Preamble
Our principal aim in this document is to give a clear and comprehensive statement of the responsibilities of Trinity dons.
Experience tells us that our dons are able to fulfill their responsibilities within the number of hours they are expected to work per week on average over the academic year. If, however, a don becomes concerned about workload as the year proceeds, they should speak with the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts.
1.0 Terms
a. Term of employment: On or about August 19, 2023 to May 1, 2024.
b. Dons live at Trinity College during the tenure of employment, except for the break between the fall and winter terms, and take up residence prior to don training (August 2023). Dons are expected to move into Trinity College over the August 19-20 weekend.
c. Dons participate in pre-service don training, which has both a Trinity and collaborative University of Toronto component. The pre-service training period takes place from August 19, 2023 – September 1, 2023. In addition, Dons are expected to attend in-service training (e.g., case study and training workshops) throughout the academic year, as required by the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts. The exact date for in-service training will likely be in January 2024 and the specific timing will be confirmed. Returning dons assist with the training and orientation of new student staff in these sessions.
d. Dons are required to be present and on campus for residence move-in days (expected Sunday September 3, 2023, and Monday September 4, 2023.
e. Dons are required to have an Emergency First Aid with CPR-C certification for the duration of their contract and must have completed training by Saturday, August 19th. Trinity College will reimburse dons up to $100 for the cost of first aid training. Please have this certification before you arrive at training and bring the receipt for reimbursement and a copy of your certification. Please note that first aid will not be offered as part of central training this year, and it is each person’s responsibility to make sure they have it before training starts.
f. Dons are members of the academic staff of the Faculty of Arts of Trinity College and are senior members of the College community. As such, they are expected to participate in the life of the Senior Common Room, of which they are members by virtue of their appointment as dons. Expected participation includes attendance at Wednesday evening SCR dinners.
Requests for special consideration or for arrangements different from the above must be discussed with and approved by the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts. Reappointment following the completion of this contract is at the discretion of the Dean of Arts and the Dean of Students, in consultation with the Dons’ Selection Committee and following a review of the don’s performance.
2.0 Time Commitment & Division of Duties
All don positions at Trinity College are considered “Academic Donships” and contain two primary components: academic and student life. The total time commitment is 15 hours per week on average. This 15 hours per week is divided between academic and student life responsibilities, and weekly allocations will vary depending on the time of year.
3.0 Academic Responsibilities
a. Dons provide academic assistance in designated areas to Trinity undergraduates in one-on-one tutorials/consultations and in small group sessions or seminars.
In individual consultations with students, dons review assignments, answer questions arising from course work or exam preparation, help students develop their own ideas and critical insights, and advise students on graduate school and professional-faculty applications.
Dons offer group consultations to help prepare students for an assignment, test or exam, and may offer seminars to help students develop particular academic skills – e.g., research skills. They are encouraged to run their group sessions with the assistance of Trinity peer counsellors.
b. A Trinity don is not required to provide academic assistance to a student from another College but may do so if this does not interfere with the don’s obligations to Trinity students.
c. Dons assist College staff with the academic orientation and matriculation of new students, with a spring session for first-year students on choosing a program of study, and with counselling sessions for upper-year students on careers and applications for postgraduate study.
d. Dons provide information to students about the academic support services offered by the College’s Registrar’s Office, Writing Centre and Math Aid Centre and refer students in academic difficulty to the Registrar’s Office.
e. Dons involve themselves in the activities of any College student society there may be in their academic areas (e.g., the College’s English Society, Philosophy Club, International Relations Society).
f. Dons promote interaction between faculty and students. At least once a term, every don, either individually or with one or more other dons, holds a “High Table” – a Senior Common Room event at which Trinity students meet professors, especially Trinity professors, in their area of study.
g. In fulfilling their academic responsibilities, dons are expected to respect and uphold “the integrity of the teaching and learning relationship” (University of Toronto Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, Preamble).
4.0 Student Life Responsibilities
Trinity dons play an essential role in enabling the College to provide its students with an appropriate standard of care and quality of life. As senior members of the College 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 environment that is conducive to academic success and personal development. Dons are also expected to work in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) (training to be provided).
All dons have the following student life responsibilities:
a. 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. This will include (i) holding an initial meeting with 1st year students on their move-in day (expected Sunday September 3, 2023 – typically sometime between 1:00 – 6:00 pm, depending on the Orientation Week schedule) in order to orient them to residence and university life and the role of a don, (ii) holding a second meeting with all assigned residence students within 1 week of their move-in and (ii) establishing and maintaining contact with each student in the don’s assigned area (learning their names etc).
b. Assisting with supplying information on residence life and student services provided by college and university facilities.
c. Helping to maintain reasonable standards of conduct, safety and security, including upholding the Trinity College Code of Student Conduct.
d. Serving as an initial contact for 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.
e. Responding to crises of a varied nature (e.g., illness, mental health, etc.), providing initial care (e.g., until the Assistant Dean or Dean is reached, and the student no longer needs help) and in some cases providing on-going follow-up (e.g., brief check-ins).
f. Reporting to the Dean of Students to advise them with regards to issues in the residences.
