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Teaching Relief 'buy-outs' Policy
- The Faculty recognises that in some rare instances staff have legitimate
reasons for wanting to request a ‘buy-out’ of their allocated teaching duties.
These rare circumstances would normally involve a trade-off with either
research activity or significant administrative duty.
- The University has a policy that allows staff to request Outside Studies
and Professional Development leave. Under these programs, staff are released
from teaching duties to pursue research activity. At other times, staff who
are not on other forms of approved leave such as sick leave, recreation leave,
long service leave and leave without pay are required to pursue the teaching
duties assigned to them by their Head of School.
- This policy outlines the conditions for the taking and approval of
teaching relief buy-outs.
- Teaching relief should be interpreted in a broad sense and includes
associated administrative duties, assessment tasks and marking.
- The period of relief sought would normally cover a maximum of one
semester.
- Any request for a teaching relief buy-out must be made in writing at least
two weeks before the planned replacement teaching is due to start. Where the
request involves relief for more than two teaching weeks, a minimum of one
month’s notice is required.
- Requests would not normally be considered if the staff member has had a
significant period of prior teaching relief (such as a semester), including
OSP/PDP, within the last 18 months. However, the benefits of staff activities
while on teaching relief need to be considered. As such, requests generated
through sponsorship by large ARC or SPIRT grants would normally be implicitly
approved at the time of the grant application, irrespective of other
circumstances.
- Teaching buy-outs require the written approval of the Head of School.
- Funds for the payment of teaching replacement must come from either
externally generated funds in Q accounts or external grant money. (Note: ARC
small grant monies would not normally qualify).
- All payments must pass through the University accounts. Private payments
by individuals are prohibited.
- It is the responsibility of the staff member to put forward names and
details of suitably qualified teaching replacement staff. When considering the
request, Heads must satisfy themselves that replacement staff are equivalently
qualified and clearly understand the roles and responsibilities associated
with the teaching. The decision as to the suitability of the replacement staff
rests solely with the Head. A resume of the replacement staff should be placed
on file. If suitable replacement staff cannot be found, then irrespective of
the merits of the case, the request should not be approved.
- The replacement staff should not normally be a current ANU staff member.
- The School should keep a record of teaching relief requests and their
outcomes.
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