A
Absence During Term
Academic Consideration
Academic Integrity
Accommodation
Advisory Council
Arts Online Account
Appeals
B
Brightspace - see D2L
Bylaws
C
Calendar
Campus Maps
Centre for Indigenous Governance
Chairs
Class Lists
Collegiality
Committees
Computers/Printers
Contact Information
Contacts
Continuing Education
Contracts
Copying – see Photocopying and Duplicating and Printing Services
Course Outlines (Syllabi)
Course Web Site
D
D2L (Course Website)
Dates
Department Contacts
Department Council
Department Meetings
Department Policies
Desk Space
Documents – Remote Access
Duplicating and Printing Services (formerly Multi-Print)
E
E-mail
Employee Groups
Employee Number
Evaluations
Exams
F
Faculty of Arts
FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Personal Privacy Act)
Fire Services
First Nations Technical Institute
Forms
G
Grading
Graduate Assistants
G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
I
Identification
I/T (Information Technology) Service
K
Keys
L
Learning and Teaching Office
Liberal Studies
Library
Links
Login Information
LTO (Learning and Teaching Office)
M
Mail
Meetings
Multi-Print
O
Office
Office Hours
Office of Research Services - see OVPRI
Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation - see OVPRI
OneCard
Online Identification
ORS - see OVPRI
OVPRI (Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation)
P
Partnerships
Phones
Photocopying
Plagiarism - see
Academic Integrity
Policies
Printing
R
RAMSS (Ryerson Administrative Management Self Service)
Remote Access (Documents)
Research Services - see OVPRI
ROI (Ryerson Online Identity)
S
SAS (Student Administrative System)
Seminars/Symposia
Significant Dates
Statements
Student Accommodation
Student Administrative System - see SAS
Student Correspondence
Student Handbook
Student Work
Syllabi
T
Teaching Assistants - see Graduate Assistants
Telephone Service
Textbook/Course Packs
turnitin.com
U
Unions
Absence During Term – see Policies > Institutional > Absence During Term
Academic Consideration
Academic consideration (not to be confused with "Accommodation") involves flexibility based on medical, compassionate, religious or spiritual, or other grounds. Usually it involves deadline extensions and/or make-up tests/exams.
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Academic Integrity
Ryerson (like most universities) places a very high value on academic integrity. The University has developed a sophisticated Academic Integrity website that contains all manner of useful information for faculty, contract lecturers, graduate assistants, and students. Browse the site for general information, and consult the site with specific questions, particularly (but not exclusively) those involving plagiarism and appeals.
The University subscribes to turnitin.com, a textual similarity data base that checks student work against online sources and previously submitted assignments at all participating universities. Participation is voluntary, but its use is strongly encouraged, particularly in large classes where considerable marking is done by Graduate Assistants. The service is fully integrated with D2L Brightspace.
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Accommodation
Even when facilities and services are designed as inclusively as possible, some persons with disabilities may still require an accommodation to meet their individual needs. The “duty to accommodate” is the legal obligation that employers, unions, landlords and service providers have under the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) to meet the needs of persons with disabilities. The goal of accommodation is to allow equal benefit from and participation in services, housing, or the workplace.
Accommodation is a shared responsibility. Everyone involved, including the person seeking accommodation, should co-operate in the process, exchange relevant information, and explore accommodation solutions together. All employees of Ryerson are required to complete e-learning training on the Customer Service Standard to ensure successful compliance with the AODA. For further information on the University’s commitment to accessibility, and for links to the e-learning training, please see the University’s Accessibility web-site, as well as Senate Policy 159: Academic Accommodation of Students with Disabilities.
For students seeking accommodation at Ryerson University, the first stop should be with Academic Accommodation Support (formerly the Access Centre). Instructors, too, should consult the Academic Accommodation Support web-site, which contains a wealth of information. Following an assessment by Academic Accommodation Support, the student will be provided with an Accommodation Form indicating to his/her instructors what sort of accommodations are required. If instructors have concerns about the types of accommodation recommended, they should contact the Learning Strategist who signed the form and discuss the specifics with him/her.
