From: Heather Boon, Vice-Provost, Faculty & Academic Life
Date: March 19, 2021
Re: Changes to the University  of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP) (PDAD&C #54)

I am writing to share with you two important changes to the University of Toronto Workload Policy and Procedures for Faculty and Librarians (WLPP). These changes are the outcome of discussions between the University and the University of Toronto Faculty Association (UTFA) and of an Interest Arbitration Award issued June 29, 2020 by William Kaplan. The revised WLPP has been posted.

As members of PDAD&C are aware “[w]orkload is a combination of tasks assigned and tasks determined through collegial interaction and self-direction.” The WLPP provides the framework within which academic units, through a collegial process, determine their own workload policies.

The WLPP has been changed from time to time since it was first established in 2011. The most recent changes to the WLPP include a number of small changes to improve clarity and navigability. There are also two substantive changes that must be implemented as workload is assigned this spring. Neither requires that you make changes to your unit-level workload policy:

1. Written assignments of workload: The revised WLPP requires that “Each member will be provided with a written assignment of their workload duties on an annual basis that includes the member’s percentage appointment and details of teaching and service or, in the case of librarians, professional practice and service.” The revised WLPP has now added the following additional clarification:

• Specific deadline: The revised policy now specifies that this annual written workload letter must be provided “no later than June 30^th” (WLPP, 2.17)

• Workload letter to provide specifics where workload diverges from the norm: The revised policy now also requires that “Where an individual member’s assignment is materially different from the unit’s workload norms, standards or ranges, the variation and the reason for it should be identified in the individual member’s written assignment of workload, subject to any accommodation agreements.” (WLPP, 2.17) As you know, all workload letters are available for review at the request of other faculty members in the unit or UTFA. Information related to individual accommodations such as health, disability, family status or other similar accommodations must be kept confidential and should not be included in the individual workload letters.

2. Making workload letters available: Chairs, Directors and Deans are reminded that section 2.17 of the WLPP also provides that “[a]ll written assignments for each Unit will be collected in the Office of the Unit Head and made readily available for review at the request of any member of the Unit or the Association.” The University has made a commitment to develop a mechanism whereby workload letters may be posted to a secure site. My office will take the lead in working to determine how this might best be facilitated.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your Dean’s Office, or, in the case of a single department faculty, to my office directly.