g. Serving as “duty dons” on rotation and reporting each shift, including any incidents occurring during a given shift, to the Dean of Students, in the form of a written “duty report.” Note that the duty don shift begins at 5:00 pm and ends at 9:00 am, the following day.
h. As part of the Trinity College community, assisting with the reading and assessment of Trinity College Student Profiles during the College admissions cycle. This profile reading will take place over the span of a weekend, usually taking place in early February.
i. Serving as role models for students. This responsibility requires, among other things, that dons be beyond reproach in their personal conduct, including their academic conduct.
j. Dons are expected to work with the Community Advisor(s) in their area to provide ongoing support and community development for students. Dons and Community Advisors will host joint floor meetings, promote programming, follow-up with students, and other duties as required.
k. Participating in running at least one stressbuster activity, organized through the Office of the Dean of Students during each of the exam periods in November/December and March/April.
4.1 Programming and Events:
a. Helping to plan and oversee Orientation Week events and activities.
b. Serving as “event dons” on rotation, directly supervising major evening-time student events, particularly those involving the use of alcohol. Examples of events include, but are not limited to, Strachan Study Hall, evening Orientation programming, and student parties on and off Trinity College Campus. The majority of these events are anticipated to run an average of 4 to 5 hours.
c. Acting as a liaison with the Senior Community Advisor, student heads, in particular, and with other student leaders to support student-run and/or student-developed initiatives and/or to develop joint initiatives (e.g., programming events, student clubs, Orientation Week, Conversat).
d. Programming events and promoting awareness of resources on behalf of the Office of the Dean of Students (e.g., specific events hosted by the Dean’s Office, events and resources at the University of Toronto).
e. Running student life sessions organized by the Assistant Deans in such areas as transition planning.
5.0 Remuneration
Dons are paid at rates comparable on an hourly basis to the rate of pay for SGS (School of Graduate Studies) Teaching Assistants. Compensation is sufficient to cover the cost of residence accommodation and a full meal plan (including High Table privileges). Returning dons are paid a small premium.
6.0 Accountability
Dons report to the Dean of Students and to the Dean of Arts. For daily matters, dons report to the Assistant Dean of Students, Residence Life. In general terms, for matters relating to the student life component of employment, dons report to the Dean of Students and for matters relating to the academic component of employment they report to the Dean of Arts. However, there is some overlap in supervision.
7.0 Evaluation:
The performance of the dons will be evaluated regularly and will include the following:
a. Don self-evaluation and reflection
b. Questionnaires to students (administered by Deans)
c. Performance assessment by the Dean of Students and the Dean of Arts
If performance is deemed to be below standard, the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts will discuss the matter in confidence with the don in question. In cases where there are serious concerns about conduct unbecoming a don, dereliction of duty or other misconduct, the don shall be removed from his or her duties while the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts conduct an investigation into the don’s conduct. As part of the investigation, the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts shall provide the don with an opportunity to respond to the concerns. If the investigation discloses that the don engaged in conduct unbecoming a don, dereliction of duty or other misconduct, they shall be subject to discipline, up to and including immediate dismissal for cause and without notice. Depending on the nature of the misconduct, the don may also be subject to academic sanctions.
8.0 Restrictions & Requirements
a. 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 the College for long periods of time.
b. Dons must refrain from conduct that is, or that could reasonably be foreseen to have the potential to be, harmful to the students of Trinity College. This includes engagement in intimate relationships with Trinity College students.
c. Dons are required to use their personal cell phone and University of Toronto email for all Trinity College business. Responses to phone and email messages are expected within 24 hours.
d. Dons are required to meet regularly as a group with the Assistant Dean of Students, Residents Life.
e. Dons are required to keep a record of their consultations and hours of work and to submit periodic reports on these matters, including an end-of-year report, to the Dean of Students and the Dean of Arts.
f. Dons will typically be granted permission to attend a field-specific academic conference over term of the appointment (typically up to one week, inclusive of travel). Absences for other reasons (e.g., holidays) are not consistent with the job expectations and terms of appointment and will not typically be granted. This document supersedes any supplementary training documents or discussions therein, which may suggest otherwise. Any requests for absence from the College of more than 48 consecutive hours must be approved by the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts with adequate notice. Requests for multiple monthly absences of more than 48 hours are typically not granted.
g. At the end of a don’s employment, the don shall immediately return to the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts all of the property and materials of Trinity College in his or her possession, including keys and any materials such as notes or pictures containing students’ personal information. The don shall also delete any electronic record containing students’ personal information from his or her electronic equipment, such as computers or cellular phones.
h. Any exceptions to any of the above conditions must be discussed with and approved by the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts.
9.0 Termination
Employment of a don may be terminated prior to the end of the term of appointment in the following ways:
a. By the don, giving one month’s notice in writing to the Dean of Students and/or the Dean of Arts
b. By Trinity College, giving one month’s notice in writing or payment in lieu of notice
c. By Trinity College, with cause, immediately, and without notice.
The don will be required to vacate the don suite immediately upon termination of employment prior to the end of the term of appointment.