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Advisory Council
The Senate Policy on Advisory Councils requires that each undergraduate program have an Advisory Council. The structure of the Advisory Council is set out in the Bylaw.
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Appeals
The Student Handbook for each undergraduate program provides information for students regarding Grade and Standing Appeals (see the “Forms” and the “Policies” sections of the relevant Handbooks).
The sections of the relevant Student Handbook explain the process to be followed by students. This section explains the role, function, and processes to be followed by the Chair, the Instructor and, where necessary, the Department Appeals Advisory Committee.
Senate Policy 134 governs academic appeals. It makes the Department Chair responsible for Appeals at the Department Level. In September 2016, the Chair established Departmental policy.
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ARTS Online Account – see Login Information
Brightspace (Course Web Site) – see D2L
Bylaws
University policy (Senate Policy #45) requires the establishment of a Department Council and the enactment of a Bylaw. Policy also requires the establishment of Graduate Program Councils, and the adoption of a Bylaw for each. Click here for the Bylaw for the MA in Public Policy and Administration, and here for the Bylaw for the PhD in Policy Studies.
Calendar
The Calendar is the official contract between the University and its students. But the calendars of the University (Undergraduate, Graduate, and Continuing Education) also contain a wealth of information (e.g., significant dates for the academic year, program curriculum and faculty listings, information on Minors, grading information, individual course descriptions, Liberal Studies tables, etc.). All University calendars can be found online at the Calendars website.
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Campus Maps
Ryerson University Maps - http://www.ryerson.ca/maps/index.html
Centre for Indigenous Governance
The Centre for Indigenous Governance is located in the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson University, as is the Chair in Indigenous Governance. The holder of the Chair is appointed to the Department faculty.
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Chairs
Although Chairs are not solely the responsibility of the Department, the Department is an active participant in the activities of Chairs that are held by Department personnel.
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Class Lists
Class lists are available on RAMSS at any time, however the final class lists are available only after the drop date has passed.
Grades should be recorded (and calculated) electronically, to minimise the chance of error. One method is to use the feature built into D2L to track grades. Another method involves copying class lists into an Excel spreadsheet and setting it up to track grades. Either way, you must provide the Department, at the end of each term, with a complete grade breakdown that records student performance on each evaluative instrument, shows the value of each evaluative instrument, and demonstrates the calculation of the final grade.
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Collegiality
Universities are supposedly run by the “collegium,” however “collegiality” is a word that has many meanings to many people. Vic Catano, then President of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) attempted to clarify its meaning, in an October 2003 article in the CAUT Bulletin, “Confusing Collegiality with Congeniality.”
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Committees
Universities operate through a process of “collegial governance” in which faculty are expected to participate in the decision-making processes. At the Department level, there are a number of committees through which collegial governance is made operational. Membership in these committees is included in the “Service Commitments (faculty).”
Appeals Advisory Committee
See the "Appeals" section of this Handbook.
Awards Committee
This committee considers and processes nominations for student and faculty awards. It consists of the relevant Program Director(s), the relevant Program Administrator(s), the CE Coordinator (as/if required), and the Chair.
Contract Lecturer Appointments Committee (CLAC)
This committee is required by the CUPE 3904 Unit 1 Collective Agreement. Its main function is to make recommendations to the Dean regarding the hiring of part-time and sessional contract lecturers (Unit 1), but it is also responsible to ensure that teaching evaluations are conducted as required. It consists of the Chair and two tenured faculty (one of whom is normally the Undergraduate Program Director) who are appointed by the Chair.
Curriculum Committee
This committee is required by the Bylaw. Its main function is to make recommendations to the Department Council regarding the curriculum of programs for which the Department is responsible. It is also responsible to monitor all courses delivered under the auspices of the Department to ensure that courses are being delivered according to the frameworks and guidelines the Committee has approved, and to ensure that the level of reading and assignment is appropriate to the level of the course. It should monitor courses for overlap and duplication as well as for gaps. A series of sub-committees, called Curriculum Area Groups, are set up to advise the Committee on these matters. They are sub-committees of the Curriculum Committee established by the Bylaw. They broadly correspond to the sub-fields of the discipline represented in the programs’ curricula. There is also an Area Group that is responsible for Liberal Studies course offerings.
