and you’ll find Executive Director Brygeda Renke, President Ian MacLaren, the AASUA office staff, and the twenty-one members of the AASUA Executive delighted to greet you.

Not only have the association’s offices undergone an expansion and renovation, but its website is undergoing a renovation. Also in each of the past two years, the staff complement has increased by one for a current total of eight, and the work of AASUA has involved more members than ever before.

Members interested in working on AASUA committees or serving on Council are welcome to speak with one of the officers (President Ian MacLaren, Past-President Don Heth, Vice-President Donna Wilson, Treasurer Lorne Kline) to find out more about what’s involved and how you might consider doing some of your university service with AASUA.

An Agreement Review for TRAS

As brought to your attention in the December issue of Rhumblines, AASUA and the university administration have begun negotiations for revisions to the Trust/Research Academic Staff (TRAS) collective agreement. About 400 AASUA members comprise this constituency. The work performed by these valuable TRAS members (some have worked at the UofA for more than two decades), immeasurably expedites the research of other academic staff members (research associates), helps entire institutes function smoothly (trust administrators). Many professorial careers are enriched by the management of grants applications, operations, data, and reports that TRAS members routinely undertake.

The AASUA members of the agreement review committee, who have graciously agreed to find time in their careers for the benefit of their peers that this review promises to produce, invite input from fellow TRAS. They may be contacted as follows: Ricardo.Acuna@ualberta.ca Michele.Hales@ualberta.ca Reineke.Steenbergen@ualberta.ca Natasha.Wiebe@ualberta.ca Regine.Moore@ualberta.ca Brygeda.Renke@ualberta.ca