Your Benefits: Don't Miss Out!

Please contact benefits@dal.ca or call 902-494-1122 for more information on any of the benefits below.

Health Spending Account (HSA) Clause 32.18 (b)

Your HSA can be used for medical expenses not covered under your health and dental plans. The claim year runs from July 1 to June 30, and you can access the full amount anytime after July 1. Amounts are as follows:

• 2025-26: $1,033
• 2025-27: $1,067
• 2027-28: $1,105

Claims must be submitted by September 30. Unused balances carry forward for one year only, so be sure to use your full HSA entitlement. For details and to see your HSA balance, visit Medavie Blue Cross. If you don't have extra health and dental expenses, you can use the HSA toward your plan premiums. To see how much you have paid in premiums:

1. Log in to Dal Online. For questions about Dal Online, visit Dal Online Help Centre.
2. From the tabs across the top, choose Employees. DO NOT go to the Employee Dashboard.
3. Click on Benefits and Deductions.
4. Click on Health and Dental Insurance.
5. Click on Contributions or Deductions. Enter the dates of the time period you want to review. This takes you to a page with a list of your deductions for that period. Print the page. Blue Cross accepts this printout as proof of payment.
6. Once you have proof of payment, complete the claim form available here and submit to Blue Cross by mail, at a QuickPay Office (1-800-667-4511 for locations/hours), or via Medavie’s mobile app.

Professional Development Allowance (PDA) Clause 32.19 

You are entitled to a PDA to cover expenses related which relate to your responsibilities to Dalhousie. These expenses include membership fees for societies, journal subscriptions, conference registration fees, and the purchase of books, equipment, and other items related to your research or scholarly activities. PDA amounts are as follows:

• 2026-27: $910
• 2027-28: $940
• 2028-29: $973

You may apply only once between April 1 and February 28. Documentation to support your application is required. A Faculty-level committee reviews your application and, if approved, you will be reimbursed. You must process your PDA claim using Chrome River (you must log into myDalHub).  BEFORE you can submit via Chrome River, you need to get your departmental account number from which your PDA gets paid.    

Tuition Waiver Clause 32.03

As a DFA Member, you will have fees waived for up to 12 credit hours in the 12-month period ending 31 August in any Faculty of Dalhousie, and for non-credit courses at Dalhousie, as long as they are considered professional development. Get approval from your Dean, University Librarian, or Vice President before taking the credits/courses.

Your spouse and children qualify for a 50% tuition fee waiver for any of Dalhousie’s undergraduate programs, other than Law, Medicine and Dentistry (School of Dental Hygiene qualifies for the waiver). If both you and your spouse are employed at Dalhousie, the tuition fee waiver is 100%.

If your child is enrolled in Dalhousie Law, Medicine or Dentistry, refer to Clause 32.03(d) in the Collective Agreement for tuition waiver eligibility.

Recreational Facilities Fees Clause 32.14

You, your spouse and your dependents can access all sports, athletic and recreational facilities of Dalhousie University. You also get a 50% discount on individual or family membership fees for Dalplex.

Leave for Bereavement, Personal Problems, Emergencies Clauses 30.17 and 30.18

From time to time, we all find ourselves facing personal problems and emergencies, or grieving the loss of a loved one. In the event of a death or critical illness in your immediate family, or similar circumstances, compassionate leave can be arranged. Requests for leave with salary and benefits will not be unreasonably denied. Further unpaid leave shall also not be unreasonably denied.

For Indigenous Members seeking such leaves, the Board acknowledges and respects Indigenous understandings of family and community.

If you need time to address personal problems or emergencies, attend medical and dental appointments, take care of a sick child, deal with unscheduled daycare closures or move your residence, requests for time off with salary and benefits will not be unreasonably denied.

Discuss your leave with your Chairperson, Head, Director, Chief Librarian or Dean. In the event of an emergency, your Chairperson, Director, Head, Chief Librarian or Dean is responsible for rescheduling your duties.

Travel Clause 30.41 and 30.42 

You have access to funds for travel related to conferences and workshops outside of Dalhousie, on the recommendation of your Faculty Committee and approval of your Dean, Chief Librarian or Provost (for Librarians and Counsellors).

This year, the total travel fund available for the DFA Membership of the DFA is approximately $900,000. By March 1 each year, Faculty-level committees learn how much of that fund is allocated to their particular Faculty for the upcoming fiscal year (April 1 – March 31). Read more about the travel funds available to DFA Members.

* CAUT Travel Benefit Program: As a member of DFA, you are also a member of the Canadian Association of University Teachers. CAUT’s Member Travel Benefit Program with Local Hospitality Inc. offers significant savings on hotels, car rentals and select entertainment events. Instructions on how to access the platform can be found at Affinity Program for CAUT Members | CAUT.

Vacation Entitlement Clause 30.01 and 30.02

As a DFA Member with a full-time position, you have 25 vacation days each year. The number of days is prorated for Members on limited-term appointments of less than 12 months. To calculate how many vacation days you have each year, use this formula: Length of Employment (months)/12 x 25 vacation days x FTE percentage = vacation days

You may take your vacation all at once or in parts, in consultation with your Chairperson, Head, Director, Chief Librarian or Dean. You are encouraged to take your full vacation entitlement each year, but you may request that vacation days be carried over from one year to the next. If you would like to carry over some or all of your vacation days, talk to your Dean, Vice-President, or Chief Librarian. Your request will not be unreasonably denied.

 If your contract is less than 10 months, you should receive vacation pay each month, equivalent to 8% of your monthly salary.