Teaching workload standards at ݮƵ

ܰAcademic Freedom & Tenure Committeeoften receivesquestions from current and prospective faculty wondering if the course load they are teaching or being offered is fair compared to other members of theirdepartment. Unfortunately, standard course loads are not universally published by departments at ݮƵ, so wesurveyedourCouncil ofRepresentatives togatherthat information. 

Please note that this isnotintended for comparisonsbetweendepartments or Faculties. Werecognizethat course loads varybetween disciplinesfor several reasons and we are notadvocating forstandardizationacross campus. (Onenotableexception to this isthe matter of tracking and compensating overload teaching—thisshouldbe consistentfor all our members; no one should be teaching for free.)

Rather, we hope this data is usefulwithindepartmentsorsimilar disciplines.We believethatthis information should be readily available to our members(andtoprospective faculty)and documented in every department’s addendum to their Faculty’sperformancereviewguidelinesor another appropriate and accessible location.

What is the standard annual course-based teaching workload?

We asked what the standard teaching load is for both professorial-rank and lecturer members, and whether this norm is defined somewhere in departmental documents. We are concerned that many members didn't know where this information could be found. In departments where it isknown to bedocumented, it's generally in the departmental addenda to the Faculty performance review guidelines.

Unit Standard courseload for 40/40/20 professorial rank faculty Standard courseload for 80/20 lecturers Defined in departmental documents (or elsewhere)?
Accounting and Finance, School of
Anthropology 4 n/a Yes
Applied Mathematics 3 6 No
Architecture 4
Biology 2.5 5 to 6 (for those with a 60/20/20 weighting) No
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry 3 6
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Classical Studies 4 6 unknown
Combinatorics and Optimization
Communication Arts 4 7 unknown
Computer Science, School of
Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business 4 6 unknown
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Economics 4 7 Yes
Electrical and Computer Engineering No
English Language and Literature 4 average 7 per year Yes
Environment, Enterprise and Development, School of
Environment, Resources and Sustainability, School of 4 5 No
Fine Arts No
French Studies 4 7 sections No
Geography and Environmental Management 4 (possibly moving to 4 one year and 3 the next) 6 one year, 4 the next year Yes, except lecturer course load
Germanic and Slavic Studies 4 n/a No
History
Interaction, Design and Business, Stratford School of 7 unknown
Kinesiology
Knowledge Integration 4 n/a No
Management Sciences
Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering 3 courses w/supervision of 3 grad students (adjusted based on supervision load) 5
 Yes, except lecturer course load
Optometry, School of

Most non-clinical professors have a weighting of 33/33/33. Optometrists: 4.25 courses per year (including clinical teaching) across all three terms. Non-optometrists: approx. 2 per term.


Clinical professors have a weighting of 40/40/20. Optometrists: 2.5 days/week (approx. 7.5 courses/year.* Non-optometrists: 3 courses.

 Clinical lecturers: 4 days/week in clinic (approx. 12 courses)
C22:C34		 Only clinic days.
Pharmacy, School of [data entry error] 4 or 5 No
Philosophy 4 7 unknown
Physics and Astronomy
Planning, School of alternates between 4 one year, 3 the next 6 one year; 7 the next Yes
Political Science 4 don't know 6-7? Yes
Psychology 3 6 unknown
Public Health and Health Systems, School of
Pure Mathematics
Recreation and Leisure Studies 3 80-20 (6 courses/year) Yes
Religious Studies
Sociology 80/20 No
Spanish and Latin American Studies 4 7 Yes
Statistics and Actuarial Science 3 6 Yes
Systems Design Engineering
Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing 6 (4 for 50/50) unknown
Math Undergraduate Office No standard. Most common is 6 but ranges from 1–7 depending on service load. No
Math Business and Accounting Programs 3 6 No

*Note that when Clinical lecturers in Optometry were able to transfer from Clinical lecturers to the professorial ranks, the agreement was that their teaching loads would not change.

How is teaching workload tracked and compensated?

