Be consistent with what you allow to be posted to Canvas. If you have not allowed non-academic related postings, then you can be clear that information about the strike cannot be posted.
Potentially, yes, within limits. TA duties are outlined in the work agreements completed and signed by departments/faculty and TAs at the beginning of the semester. Duties must fall within the established work agreements. Faculty must also be cognizant of the number of hours of the TA appointment and cannot assign work that would exceed the appointment hours outlined in the agreements. Faculty must also honor TAs’ right to strike and cannot be perceived as exerting any pressure on TAs with respect to the strike.
The research work performed by graduate students employed as GSRs typically has a lot of overlap with the work they need to perform to receive a satisfactory grade in their research units. A GSR not engaging in research work because of the strike will likely not make academic progress in their units (e.g., 295-299) during that time. However, since we are roughly midway through the semester it would stand to reason that if performance in these units has been satisfactory so far, inactivity for a few days should not drastically affect that assessment.
Students enrolled in courses, independent study or otherwise, should continue to do the activities associated with those courses and be graded in response to their academic progress regardless of employment or strike participation. Faculty may still communicate with striking students regarding academic activities.
Graduate instruction should continue. Graduate students are students regardless of their employment status with the university and should continue to participate in university activities during the strike. Graduate classes and the evaluation of graduate student academic progress for grades and credit should continue as normal.
If you currently supervise one or more ASEs (TAs/Readers/Tutors) in an instructional setting, please plan ahead for the possibility of a strike. Students will expect you to be the authority on how the course will proceed. The specific actions you take will depend on different circumstances, but may include the following:
Chairs are responsible for working with college/school leadership and educators to ensure instructional and research continuity. Educators are expected to maintain instructional activities for all students. Chairs will work with instructors who need support or guidance in implementing continuity plans.
Faculty have the right under HEERA to engage in concerted activity, including respecting the UAW picket line. Faculty also have an obligation under the APM to deliver the curriculum. Given that, faculty should exercise discretion about managing their courses and making changes necessitated by circumstances, doing their best to minimize the impact on enrolled students.
We anticipate a period of unknown duration where some of these workers will not fulfill their job duties. These duties include but are not limited to: teaching lectures, labs, and discussion sections; grading submitted work and entering/maintaining grades; tutoring; supplemental instruction; research; outreach; program administration; and other duties assigned.