Department Appeals Advisory Committee
See the Appeals section of this Handbook.
Department Evaluation Committee (DEC)
This committee is required by the RFA Collective Agreement. Its functions include the completion of Year-End Assessments, Intermediate Tenure Reviews, and Final Tenures Reviews, and the making of a recommendation to the Faculty Tenure Committee regarding the transfer to tenure of probationary faculty. It must produce and maintain Guidelines for Tenure that set out “norms” within the Department. It must also ensure that teaching evaluations are conducted as required.
Department Hiring Committee (DHC)
This committee is required by the RFA Collective Agreement. Its main function is to recommend candidates to be hired, following the procedures set out in the Collective Agreement.
Graduate Program Council
Program Councils are required by Senate Policy. Their main function is to make recommendations to the Graduate Directors and, if necessary, to the Yeates School of Graduate Studies regarding the operation of the graduate program for which they are responsible. Each program Council must adopt a Bylaw. Each graduate program council establishes standing and ad hoc committees as required by its Bylaw. For further information, refer to the Program Bylaw, or to the website of the relevant program.
Scholarly, Research and Creative Activity Committee
This committee is required by the Bylaw. Its main functions are to assist faculty, upon request, with their research agendas; to publicise research outputs of Department members; and to organise the regular seminars/symposia held under the auspices of the Department.
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Computers/Printers
The Department provides faculty with a new computer when hired, and the goal is to have such computers replaced on a cycle of approximately 4-years. The offices used by part-time, sessional, and CE contract lecturers are equipped with computers as well (usually of a slightly older vintage). Click here to see the inventory of computers/printers and their purchase dates.
All computers are part of the Faculty of Arts network. To use them, one must have an ARTS Online Identity with username and password (see “Login Information > ARTS Online Identity”). Logging in to any computer with such a username and password will provide access to all of the PROGRAMS loaded on the particular machine, and keep the user files (in "Documents") accessible only to the owner of the username. These documents are backed up on the Faculty of Arts server, and are accessible remotely at \\morpheus\mydocs. (This requires a VPN connection to ARTS - for details contact help@arts.ryerson.ca).
Anything sent to the printer will print on one of the networked printers (the default printer is a high-speed Black/White laser printer, but jobs may also be sent to a colour laser printer) located in the Equipment and Mail Room, and should be claimed at that location IMMEDIATELY upon completion of the print job. If it is important enough to print (at a cost of about $.10 per page) it should be important enough to claim.
Faculty may choose to have a printer in their offices but, because the Department pays for the networked printers and the supplies to operate them, the Deparment will not pay for toner cartridges or maintenance of faculty-owned printers.
For assistance with computer, e-mail or network problems, call the Faculty of Arts I/T Help Desk at ext. 552723. Do NOT call the University’s Computing and Communications Service (CCS)!
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Contact Information
Please provide contact information (in case of an emergency) to the Department Administrator. Include home/mobile telephone numbers and address.
For a who’s who of the Department, see “Department Contacts”
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Contacts – see Department Contacts and Contacts
Continuing Education – see G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
Contracts
Employment contracts are handled differently depending on the job classification. In all cases, the process of generating an employee number can only commence after the contracts are signed and returned.
Continuing Education Contract Lecturers - including Distance Ed Tutors (CUPE Local 3904 Unit 2)
Contracts are processed by the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. Contracts will arrive in the mail and request that they be signed and returned to the Chang School. Contact: Program Coordinator - Arts in the Chang School.
Faculty – including LTF (RFA)
Contracts are negotiated with the Dean of Arts’ Office and formalised with that office. Normally will arrive in the mail and request that they be returned to the Dean’s office. Contact: Academic Administrative Coordinator, Faculty of Arts.
