On May 27, faculty members at the University of Waterloo voted 93 per cent in favour of a "special plan" memorandum of agreement between the faculty association and the university. The board of governors ratified the agreement on June 1. The agreement will remain in effect until April 30, 2000.

The agreement contains twelve articles, including, in particular, a strong statement on academic freedom and articles on discipline and grievance and arbitration. Faculty view the latter two as the cornerstone articles of the agreement. Prior to this special plan, the university did not have a formal definition of disciplinary matters and levels of discipline, and had been functioning with a seriously flawed grievance policy for many years.

Other highlights include association grievances and external arbitration. The agreement also provides for incorporation of the Rand process at Waterloo. The final decision on the Rand process itself will be taken via a separate ratification vote of all those officially represented by the faculty association on a date prior to October 15, 1998.

Additional negotiations to incorporate new articles or changes to existing articles will take place in the fall of 1998 and beyond.

The text of the agreement can be accessed via the Internet at http://www.uwaterloo.ca/documents.