Pandemic Prompts Pause in Sessional Travel Grant Program

A Faculty Association program that offers travel grants for sessionals has been paused until early in the new year due to the pandemic.

Each year, the Sessional Travel Fund Committee makes $30,000 available to reimburse certain travel expenses for up to $1,500 per sessional appointee, as agreed in Schedule B of the Collective Agreement.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in fewer applications during the 2020-21 academic year, prompting the Faculty Association and Board of Governors to agree to move unused funds to this academic year and thereby allow more sessionals to access the program.

But because the pandemic has continued, the Association and Provost’s office have agreed to keep the funds on hold until early in 2022. This pause will give the two sides time to discuss how to proceed and ensure that Fall 2021 sessionals won’t miss out on the opportunity to apply for the grants.