Advertisement for Donships at Trinity College for 2010-11
Applications are invited for nine donships at Trinity College in the University of Toronto for 2010-2011.
One Donship in Community Outreach
For information, click on Roy McMurtry Community Outreach Donship for 2010-11.
Five Donships in Designated Academic Areas
Five of the donships will include academic responsibilities in the following areas (one don per area):
English
Life Sciences
Modern History
Political Science & International Relations
Writing
Each of the dons appointed in these areas, except for the Modern History don, will have 70% academic responsibilities and 30% student life responsibilities. The Modern History don will have 50% academic responsibilities and 50% student life responsibilities.
Three Donships With Mainly Student Life Responsibilities
Three of the donships will combine student life responsibilities (80%) and academic responsibilities in areas that fit the academic background and expertise of the appointed individuals (20%).
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Academic Responsibilities
Dons other than the Roy McMurtry Community Outreach Don provide academic assistance to Trinity undergraduates in one-on-one tutorials/consultations and small-group sessions or seminars. They are expected to involve themselves in the activities of College student societies in their discipline (e.g., the College's English Society, Philosophy Club, and Science and Nature Club).
Student Life Responsibilities
All Trinity dons play an essential role in enabling the College to provide an appropriate standard of care and quality of life in the College's two residences. As senior members of the College's residential community, dons are expected to be visible and approachable. They are expected to engage with the Trinity community by helping to foster a safe, secure, diverse, vibrant and cooperative residence environment that is conducive to academic success and personal development.
Student life responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Encouraging an academic atmosphere, mutual respect, and cooperation in residence so that the rights and needs of all students to study, learn, and rest are met;
- Assisting with supplying information on residence life and College and University facilities, including support services (e.g., those offered by the Registrar's Office, the chaplain and the broader University community);
- Helping to maintain reasonable levels of conduct, safety and security, including upholding the Trinity College Code of Student Conduct;
- Serving as an initial contact for resident students who are in emotional, psychological, physical, social, economic, or academic difficulty, and referring such students when appropriate to the professional services offered by the College, the University, and the wider community;
- Responding to crises of a varied nature (e.g., illness) in accordance with guidelines provided by the College during dons’ training;
- Meeting regularly with the Dean of Students to advise him/her on problems in the residences;
- Serving as role models for students;
- Serving as "duty dons" on rotation and reporting any incidents to the Dean of Students;
- Assisting with the orientation of new students and with certain College events as requested;
- Promoting interaction between faculty and students by such means as “High Table” nights.
Time Commitment
The total time commitment is normally 12-15 hours per week on average. Dons with 70% academic responsibilities normally spend 8-10 hours per week on average on academic advising and 4-5 hours per week on average on student life work. Dons with 80% student life responsibilities normally spend 10-12 hours per week on average on student life work and 2-3 hours per week on average on academic advising.
Residence Requirements
Dons will be required to move into residence before central dons’ training (August 23-26, 2010) and to remain in residence during both terms of the 2010-2011 academic year, until the day following the end of the spring examination period. Dons are not required to be in residence during the winter break between terms.
Reporting Relations
Dons report to the Dean of Arts and the Dean of Students. For matters relating to the academic component of employment, dons report to the Dean of Arts; for matters relating to the student life component of employment, dons report to the Dean of Students.
Restrictions
Dons are not permitted to accept other employment (with the exception of Teaching Assistantships) or to take on commitments with external organizations that would require their absence from College for more than a few days.
Compensation
Dons are paid at a rate comparable on an hourly basis to the rate of pay for SGS (School of Graduate Studies) II Teaching Assistants. Compensation is sufficient to cover the cost of room and board for eight months in a College suite (this cost is deducted at source), as well as statutory Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan deductions (but not income tax deductions, if any).
Qualifications
Applicants should be enrolled in (or applying for admission to) a graduate or second-entry professional program, or pursuing post-doctoral studies, at the University of Toronto.
Applicants must have excellent academic records and should have, or be willing to acquire, a good working knowledge of the University's undergraduate courses (especially first- and second-year courses) in their areas. Tutoring or TA experience is an asset. Residential experience is also an asset.
Applications
Candidates should apply to Professor Derek Allen, Dean of Arts, Trinity College, 6 Hoskin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1H8. Applications may be submitted by email to Dean Allen c/o Ms. Herma Joel (herma@trinity.utoronto.ca) and should include a covering letter, a curriculum vitae, an undergraduate transcript and (if applicable) a graduate transcript. The covering letter should explain the applicant’s qualifications for, and interest in, the position. In addition, applicants should arrange for two letters of reference to be sent by email to Dean Allen c/o Ms. Joel. The deadline for receipt of application materials is March 12, 2010. Short-listed applicants will be interviewed in the week of March 15th or March 22nd.
Trinity College encourages applications from all qualified individuals and seeks to appoint a team of dons who reflect the diversity of the College's students.
