Course release/buy-out policy

COURSE RELEASE POLICY FOR FAHSS FACULTY:  2023

 

To support and enhance the research culture in FAHSS, course releases are offered to faculty who obtain certain external research grants.

 

Currently, FAHSS professors are granted a course release (one per year to a maximum of three per project) if they receive SSHRC Insight,  Insight Development, Partnership Development or Special Calls grants (or comparable NSERC or CIHR grants). Tri-council grants (SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR) do not provide funding for course releases. FAHSS draws on indirect support provided through the federal Research Support Fund, to reduce teaching loads of successful tri-council grant applicants. Normally, one course release corresponds approximately to $45,000 of received tri-council funds. FAHSS receives indirect funding on grants where the Principal Investigator is a professor in FAHSS (for example, with SSHRC Insight and Insight Development grants) or funds have been designated for the University of Windsor in the grant budget (for example, with SSHRC Partnership grants). Smaller SSHRC grants do not qualify for course release. The value of one course release (currently, $17,982.44)  is determined by the Office of the Provost and Vice President, Academic.

 

For most SSHRC programs results are not announced until after teaching loads have been set for the current academic year. Therefore, course releases are not normally available until the second year of a project. The timing of course releases is negotiated with the AAU Head. If results are announced prior to the approval of teaching loads (e.g., in the case of CIHR grants), course releases can commence in the first year of the grant, with the AAU Head’s approval.

 

Under special circumstances, a course release can be granted in the first years of the grant even if results are announced after teaching loads have been assigned. A request detailing special circumstances is to be forwarded to the AAU Head and if approved, to the Associate Dean, Research, for consideration.

 

The reduction in the teaching load reflects the time required to train and supervise a team of research assistants, coordinate with other research team members, and administer the grant.

 

Some external grants allow for course releases to be included in the budget request. According to the current  University of Windsor buyout policy, the minimum charge to buy out a course is $17,982.44.

 

For further questions, please contact the office of Associate Dean of Research.