Rules, procedures, and what you can expect when applying to teach as a part-time instructor at U of O
- When are postings for teaching positions posted?
- Are all postings published at the same time?
- How many courses can I apply for?
- How many courses can I teach?
- How do I apply?
- What do I do if I don’t agree with the number of seniority points noted on the Online Application Form?
- How do I know if I have been hired for a course?
- What do I do to accept an offer?
- What happens if a course that I am interested in is posted after I have already accepted other courses?
- Does having the highest number of seniority points guarantee that I get the position that I applied for?
- What are the steps of the hiring process?
- How do I know what category I have attained for a course?
- What do I do if I think I should be in a higher category for a particular course?
- What is Apply Without Postings?
- What is a General Application?
1. When are postings for teaching positions posted?
There is no set time period. For courses where enrolment is predictable—regular postings—course descriptions are posted electronically around 4 months prior to the start of the course for a period of at least 30 days. Postings for courses starting in September must not be removed before April 1 of the same year.
Certain positions become available less than thirty days before the course starts. For these irregular postings, the period of posting may be reduced to 7 days.
If an appointment is necessary less than one week before the course starts, the course shall be posted for at least 48 hours before the start date.
All qualified members who have completed the General Application, (see Question 15), shall be considered to have applied for all postings.
2. Are all postings published at the same time?
No. Departments differ in when they post courses for the upcoming academic year/session and each department may differ in when it posts courses from year to year. Getting informed and being familiar with when a department posts courses is important:
- postings are typically for a 30-day period, so the time to apply is very limited
- some departments post descriptions closer to the session start date and some post them much earlier (e.g. in the spring for the Winter session of the next year)
- many departments post courses once rooms have been confirmed resulting in a number of courses being posted at the same time
To see all the courses available to determine which ones to apply for and which ones are preferred, a good strategy is to apply at the latest possible date before the end of the 30-day posting period to ensure that all, or at least most, courses are posted.
3. How many courses can I apply for?
There is no restriction on the number of courses that you can apply for. You can apply for all the courses for which you feel qualified. The electronic application form allows you to apply for more than one course using the same form.
4. How many courses can I teach?
You can teach up to the same number of courses that are equivalent to 15 credits in two consecutive sessions. In other words, teaching 3 three-credit courses in the Fall session and 2 three-credit courses in the Winter session would be acceptable, since 5 x 3 credits = 15 credits.
If you teach non-credit courses, you cannot teach more than 340 hours in the same academic year.
5. How do I apply?
All applicants must file their applications electronically by going to the link Part-time academic positions accessible from the UOttawa homepage listed under Careers on campus. Note that the link How to Apply Online in the menu at the top left-hand corner includes very helpful information.
Points to note when applying:
- Applicants must specify in order of preference the courses/work that interests them under the Comments tab in the text box, Professor’s availability to teach during the session (5.6.5c).
- Applicants can add all the courses they would like to teach in the same application for a specific academic unit.
- On the main page of the application, applicants must specify the number of courses that they would like to teach during the session respecting the limits of the Collective Agreement (see Question 4).
- All applications shall be accompanied by a complete and up-to-date C.V. It is understood, however, that the Employer shall not refuse to consider an application filed without a C.V. if the applicant had in fact filed one during the three (3) previous sessions.
- A history of the applicant’s teaching experience as part-time professor at the University of Ottawa, with the appropriate dates, must be included in any application in order to permit the calculation of seniority.
- Applications are sent directly to the academic unit. You will receive immediate confirmation of your application from the electronic posting system.
- If you don’t receive the confirmation, there is a problem. Contact the Department of Human Resources or APTPUO in such cases.
6. What do I do if I don’t agree with the number of seniority points noted on the Online Application Form?
Although it appears that a professor can submit changes on this form, Human Resources does not acknowledge any changes made to the Online Web Application Form. If you disagree with the number of points listed, you must send a notice of disagreement that includes your name, employee number, uOttawa email address, and contact information to hracad@uottawa.ca. If possible, send a file with the history of your teaching experience at the University of Ottawa in attachment.
7. How do I know if I have been hired for a course?
You must continually check your UOttawa email account. For regular postings, the assignment of courses to applicants is usually completed within 30 days following the end of the posting period. For irregular postings, assignment of the courses is completed within 48 hours after the end of the posting period.
8. What do I do to accept an offer?
As stated on the offer, you must confirm the acceptance of a contract for teaching within five working days of receiving the assignment.
9. What happens if a course that I am interested in is posted after I have already accepted other courses?
In this case, you will have to go to your department chair to discuss if changing courses is possible.
10. Does having the highest number of seniority points guarantee that I get the position that I applied for?
Generally, courses are granted on the basis of total of seniority points, provided that the applicant has the necessary qualifications to teach the course.
However, the category system, (Category A, B, or C) that recognizes and promotes demonstrated teaching ability and long service at the University, allows an applicant of a higher category in a course (Category C being the highest) to be offered the position before another applicant with more seniority points. Refer to the Collective Agreement: Appointment Procedures (section 5.7).
11. What are the steps of the hiring process?
The steps in the hiring process are as follows:
- Step 1: Applicants shall be rated according to their qualifications, and the requirements and other criteria set out in the posting.
- Step 2: Applicants who are considered qualified will be hired based on their category for that particular course.
- Step 3: If applicants are considered equal after Step 1 and Step 2, then the highest number of seniority points determines who is offered the position.
12. How do I know what category I have attained for a course?
You can check with your department.
13. What do I do if I think I should be in a higher category for a particular course?
If you think that you qualify for being in a higher category for a particular course because of superior evaluations from your students, contact your department.
14. What is Apply Without Postings?
When you apply electronically, you may notice Apply Without Postings in the menu at the top left-hand corner. This link is for making a General Application and is not to apply for specific courses. All APTPUO members must send in a General Application by April 1 of every year.
15. What is a General Application?
A General Application protects members because it indicates to the academic unit that a member is interested in teaching for the coming academic year.
Because this form is an electronic version, the information requested does not correspond exactly to what is required in principle.
Points to note when sending in the General Application from Part-time academic positions page Apply Without Postings link:
- Select any session
- Select the appropriate Faculty and Academic Unit.
- Indicate the number of courses you wish to teach in a session in the box, Number of Courses you wish to teach during this Session:
- Update your record of employment under Teaching UO and/or Other Teaching tabs
- Submit your application and CV
- Repeat for every academic unit for which you would like to teach
Members are encouraged to provide in writing details concerning the days and times of his/her availability to teach in the coming year at the time they submit their general applications, although both parties recognize that such disclosure of his/her availability is optional and failure to do shall not invalidate the application.