Graduate Assistants (CUPE Local 3904 Unit 3) and Research Assistants (OPSEU Local 596)
Contracts are processed by the Department Administrator. You will be asked to come in and sign the contract, at which time you will be given a copy. Contact: Department Administrator.
Part-Time and Sessional Contract Lecturers (CUPE Local 3904 Unit 1)
Contracts are processed by the Department Administrator. You will be asked to come in and sign the contract, at which time you will be given a copy. Contact: Department Administrator.
Staff (OPSEU Local 596)
Contracts are processed by the Dean of Arts’ Office. Normally will arrive in the mail and request that they be returned to the Dean’s office. Contact: Academic Adminstrative Coordinator, Faculty of Arts.
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Copying - see Photocopying, and Duplicating and Printing Services
Course Outlines – see Syllabi
D2L (Course Web Site)
Instructors who are interested in incorporating web-based tools with classroom teaching will need to use D2L, a tool that facilitates the creation and teaching of web-based educational environments. D2L training is delivered by the Digital Media Projects (DMP) office at no cost to you. Contact the DMP (416.979.5000, ext. 7273, or www.ryerson.ca/dmp) for information on their workshops and programs. Please note that you will need a Ryerson employee number (indicated on your teaching contract) and an active Ryerson Online Identity (formerly known as Matrix ID) in order to complete the forms required by the DMP. Contact your program director or the Chair to determine if there are any guidelines for implementing web-based tools for your course.
D2L contains features to administer student grades and to facilitate the electronic submission and online grading of assignments. It is also fully integrated with turnitin.com which examines textual similarity.
Training on these features is available through the DMP.
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Dates – see Significant Dates
Department Contacts
- Ryerson Switchboard: 416-979-5000
- Faculty of Arts Computer Help Desk: ext. 552723
- Politics Department Fax: 416-979-5289
- For Deparment and Program Contacts, consult the relevant website
- Department of Politics and Public Administration Contacts
(includes the contacts for the programs for which the Department is responsible)
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Department Council
Department Council is the main body through which collegial governance is exercised. Departments are obliged (by Senate Policy #45) to have a Department Council that includes representation from the various constituencies that make up the Department, including students. Most Departmental Committees ultimately report to Department Council, which operates pursuant to a Bylaw adopted by Council and approved by Senate.
Department Meetings – see Meetings
Department Policies – see Policies > Department
Duplicating and Printing Services (formerly Multi-Print)
Duplicating and Printing Services, a division of Ancillary Services, is set up to do large photocopying and printing jobs. Much cheaper than the Departmental photocopier, this service should be used whenever multiple copies are required, especially of multi-page documents. See the Department Administrator to use this service, and remember that most jobs will take a minimum of two days, so plan ahead.
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E-Mail Also see “Login Information”
The Faculty of Arts maintains its own email server which is separate and distinct from the email service provided by the University, which has been contracted out to Google (Gmail). You may, subject to negotiation with the Department Administrator, be provided with two email addresses:
- username@ryerson.ca is connected to your Ryerson Online Identity and provides an email account on the University’s Gmail system. Where an account is established on the ARTS server, a “forward” should be set on the Ryerson/Gmail account to forward all of your email to your “arts” account (username@politics.ryerson.ca). See “Login Information” for further details.
- when established, username@politics.ryerson.ca is your email account on the Faculty of Arts server. It is maintained by Faculty of Arts I/T staff, and is accessible through Outlook (either the program or the web-based version at https://mail.arts.ryerson.ca/).
If you have an “@politics” email address, all business cards, syllabi, and other communication to the outside world should list your @politics email address so that incoming mail goes directly to the Arts server without first passing through Google servers (located in the US) that route incoming email to Ryerson. For reasons why this might be a good idea, click here and here.
For assistance with computer, email, or network problems, call the Faculty of Arts I/T Help Desk at ext. 552723. Do NOT call the University’s Computing and Communications Service (CCS)!