We asked whether and how teaching load is formally tracked and what happens when a member teaches more than the normal load in a given year. On this point, we believe that consistency across campus is important and that no one should be teaching for free.

Unit Is there a formal tracking system for teaching tasks? What happens when you teach more than the normal load?
Accounting and Finance, School of
Anthropology Yes; The Dean's office conducts an annual audit of the teaching load for each faculty member. That data is collected and verified during part of the annual review process. One-course reduction in a future year (unless it's making up for a course cancelled in a previous year.)
Applied Mathematics Yes
Architecture
Biology Mostly done voluntarily used to get paid extra
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry Yes It varies depending on the case. Generally, compensation by mutual agreement.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Classical Studies Not that I know of So far it has not happened in 11 years.
Combinatorics and Optimization
Communication Arts n/a Overload pay or counts towards future teaching.
Computer Science, School of
Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business Yes n/a
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Economics Yes Compensation is provided in either pay or teaching credits.
Electrical and Computer Engineering Yes Course reduction in a future year.
English Language and Literature Yes Not allowed.
Environment, Enterprise and Development, School of
Environment, Resources and Sustainability, School of No n/a
Fine Arts No Course reduction in a future year.
French Studies No, except in our annual report. It is considered as overload, but we avoid it as much as possible.
Geography and Environmental Management Unknown other than being tracked by the chair. Chair keeps track and it is written on APR. Not sure how overload factors into APR.
Germanic and Slavic Studies No
History
Interaction, Design and Business, Stratford School of unknown unknown
Kinesiology
Knowledge Integration No Per Faculty guidelines, it is the faculty member’s responsibility to point out overload teaching during their annual performance review.
Management Sciences
Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering No Anecdotally, people are offered buyout at sessional rate or banking of teaching credit.
Optometry, School of No Nothing. When I taught an extra grad course, I was told I was “owed a course”, but my subsequent teaching load was not reduced.
Pharmacy, School of No Nothing.
Philosophy Unknown Unknown
Physics and Astronomy
Planning, School of Director keeps track in a spreadsheet Uncommon.
Political Science Unknown Course reduction in a future year.
Psychology Yes compensation provided in either pay (at the sessional rate) or teaching relief in a future year.
Public Health and Health Systems, School of
Pure Mathematics
Recreation and Leisure Studies Yes: The department tracks course assignments. Course reduction in a future year.
Religious Studies
Sociology Yes (APR and Annual Teaching Preferences form) A faculty member would receive credit to be counted in a future year. When that credit is used is negotiated with the Chair.
Spanish and Latin American Studies No Doesn't happen except occasional directed studies courses. There is no officially remuneration for this extra work, but it is reflected in the faculty Member’s APR score.
Statistics and Actuarial Science Yes $10,000 overload stipend or teach reduction the next year.
Systems Design Engineering
Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing unknown Teaching reduction in a future year
Math Undergraduate Office No Usually paid a sessional rate. Sesisonal wage differs by department.
Math Business and Accounting Programs on APR Teaching reduction in a future year

How are teaching credits counted?

We asked specifically about whether teaching credits are counted bysectionor bycourse; whether (lecture-based) graduate-level courses are counted the same as undergraduate courses; whether you get the same or more credit for developing a new course; and if there is a minimum number of students required for you to get teaching credit for a course (both grad and undergrad).

We’re pretty sure that many of the responses aboutminimum enrolmentfor teaching credit areactually aboutminimum enrolment for the course to not be cancelled, which may or may not be the same thing, so take those with a grain of salt.

We did not ask about howonline coursesare counted, but that came up a lot in the responses and we know there’s a lot of interest in that (we also know it’s a complicated answer in many cases). If you know how online courses are counted in your department (and it’s not noted here), let us know.

