[PDADC-L] University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP)

PDAD&C #51, 2010-11

MEMORANDUM

To: Principals, Deans, Academic Directors and Chairs

From: Edith Hillan, Vice Provost Faculty & Academic Life
Angela Hildyard, Vice-President Human Resources & Equity

Date: February 9, 2011

Re: University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP)

Memo HR #9 2010-11 set out the financial terms of the recent two-year Arbitration Award between the University and UTFA. Even after the financial aspects of the award were known, discussions continued with respect to the development of a Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians. We are pleased to announce that we have reached agreement on the policy and procedures, and the policy and Mr Teplitsky's new award may be found at: http://www.provost.utoronto.ca/link/administrators/wlpp-2011.htm

Principles:
The University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP) sets out the principles governing the establishment and assignment of workload for faculty and librarians across the University. The WLPP recognizes that the assignment of workload should be done at the local level and has to be flexible enough to recognize the unique mission of individual units and the types of appointments that faculty members and librarians hold. The WLPP acknowledges the importance of transparency in the process of workload allocation with decisions about the assignment of teaching and service being made in accordance with criteria known to all those working in the unit. The WLPP identifies the kinds of factors which can be taken into account in assigning the teaching and service workload and has some specific provisions for teaching-stream faculty and librarians.

Process:
All faculty and librarians across the University will be covered by a Unit Workload Policy. (a unit is defined as single department faculty, a department within a multi-department faculty, an Institute, Centre or School (with EDU A or B status) or a College). Each unit will be expected to establish a Unit Workload Policy Committee to create and maintain a Unit Workload Policy, including workload norms, standards or ranges. The committee will be chaired by the chair, dean or principal and the membership will reflect the range of appointments held within the unit. Librarians across the three campuses will have a single Librarian Workload Policy Committee chaired by the Chief Librarian.

Unit committees will be expected to set a Unit Workload Policy that is consistent with both Article 8 of the Memorandum of Agreement and the WLPP. The Unit Workload Policy requires approval from either the Dean (in multi-department faculties) or the Provost (in single-department faculties) and must be reviewed at least every three years.

Until a new Unit Workload policy has been established and approved, previous unit practices concerning workload will apply.

Individual teaching and service responsibilities will be assigned by the Unit head (or in the case of a librarian the person to whom the librarian reports) in accordance with the WLPP, the Unit Workload Policy, and other factors relevant to the individual.

The University and UTFA have agreed that a joint committee will be established to examine workload matters for faculty and librarians at both UTM and UTSC.

Cross Appointments:
Where faculty members hold budgetary cross-appointments or their main graduate appointment outside their primary unit of appointment, the WLPP provides that there should be an annual meeting between the faculty member and relevant unit heads and/or graduate chair to discuss workload and resolve any conflicts in expectations between units.

Disputes:
The WLPP also sets out the way in which complaints about the assignment of workload under the WLPP or the Unit Workload Policy from faculty members or librarians will be handled.

Next Steps:
We recognize that there are likely to be many questions about the new University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians particularly in relation to its implementation. Further information will be given at the next PDAD&C meeting on March 3rd 2011. This will be followed by a series of workshops for all divisions to be held throughout the months of March and April. We will invite chairs who have experience with developing workload policies at the unit level to participate in the workshops to share information and best practices. A Frequently Asked Questions sheet will also be developed as issues arise around the implementation of the policy that can be distributed to faculty and librarians. If there are specific issues you would like to see addressed in the sessions or FAQ, or if you would like to volunteer to share your experiences of working with unit level workload policies, please contact Sara- Jane Finlay at sarajane.finlay@utoronto.ca