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Employee Groups -- see Unions
Employee Number
Employee numbers are issues by Human Resources, upon receipt of the appropriate documentation from the administrative entity requesting the hire. The Department Administrator will assist you in obtaining an Employee Number in a timely fashion.
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Evaluations
Refer to the General Information for all evaluations.
RFA: Probationary Faculty
Faculty hired into tenure-positions normally have a probationary period of five (5) years, during which time their teaching will be assessed a total of twelve (12) times by tenured faculty members: twice in each term during the first year (once in each term by an elected member of the DEC), and once in each term in years 2, 3, 4 and 5. Faculty are to be provided with a Letter of Assessment within three (3) weeks of the assessment. Assessments are not to take place in the first two weeks of a term nor are they to take place in the last two weeks of a term.
CUPE Local 3904, Units 1 and 2: Contract Lecturers (CE, Part-Time, Sessional)
Part-time and Sessional Contract Lecturers (CUPE 3904 - Unit 1) must be evaluated by tenured or tenure-track faculty twice in each of the first two semesters and once in each successive semester until eight (8) evaluations are on file. The collective agreement for CE contract lecturers (CUPE 3904 - Unit 2) leaves the matter of evaluation to Department discretion. Because many contract lecturers in the Department of Politics and Public Administration move back and forth between CUPE Units, the standard practice has been to evaluate all contract lecturers according to the Unit 1 requirements. The Contract Lecturer Assessment Form must be completed and submitted within two (2) weeks of the date of assessment. Assessments are not to take place in the first two weeks of a term nor are they to take place in the last two weeks of a term.
CUPE Local 3904, Unit 3: Graduate Assistants
Faculty employing Graduate Assistants are to complete a GA Performance Evaluation for each of their GAs. The Performance Evaluation should be conducted once during any academic semester of appointment. This evaluation must be discussed with the Assistant within thirty (30) days of the performance evaluation. Any concerns regarding the performance review may be directed to the Department Chair.
CUPE Local 3904, Unit 3: Invigilators
Where graduate students are employed as invigilators, the exam supervisor may choose to complete an Invigilator Performance Evaluation. It must be completed only for those invigilators with an overall rating of unacceptable. The purpose of the evaluation is to assess the Exam Invigilator's performance and thereby assist him/her in developing and improving his/her skills, and ensure a standard of acceptable employee performance. Any concerns regarding the performance review may be directed to the Invigilator Supervisor.
Student Evaluations of Faculty and Contract Lecturers
CE
In addition to the Faculty Course Survey (FCS) administered by the University, the CE Students’ Union, CESAR (Continuing Education Students at Ryerson) administers a short paper survey in CE classes, usually in the 10th or 11th week of class. Representatives will appear at the class. Faculty and contract lecturers teaching CE classes are asked to cooperate with the students who conduct the evaluations.
FCS
A Faculty Course Survey (FCS) must be administered by all faculty and contract lecturers covering graduate, undergraduate, and continuing education courses. There is both a paper and an online version of the survey. Consult the University's information site for further details.
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Exams
All examinations (both regular and make-up) must be conducted according to the University’s Examination Policy as well as Department policies. Part-time, sessional, and CE contract lecturers may submit a draft of the final exam to the Undergraduate Director or Chair if they would like feedback before the exam date. Please allow enough time to make changes if needed.
Wherever possible, the services of the University Test Centre are to be used for make-up exams. Where it is not possible, faculty are responsible to ensure that the exam is undertaken in a proper environment (i.e., NOT at the table in the kitchen, and NOT in an office where people are coming and going), and is properly invigilated (i.e., NOT left alone in a Meeting Room to write without supervision). Department staff may NOT invigilate exams and thus should not be asked to do so.
University-issued exam booklets must be used for all examinations. Exam books can be found in the Equipment/Mail Room. Be sure to take enough booklets to the exam! Keep in mind that many students will use more than one and, depending on the nature of the exam, may use several.