Unit Teaching credits counted by section? Grad-level lectures same as undergrad? New course prep: same or more credit? Online course: same/more/less credit? Minimum course enrolment for undergrad (UG) and/or grad courses?
Accounting and Finance, School of
Anthropology Yes Yes Same as existing course UG only, around 15, but not yet formalized.
Applied Mathematics Yes Yes Same as existing course No
Architecture
Biology 1 unit of a repeated course in the same semester = 0.5; in different semesters = 1.0 units n/a Same, but new faculty teach less in first year or two UG only, around 10
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry Yes Yes Same as existing course Loosley, 10 for UG courses. Credit given for core and maybe historically high-enrolent (>10) elective grad courses.
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Classical Studies Yes Yes Arbitrary No, but under discussion for both UG and G.
Combinatorics and Optimization
Communication Arts Yes n/a Same as existing course Yes,
Computer Science, School of
Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business Yes Yes At the discretion of the director No
Earth and Environmental Sciences
Economics Yes Yes Same except online courses (online courses get more). There is a formula that defines level of credit. Not defined but in progress for undergrad
Electrical and Computer Engineering Yes Yes Same, but noted in performance review Yes, 5 for both grad and UG.
English Language and Literature Yes Yes Same except online courses More Yes, 15 for UG, 10 for grad.
Environment, Enterprise and Development, School of
Environment, Resources and Sustainability, School of No (though chair might make adjustments on a case-by-case basis) Yes Same (unless agreed upon in advance), but accounted for in performance review Yes, normally 10. Decided before the term starts. Not for grad courses.
Fine Arts Yes Yes Same except online courses More Nominally 15 for UG but not practiced.
French Studies Yes Yes Same, but accounted for in performance review 15 for UG, 6 for grad. Courses are often mixed-level to meet minimums.
Geography and Environmental Management Yes Yes Same, but noted in performance review Rare.
Germanic and Slavic Studies Yes Yes Same except online courses More No
History
Interaction, Design and Business, Stratford School of Yes Yes Same as existing course
Kinesiology
Knowledge Integration No n/a Accounted for on a case-by-case basis in performance review. First online course prep gets a course release.
Management Sciences
Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering Yes Yes Same as existing course Yes, 10 for UG, 5 for grad, by add/drop date. Lower if first offering of the course.
Optometry, School of No Only ones with higher enrollment Same, but new faculty teach less until tenure unknown
Pharmacy, School of Yes Yes Same as existing course Not officially
Philosophy Yes Yes Nope (although asked about on APR) unknown
Physics and Astronomy
Planning, School of Yes Yes Acknowledge new course/design on APR forms but not sure how it is quantified. Online course prep = one course buyout Canceled if under 5–6 students. Small grad classes often combined with UG.
Political Science Yes Yes Same, but noted in performance review Yes for both grad and UG, by week 1
Psychology Yes Yes Same as existing course Less 15 for UG, 6 for grad, otherwise cancelled and assigned other teaching.
Public Health and Health Systems, School of
Pure Mathematics
Recreation and Leisure Studies No Yes Same, but accounted for in performance review Yes, 10 for UG, 5 for grad.
Religious Studies
Sociology Yes Yes New course prep is counted in APR as part of teaching and training activities. It is not measured quantitatively, but is instead recognized as part of a faculty member’s overall contribution to teaching. Yes, 15 for UG, 6 for grad, right before the course starts
Spanish and Latin American Studies Yes n/a Same except online courses. Accounted for in performance review. More
Statistics and Actuarial Science Yes Yes Same except online courses Online course development gets 2 course credit. n/a
Systems Design Engineering
Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing Yes Yes Same as existing course unknown
Math Undergraduate Office Yes n/a Inconsistent (some have gotten zero credit, some get up to two course releasess, some get monetary compensation). No
Math Business and Accounting Programs Yes Yes Same as existing course Yes, around 10

Notes about the responses

  • Many responses have been edited for lengthand consistency of presentation.

  • This datawas collected in fall 2019and as such representsa snapshot of normsat thattime.

  • Council members (or, in some cases, other members at our 2019 Fall General Meeting)filled out the surveybased on theirownknowledge of their departments. Understandably, not all representativeshavethe same level of knowledgeabout these practicesand not all the information we asked for is readily available in every department, so there are gaps.We welcome new information to help us fill in these gaps!