Under the SMU collective agreement (Art. 24.06), Part Time Faculty can apply for up to $900 annually to support their ongoing professional development. Applications are reviewed and evaluated by the relevant Dean, who then makes a recommendation to the Provost regarding funding. Successful applicants are notified in writing, with a copy to the Union.
Please note that there is a finite amount of money in this fund each year (as of 2026 this is $10,000) and awards are evaluated and granted on a first-come, first-served basis. So, applying early can be important.
What can be included in a funding application?
Applications can relate to:
- Materials and support for teaching activities
- Attendance at teaching workshops
- Presentations at academic/research conferences
- Membership fees for professional associations
- Other academic activities
Please note that computer hardware costs have typically NOT been approved.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, you must:
- be on the Part Time Faculty precedence list
- have taught at least 1.0 FCEs in the previous 12 months
How do I apply?
There are two steps to access this funding: making an application and then claiming reimbursement.
Making an application:
Complete the application form at https://www.smu.ca/about/vpar-forms.html and email it to the Dean’s Office in your Faculty. We recommend cc’ing your Union VP (vp.smu.cupe3912@gmail.com) on this email. While this is not required, will help us monitor how the University is administering these funds, which are part of our Collective Agreement.
Claiming reimbursement:
If your application is approved by the Provost, you will need to submit an expense report / claim form after the event, so it is important to retain any relevant receipts or confirmations of travel/attendance. Speak with the Administrative Assistant in your Department for details of how to submit this form.
Be sure to retain a copy of your claim.
Connect with your CUPE Steward (cupe3912.smu.pt.steward@gmail.com ) if you experience any problems in claiming approved funds.
Do you still have questions?
Email your VP (vp.smu.cupe3912@gmail.com ) or Steward (cupe3912.smu.pt.steward@gmail.com ) or stop by the CUPE office (Burke 315) during our drop-in hours.