Teaching Assistants

CUPE 3902, Unit 1, Summer 2013 Teaching Assistant – Emergency Posting

Posting date:  Monday, April 29, 2013      
Closing Date:  Thursday,  May 2, 2013

If you are interested in applying  for a position please visit the posting and, if eligible, submit an application electronically via the link below.  If you have difficulty accessing the online system please contact Carolynn Branton. 

 Link to posting:   Summer 2013 TA Emergency Posting

CUPE 3902, Unit 1, 2013-14 Lead Writing Teaching Assistant Posting

Posting date:  Friday, April 5, 2013      
Closing Date:  Friday, May 3, 2013

If you are interested in the LWTA position please visit the posting (see link below) and, if eligible, submit an application as per instructions on the posting .  If you have any questions please contact Carolynn Branton. 

 Link to posting:   2013-14 LWTA Posting 

Description of Duties and Allocation of Hours 

Link to form:  DDAH Form

Link to tip sheet:  DDAH Tip Sheet 

Statement of Policy

Appointment of Teaching Assistants
Covered by the CUPE Local 3902 Unit 1 Collective Agreement
Department:  Political Science
Last Updated:  May 2012 

I.  APPOINTMENTS 

A. Posting of Vacancies
Notices for open positions are posted on the Political Science Department website, under Employment Opportunities.  The Graduate Office usually sends out an email message to all graduate students in the department in order to notify of any new posting on the website.  This process includes emergency postings, as well as occasional postings that fall outside of the “batch” postings that occur in the course of hiring for the regular academic year and summer terms. 

B.  Application Procedures
The Department uses an on-line application system.  The Graduate Office provides a link to the on-line application form in its email communication regarding new postings. It is the applicant’s responsibility to verify and update their personal information and qualifications every time they wish to be considered for a new position. Before each hiring period (academic year or summer term), the Department creates a new on-line session that lists courses for which TA positions are posted. 

For emergency or occasional positions, the Department sometimes requires an application form that will be circulated via email. Instructions are provided regarding the application process for these specific positions, and usually requests relevant personal information and qualifications. Information previously submitted through the on-line system will often be sufficient, provided that the applicant follows instructions on how to officially apply for the position. The emailed instructions must specifically mention that the previously submitted on-line personal information will be used in the decision making process, otherwise the applicant must provide this information again. Once again, it is the responsibility of the applicant to update the information, if required. 

C.  Selection
Hiring decisions are made by the Teaching Assistant Coordinator, who is the Designated Authority for the Political Science department.
Article 16:03 of the Collective Agreement outlines the hiring criteria used when filling positions, which include competence, ability and other criteria.  The TA coordinator takes input from instructors into account, but makes a decision on the basis of all criteria spelled out in the collective agreement, including financial need and the University’s need to attract and support excellent students to pursue graduate studies in the Department. 

For the regular academic year, applicants are normally advised of a successful outcome of their application within 30-35 business days, usually at the end of July or beginning of August. Notice of the outcome of applications will be provided no less than 3 weeks before the start of term (4 weeks for Course Instructors). Once positions are posted, applicants are given 20 business days to apply.  Once most of the hiring has been made (i.e. on-line offers have been accepted) the Graduate Office will send an email to all applicants indicating that regular hiring has been completed. There may be some emergency postings to reflect later adjustments in enrollment, resignations, or for other unforeseen reasons.

For the summer term, the Department will make its best effort to advise applicants of a successful outcome within 30-35 business days of the closing of postings. Once most of the hiring has been made (i.e. on-line offers have been accepted) the Graduate Office will send an email to all applicants indicating that regular hiring has been completed. Notice of the outcome of applications will be provided no less than 3 weeks before the start of term (4 weeks for Course Instructors). 

D. Offers, Contracts, and Duties and Allocation of Hours forms
For appointments made during the normal hiring process for the regular academic session or the summer session, the Department follows a two-step process.  In order to facilitate the hiring process and make it efficient, the Department uses the on-line system for applications for TAships. The TA coordinator makes a number of preliminary offers via the on-line system.  Applicants are given 5 business days to accept decline the proposed offer. Applicants are strongly encouraged within those five days to address inquiries or concerns via email to the Teaching Assistant Coordinator and the Graduate Assistant. This step is crucial for the well-functioning of the Department’s hiring process.  After the formal hiring begins, it is very difficult to make modifications to accommodate applicant requests or concerns.

After positions have been filled through the above process, the Department will issue formal letters of offer outlining the terms and conditions of employment.  Applicants are then given five (5) days to return the signed letters of offer.At the time of issuing the formal offer letters, the Department will also provide copies of the Description of Duties and Allocation of Hours (DDAH) forms to both the TA and their supervisor.  TAs and supervisors are required to meet and complete the DDAH for each position. These forms should be returned as soon as possible to the Graduate Office.

E. Graduate Student Funding Policy – applies to students in the “funded cohort” only
TA (and Course Instructor) appointments feature prominently in the Department’s Graduate Student Funding Policy.  The Department counts up to 205 hours of such bargaining unit work as part of its guaranteed funding package in all years for which such funding is provided. 

II.  RE-APPOINTMENTS 

The Department provides appointments beyond the number guaranteed, based on the hiring criteria in the collective agreement.

Subsequent appointments
Subsequent appointments are assigned at the time of hiring for the regular academic session, in advance of posting remaining available positions.  TAs with subsequent appointments are required to update regularly their personal information and qualifications on the on-line system. In April, the Department sends an email with an attached form that must be filled to indicate the intent  to take up a subsequent appointment. Subsequent appointees will be given the opportunity to indicate their preferences with regard to subject area and campus. The department will give due consideration to these preferences prior to assigning appointments. Failure to reply or to contact the TA coordinator regarding any concerns or issues within the designated time frame is may be interpreted as declining a subsequent appointment.