Background
The principal purpose of the CAUT Release Time Policy is to provide time free of regular academic duties for Executive Committee members so that they can devote time to the work of the Association. Payment of release time funds also serves the purpose of attracting able and experienced volunteers as candidates for office and provides a tangible recognition that the Association values volunteer contributions.

The Release Time Policy is based on the principle that payment of release time funds should be made available for a variety of purposes, provided that an appropriate amount of time is to be delivered to the association by the director and that the funds are not made available for the personal benefit of any director so as to be used as a salary supplement.

1
Value of Release Time Units
The value of the unit shall be sufficient to allow release from two one-semester courses or the equivalent.

2
Positions Eligible for Release Time Funds
The positions eligible for release time funds and the unit amounts are as follows:

President: 3 units
All other members: 1 unit each

3
Vacancies
In the event that a vacancy occurs and is filled during the November Council, one half-unit of release time will be paid to the elected member. Should the vacancy be for the position of President, a one and one-half unit of release time will be paid.

4
Disbursement and Administration of Release Time Funds

4.1
The Executive Director shall report to the Executive Committee about the local arrangements for release time by August 1. If a director requests an arrangement not specified in 4.3 or 4.5, Executive Committee approval is necessary. In the event of a dispute between a director and the Executive Committee, Council will decide the issue at its fall meeting of that year.

4.2
The release time funds will be disbursed to the institution or association upon receipt of an invoice from the institution or association stating to which accounts the funds are to be credited and for what purpose. With the exception provided in 4.5, release time funds will not be paid directly to the CAUT director or otherwise be made available to the director for personal use.

4.3
The release time funds may be used for either or both of the following two purposes. They may be used to secure the course or other equivalent release or they may be paid into a research grant account in the name and for the use of the CAUT officer, which account should be administered by the institution in the same manner that it would administer a grant from a Canadian research council in the officer's academic discipline, or they may be transferred to a professional development account under similar institutional control.

4.4
The disbursement must be requested and completed within the CAUT fiscal year coinciding with the director's term.

4.5
Contract Academic Staff whose appointments are less than 100% FTE are eligible to receive a stipend (equal to the value of release time) rather than release time, if they choose.

Approved by the CAUT Council, November 2013;
Approved by the CAUT Council, April 2024.