The Examination Policy requires that there be one invigilator for every fifty (50) students or fraction thereof. Graduate Assistants (GAs) will be assigned as required to ensure compliance with this requirement. Be sure to discuss with other invigilators your expectations of them.
When exam booklets are turned in by the students writing, it is a good idea to insist that they number the booklets (1 of 3, 2 of 3, 3 of 3 …) and an even better idea to staple them together, time permitting. Not only does it make it easier to mark the exams, it also reduces the likelihood of lost exam booklets (or claims by a student that an exam booklet has been lost).
See Grading section for instruction on grade submission
After the examination period, all final exams and unclaimed assignments must be retained for at least one year. Part-time and sessional contract lecturers should package such material by course number and term, and give them to the Department Administrator, who will ensure that they are securely stored. They will be shredded one year after the end of the term in which they were written. See Student Work section for further details.
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Faculty of Arts
The Faculty of Arts comprises ten academic Departments in the Humanities and Social Sciences, and plays a unique dual role in the University. The Faculty offers:
-
Undergraduate programs that combine a liberal arts education with Ryerson's brand of relevant, practical learning;
-
Graduate programs, at both the master's and doctoral levels, that have a strong component of scholarship, research, innovation and critical analysis;
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High quality arts-based education through liberal studies courses - that cut across all of Ryerson's degree program curricula, from Journalism to Engineering to Business. Liberal Studies challenge students' intellect and imagination, nurturing their ability to think critically and adapt to the accelerating pace of change in today's world.
The Faculty of Arts also provides considerable student support through the SEC (Student Experience Centre) which provides a variety of services to students in the Faculty including academic success seminars, counsellors (both career and individual), student life, information and administration of exchanges, student projects, service learning, and work study opportunities. Please familiarise yourself with the services available, particularly in the areas of Counselling and support.
The Faculty of Arts also provides computer and internet service within the Faculty. For problems/issues, call the Help Desk at ext. 552723.
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FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Personal Privacy Act)
As of June 10, 2006 the University became subject to the legal requirements of the Province of Ontario concerning the use, disclosure, and retention of personal information, as well the obligation to provide access to University records with limited protection for certain kinds of restricted information. These legal requirements include:
To enable the University to meet its statutory obligations under the FIPPA and its attendant regulations, the General Counsel has developed several documents to guide faculty, contract lecturers and staff in the application of the FIPPA to Ryerson activities:
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Fire Services
As part of a partnership with the Office of the (Ontario) Fire Marshal and Emergency Management (OFMEM) and the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC), the Department modified the standard curriculum of the Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Public Administration and Governance to produce versions designed for fire services personnel for whom the attainment of post-secondary education is necessary for career advancement. From 2000 until 2014, the Department delivered accredited program courses leading to the Certificate and Advanced Certificate in one-week, intensive-mode format at the Ontario Fire College (OFC) in Gravenhurst.
Although the formal partnership agreement was terminated by the OFMEM and the OAFC (effective 17 January 2015), Ryerson is committed to delivering, in accessible alternative formats, all of the courses necessary for existing students to complete their program(s) of study. Options that might permit the continuation of this program (i.e., the enrolment of new students) are being explored.
More information on this program can be found here.
First Nations Technical Institute – see Partnerships > First Nations
Forms
The following are direct links to some frequently-used forms, however forms are found online in a variety of locations (see detailed listing at the end of this “frequently-used” listing):
Forms on University sites:
- Forms for Faculty and Administrators:
- Grade/Academic Standing Revision Form
- Incomplete Grade Update Form
- Redeemable Failure Request Form
- Withhold Forms
- The Forms for Students contains most forms needed by students
- Admission, Enrolment, and Withdrawal
- Appeals, Petitions, and Academic Consideration
- Curriculum Advising
- Documentation Requests
- Graduation/Convocation
- Information Update
- Student Fees
- Transfer Credits, Substitutions and Adjustments
- HR forms:
- Health Care/Dental Claim Form
- Personnel Action Form
- Position Requisition Form (for RAs)
- Tuition Rebate
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Grading
Undergraduate
Consult the undergraduate Calender for current information concerning gradin. Select "Enrolment, Records and Academic Information" in the LH menu, and scroll to the "Academic Information" section of the page. Here you will find current information about grades (incluiding the grading scale and "additional grading categories"), grade point averages (GPA), and academic standing.
