Information for Prospective Contract Teaching Faculty (CTF) of Wilfrid Laurier International College

About Wilfrid Laurier International College (WLIC)

Wilfrid Laurier International College’s programs and approach to teaching offer international students the opportunity to be fully prepared for university studies and have a smooth transition to Wilfrid Laurier University. Our comprehensive programming, both academic and extracurricular, allows students to explore and navigate their own personal journey to success.

Located on the Brantford campus, Wilfrid Laurier International College (WLIC) was established by Navitas in 2020. Navitas is a global higher education provider specializing in pathway programs providing international students with the skills and knowledge they need to be successful in a Canadian post-secondary educational setting. WLIC welcomes international students from across the world to complete a first year of study to qualify for their undergraduate program of choice at Laurier. Upon completion of ten courses and with the attainment of the required CGPA, WLIC students transfer into second year at Laurier in their chosen pathway. The undergraduate courses that students take at WLIC are Laurier courses taught by Laurier selected instructors.

For more information, visit www.laurieric.ca

Teaching and Learning Expectations and Requirements Overview

Instructors who choose to instruct in the WLIC are committed to teaching and supporting international students with their transition to academic studies in a new education system.  They prefer a small and dynamic classroom environment and thrive on close relationships with their students. These instructors enjoy being part of a community that is working holistically to support international student development and success in Canada. Instructors adapt their current teaching practices to support students. Instructors are not only subject matter experts with experience in teaching and learning, but also willing to share their passion for their field of study, giving students opportunities to better understand the various fields of study offered on-campus, thereby promoting their respective faculties and departments.

It should be noted that these facets work together to form a culture and ethos that is student-centered and focused on high quality teaching and learning.

The following elements have been identified as essential to the quality of students’ learning experience and their academic outcome. Additional programming, interventions, and initiatives may be used to support these fundamental elements that exemplify the Navitas program:

• Professional development and training on the history and philosophical approach of Navitas and internationalizing the classroom. Training provided by Navitas and compensated above stipend as per Article 28.5, Additional Academic Responsibilities
• Utilizing the learning management systems, including the Student Portal and Moodle, for all academic purposes, as well as to complete mandatory attendance tracking and follow up and escalate student concerns.
• Understanding the purpose of the student-focused timetable in which the Navitas course delivery model of four-hour blocks allows multiple teaching approaches to support student learning.
• Instructors committed to supporting international students holistically, both in the classroom and through transitional challenges related to living and studying abroad, as well as open to peer and administrative feedback to achieve those outcomes. 
• Partnering with student services to identify at-risk students, make effective referrals, and prioritize mental health support to provide a culturally safe approach to academic accommodations.
• Maintaining strong relationships with the course coordinator, the university assigned content expert, to ensure quality assurance between the College and University to ensure the knowledge students gain in first year will set them up for future success.
• Supporting the College with disseminating important announcements that impact the student experience from a holistic perspective, including topics pertaining to academics, socio-political world events, transfer to the partner university, and anything related to student transition and cultural adjustment.
• Supporting the centralized institutional academic integrity policy and process, overseen by the College, by using the additional hour of course lecture to support students with understanding and expectations around the regulations and importance academic integrity and the penalties for misconduct.
• Approaching timely responses to student communications with an intercultural lens, using the Navitas email and/or learning management system, to ensure students have multimodal options to clarify course content and address any questions or concerns.

Course Delivery

The delivery of courses will be virtual as students will be accessing their courses through Moodle, the learning management system used by WLIC.  Once pandemic restrictions are lifted students will attend classes in person on our Brantford campus and all courses will be taught synchronously and in person.  Courses are delivered in 4-hour teaching blocks either early morning or late evening to accommodate different regional time zones. The 4-hour teaching model in small classes is fundamental to allow for relationship building amongst students and the instructor as well as providing time to embed vital study skills. Instructors will be required to deliver course content (synchronously) in a 4-hour block per week during times that accommodate various regional time zones and instructor’s availability. Required lab sections will be taught by the instructor of record and offered at outside of the 4-hour block.

