Points are earned as follows:

For teaching 

• One (1) point is earned for each three-credit course or equivalent of teaching experience at the University of Ottawa. Where the number of hours of teaching is less, the member will receive a fraction of the seniority point.
• Two (2) points are earned for the year during which the member gets at least one course. Note that these two points are only awarded at the end of the academic year (August 31).

For being a member of a committee

• Two (2) points are earned for each complete year during which the member has filled any position on the APTPUO’s Board of Directors.
• Two (2) points are earned for each member of the Bargaining Committee.
• Members elected as departmental representatives earn one seniority point for the academic year.
• One (1) seniority point for members sitting on joint employer-employee committees (health and safety, diversity and inclusion, etc.).
• A member can earn up to a total of eight (8) seniority points per year for participation on various university or joint employer-employee committees.

For receiving research grants

• Two (2) points are earned if a member is awarded a university-administered research grant by a tri-council (NSERC, SSHRC or CIHR) or by another funding organization allocating funds through a peer-review process, which is recognized by the Research Management Services.
• Two (2) points are earned at the end of the year following the awarding of the grant.
• Two (2) points are earned for each subsequent year in which the member holds the grant.
• Two (2) points are awarded per year for the duration for the grant.

Points cannot be removed. However, if you receive an evaluation with a cumulative average score of 3.2 or less on all three student evaluation questions for a specific course, the dean may decide not to award you the seniority point. If the average on student evaluations is less than 3.2 for all courses taught during the academic year, you will not receive the two points for the academic year unless the chair considers that there are mitigating circumstances.

The three questions (1, 4 and 9) from the student evaluations are the following:

• (1) The professor is well prepared for class
• (4) I think the professor conveys the subject matter effectively
• (9) I find that the professor, as a teacher, is … excellent, good. acceptable, poor, very poor

See question 3 for information on how to contest the dean’s decision.

Fortunately for you, a process has been put in place to appeal the dean’s decision to have your seniority points removed. You have ten (10) working days from receipt of the letter to respond and present any mitigating circumstances that may have affected your teaching. 

We’re here to help you with this process. You can submit your draft response to info@aptpuo.ca for advice and feedback before submitting it to your dean. Please contact us as soon as possible to give us enough time to help you draft your response if you need it. 

Here are a few examples of extenuating circumstances: 

• This was your first time teaching the course;
• You were hired at the last minute to teach the course;
• You are facing an exceptional circumstance in your personal or professional life, such as a health problem affecting you or a close family member, or a death in the family.

Every situation is different, and the cause may be more pedagogical in nature. Some professors take a risk by trying out new teaching methods which are not always effective, especially on the first attempt. The university generally favours attempts at innovation and has often seen this as an extenuating circumstance. Others have found success by acknowledging certain flaws in their approach and explaining their plan of action to remedy any shortcomings that may have affected evaluations.

While these examples do not guarantee that your points will be retained, they are common situations that have contributed to the success of some cases.

Reference: Articles 5.8.1 (i) and (n) of the Collective Agreement.

A member’s point total is noted in the following places:

• on the latest hiring or seniority reports
• in your Workday employee profile under the “Employment” section , then under the “seniority points” section

Note that although it appears that a professor can submit changes on this form, Human Resources do not acknowledge any changes made to the Online Web Application Form. Refer to question 4.

You must send a notice of disagreement that includes your name, employee number, uOttawa email address, and contact information to hracad@uottawa.ca, and include the Association (info@aptpuo.ca) in copy (CC).

Points are updated by June 30 each year. Any courses ending after this date are not included. Points collected for the academic year ending August 31 are not recorded. The university must post an APTPUO member list on its website, as well as their seniority points, their faculty, and their home department. Members must report errors or omissions to the Human Resources Service before August 31st. For more information, consult section 5.8 of the Collective Agreement.

As indicated in article 5.8.5, if you have not taught a course at the University of Ottawa for a period of more than twenty-four (24) months, you will lose all your accumulated seniority points. However, the collective agreement provides you with four (4) exceptions to preserve your seniority points.

(1) You have officially requested work during each of the winter and fall sessions following the interrupted service period;

(2) You hold a position on the APTPUO Board of Directors during the period of interrupted service;

(3) You have taken leave as specified in articles 7.3, 7.5, 7.6 and 7.7 of the collective agreement.

(4) You, for reasons beyond your control and for a limited time, have taken up residence where regular back-and-forth trips are not possible, on the condition that you present a valid supporting document and a favourable recommendation from the Labour-Management Committee.

Reference: Article 5.8.5 (PERIOD OF INTERRUPTED SERVICE) of the Collective Agreement.

Reference: Article 5.8 (SENIORITY) of the Collective Agreement.