Academic Participation/Professional Development and Tuition Waiver Fund

CUPE 3287 members are encouraged to apply for professional development funds, including the Academic Participation/Professional Development fund and the Tuition Waiver fund.  Since July 2017 these funds have been combined and are administered directly by the Union.

The Winter 2025 Competition will open in January (February 28th deadline)

Note: In the Winter competition round of last year, we were able to at least partially fund all applications to the combined Fund. However, this has left the Fund significantly depleted heading into the Fall 2024 competition. The University has repeatedly refused requests to increase the fund according to need. Accordingly, in May of this year the Executive Board decided that tuition waivers will not be offered in the the Fall 2024 competition so as to help ensure that sufficient funds are available for Academic Participation/Professional Development (AP/PD) applications. Part of the Board’s rationale in making this decision is that while our graduate student members have access to tuition support from a variety of sources, most of our members do not have access to alternative funding sources for AP/PD projects. At our November 2024 board meeting, the board decided that our fund still needed to be replenished. Unfortunately, we will not be providing tuition waivers again in Winter 2025.

Fund Guidelines

Applications must be submitted electronically to cupe3287grants@gmail.com, cc’d to cupe3287@gmail.com.


Employee and Family Assistance Program

Sessional Lecturers have access to the Employee and Family Assistance Program, providing confidential counselling, legal support, and financial planning resources. Training Services provides online and instructor-led software training courses.


Health, Dental, and Life Insurance Benefits

Visit the University of Saskatchewan’s Human Resources website for information about funds and benefits available to sessional lecturers.

Benefits Summary

Please Note: Under our current benefits plan, health and dental benefits are provided during the term of your appointment only. (i.e., up to the last day of appointment indicated in your most recent letter of offer). You should bear this in mind, e.g., when filling prescriptions and when scheduling dental appointments or other procedures.

Employer Proposal Eligibility

University of Saskatchewan employees in-scope of CUPE 3287 who are not eligible under the University’s other benefits programs.

Commencement of Coverage

Effective September 1, 2016 coverage begins on the initial appointment date as stated in your letter of offer.

  1. Basic Life
  • Basic Life Insurance $30,000 during the course of the appointment(s)
  1. Dental
  • Dental Coverage – 100% of Basic Dental Coverage, member only, up to $2,000 per calendar year Basic Dental Services include:
  • Preventative Dental Procedures
    • Complete exam once every three benefit years
    • Recall exam once every five months, to a maximum of two exams per benefit year
    • Emergency or specific exams limited to two per benefit year per type of exam
    • Complete series of X-rays or one panorex once every three benefit years
    • Bitewing x-ray once every five months, to a maximum of two sets per benefit year
    • Radiograph to diagnose or examine progress
    • Required consultations with another dentist
    • Polishing/cleaning and topical fluoride treatment every five months, to a maximum of two per benefit year
    • Emergency or palliative services
    • Diagnostics tests and lab exams
    • Removal of impacted teeth and anesthesia
    • Space maintainers for primary teeth
    • Pit and fissure sealants
    • Oral hygiene instruction once per benefit year
  • Basic Procedures
    • Fillings:
      • Amalgam (silver)
      • Composite (white) on all teeth —  Acrylic (replaced by composite)
    • Removal of teeth (except impacted teeth)
    • Prefab metal restorations/crowns and repairs (not custom made) A prefabricated crown that is intended for long-term use (and not in conjunction with the placement of a permanent crown) would be eligible under the plan
    • Endodontics (root canal therapy/fillings, treat disease of pulp tissue)
    • Periodontics (treatment of bone and gum disease)
    • Surgery and related anesthesia (except removal of impacted teeth)
    • Repair of bridges or dentures
    • Rebase or reline denture
  • Pre-treatment Plan

If your dentist recommends any dental procedure that is expected to cost over $500 you should have your dentist complete a pre-treatment plan. Submit this plan to the insurer and you will be advised of the benefits payable for the course of treatment. Submitting a pre-treatment plan ensures that there are no misunderstandings about what reimbursement you will received for expensive courses of treatment.

  1. Health/Drug Coverage
  • Drug Coverage for you and your dependents -100% coverage for up to a maximum of $2,000 per person per calendar year subject to the drug formulary.
  • Direct pay drug card, with mandatory generic substitutions.
  1. Note: Termination of Coverage
  • Coverage will cease upon the end date of the appointment as stated in the letter of offer.