Applicants must demonstrate (via teaching dossier and interview) their knowledge of best practices for the remote delivery and management of courses; including, but not limited to:

• Use course management system tools to communicate with students and to foster and support a collaborative online learning community with and between students in the course.
• Provide timely and constructive feedback on student work.
• Respond to student academic and course administration inquiries in a timely manner and refer students to technical support or student support when appropriate.
• Support academic integrity in the creation and administration of assignments, tests, and exams in an online environment.

Applicants who have taught this course at Laurier are preferred.

Exceptions to the CTF Collective Agreement

All university transfer program (UTP) instruction within WLIC will fall within the scope of the of the WLUFA Contract Teaching Faculty Agreement with the following exceptions.

Teaching Duties (beyond CTF Agreement Article 16)

• Provide a 4th hour of instruction per week
• Participate in onboarding and training
• Utilize the WLIC learning management system
• Permit in-class audits
• Utilize the WLIC Student Evaluation forms and process
• Take and report class attendance
• Abide by the applicable academic and non-academic policies of the College
• Resolve grievances within the College with best efforts
• Accommodate course moderation processes with course coordinator
• Utilize WLIC issued email for WLIC Student and College staff communications

Hiring Process

• Appointments to teach in the WLIC shall be made through one interdisciplinary hiring Committee - WLIC PTAC
• The WLIC PTAC consists of five tenured or tenure track full-time faculty voting members who are the discipline-specific, Course Coordinator(s) appointed by the Faculty, Department, Program or Area, as appropriate, representing the majority of the disciplinary mix of program offerings, and two non-voting members of WLIC (hereinafter referred to as “WLIC Reps”). *committee may be smaller for first intake
• For appointments in areas without disciplinary representation on the WLIC PTAC, alternates shall be appointed by the Faculty, Department, Program or Area, as appropriate, and will replace one or more of the five (5) core full-time faculty committee members, as needed to reflect the discipline expertise for the course.
• The WLIC PTAC will create the position posting, inclusive of WLIC qualifications and the department or equivalent standards.
• Postings will be approved by the WLIC Dean, copied to the Faculty Association and will be posted on the University and WLIC websites in addition to External outreach sites.
• Postings will include attachments outlining the additional duties and responsibilities of teaching a WLIC Academic Course.
• Applicants (internal and external) will apply for WLIC Academic Courses through the processes outlined in the Collective Agreement or as modified by the MOU and those hired to teach the WLIC Academic Courses will be Members of WLUFA under the CTF Agreement.

Stage 1: Pre-Screening

• WLIC Reps will consult with the applicable Course Coordinator on the initial academic qualifications of the applicants. Candidates with the requisite academic qualifications will be placed on a long list for WLIC Rep consideration.

Stage 2: Interview

• The WLIC Reps will assess academically qualified candidates against the qualifications to teach in the College, as outlined on the posting, and will assign each of the long-listed candidates up to 20 points in section (d) of Appendix H. The Course Coordinator will participate in the assessment process which may include in-person interviews in order to refine the section (d) scores.

Stage 3: Appointment

• PTAC voting members will then assess and recommend to the WLIC Dean appointments from the pool of qualified candidates based on the score in the Appendix H Hiring Rubric.
• The WLIC PTAC will have access to the University Official File for their first appointment, and both the WLIC Official File and WLU Official File for subsequent appointments.
• Seniority points in the teaching of WLIC courses will be tracked separate from Wilfrid Laurier University courses and WLIC Instructors will retain seniority points in WLIC courses for 36-months following the end of the Member’s last appointment with WLIC.

WLIC PTAC Rubric

The Appendix H - hiring rubric will allow for WLIC and *Laurier seniority points in section (b) (II) and total seniority points (WLIC and **Laurier) in section (c) (III).

*Laurier seniority points for the same course, under section (b) (II), will be multiplied by 0.5.

**Laurier seniority points under (c) (III) will count at a rate of 1:1.

Compensation

• WLIC will pay Instructor rates per the Collective Agreement prorated to reflect the 4th hour of instruction and additional hours of lab instruction, if required by posting.
• Any onboarding or training requirements will be compensated as per Article 28.5 and paid on the final pay cycle of the term. Faculty will be compensated for any additional activities required by WLIC that are not part of the normal contract associated with teaching their courses.