CAUT | ACPPU
Canadian Association of University Teachers
Services
Model Clause on Openness and Transparency
1
Purpose
The parties agree that openness and transparency are essential to encourage collegiality and academic freedom. In addition, openness fosters accountability and responsibility. Finally, it serves to safeguard fairness and due process by providing the parties with an opportunity to know and to respond fully to the evidence before a decision maker.
2
Decision-Making Bodies
2.1
Open Process
The parties agree that the decision-making structure and financial operations of the employer shall be open. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, openness and transparency shall extend to most matters before the board of governors, the senior academic body or the senate.
2.2
Openness and Transparency
Open and transparent process includes but is not limited to the provision of:
(a) copies of the line budget and expenditure report;
(b) archival documents in accordance with the relevant legislation governing federal archives;
(c) the opportunity for timely participation (by the interested parties) when administrators engage in major planning exercises; and
(d) public access to debates and decisions.
2.3
Motion to Close
Open processes and public minutes may be closed in exceptional circumstances. The parties agree that a motion to close a meeting shall require a two-thirds majority and be recorded in the minutes.
2.4
Notice Period
Open and transparent process requires that the employer provide at least two weeks advance notice of all open meetings as well as access to the agenda of scheduled meetings.
2.5
Standing Committees and Sub-Committees
The parties agree that an open and transparent process is equally applicable to the meetings of standing committees and sup-committees.
3
Salaries and Collective Agreements
3.1
Salary Data
The parties agree that the salary data are open and shall be available to the university budget committee and the faculty association on an annual basis. Such data include but are not limited to:
(a) the salaries and perquisites of all middle and upper level administrators, including senior staff such as staff lawyers;
(b) the salaries of all academics and librarians, including those who are part-time and sessional; and
(c) the salaries of all support staff reported annually by rank or grid including at least the average, median and 10th and 90th percentile of salaries as well as the number of personnel for each rank or grid.
3.2
Collective Agreements
All collective agreements are public documents and shall be available from the administration.
3.3
Costs
The employer shall assume the costs associated with ensuring that all public documents, both electronic and paper copies are available.
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