The Department has also prepared an Assignment Grading Information document that includes the undergraduate grading scale. It is intended for circulation to students, but it is also useful for anyone grading undergraduate student work.
Graduate
Refer to the Graduate Grade Scale (including descriptors).
Note that final academic performance in each course is recorded as one of the letter grades shown or as one of the “additional grading categories” described in the undergraduate Calendar.
Grade Submission
Final grades must be submitted via RAMSS by the specified deadline. The Department will circulate an email indicating the deadline by which grades must be submitted. Grades must be submitted before the posted deadline. Absolute chaos ensues when grades are not submitted on time. Standings are affected in very unpleasant ways [i.e., students whose standing should be “probation” or “required to withdraw” avoid that fate, and students who should be “clear” may – incorrectly – have standings of “probation” or “required to withdraw”]. Resolving these problems causes Chairs, Undergraduate Directors, and Program Administrators much work unnecessarily.
A numeric grade breakdown (e.g., numeric grade assigned to each evaluative instrument, together with the value of each evaluative instrument) must be submitted to the Department Administrator, preferably in electronic format to grades@politics.ryerson.ca. The department is required to maintain these grade breakdowns on file. This is not a substitute for grade submission on RAMSS but an additional requirement.
Once final grades are released, you may experience having students come to you asking you to “bump up” final grades for various reasons. Please do NOT succumb to such entreaties. Grades should only be adjusted if you review student work and conclude that your initial grade was inappropriate, or in the case of a formal grade appeal.
Student Access To Grades
The Senate Course Management Policy requires that students be given their grades. For assignments throughout the year, it is permissible to require students to pick up their work in order to get their grades but, for the final exam, the grades must be posted somehow ... either using D2L or by posting the grades outside your office. Consult the 01 August 2010 memo from the Provost and Vice-President Academic regarding Posting of and/or Emailing Grades to Students.
While it is preferable to post grades electronically on the Course Management System, grades on assignments, tests and exams, including final exams which are posted in hard copy must be posted by numerically sorted student identification number after at least the first two digits have been removed. Instructors must inform students in all course management documentation of the method to be used in the posting of grades. Students who wish not to have their grades posted in hard copy must inform the instructor in writing prior to the due date of the first assignment. (Course Management Policy 2.2.9)
Student Grade Appeals
See:
- Appeals section of this Handbook
- Relevant sections of the appropriate Student Handbook
- University Appeals Policy
(Senate Policy #134)
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G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education
Ryerson University’s G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education is Canada’s leading provider of university-based adult learning. With over 67,700 annual enrolments in 1,100 courses and over 70 career-related certificate programs, The Chang School empowers adults to reach their life and professional goals.
Undergraduate courses may be offered either as part of the regular undergraduate (“day”) offerings or as part of the offerings of the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The former are often referred to as “day load” and the latter as “CE” or “stand-alone CE” courses.
The Department of Politics and Public Administration offers both (i.e., “day load,” and “stand-alone CE”) courses, but also offers a third variant: a “day load” course, offered at night, in which some seats are reserved for CE students. There are several things about these “tied sections” that matter to you:
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Enrolment Records: Every “tied section” has two course codes: the “day load” course will carry the normal numbering structure (e.g., PPA101, section 701E), but the CE students will be enrolled in a CE section (e.g., CPPA101, section 110). This means that:
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you will always have two separate class lists,
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you must set up your D2L site with both course codes (so that all students have equal access), and that
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you must submit grades according to the two separate enrolment records.
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Dates: “day load” courses follow the undergraduate calendar dates, and so do “tied sections.” “Stand-alone CE” courses, however, follow the CE calendar. See “Significant Dates” section for further details.
The Chang School website offers a range of information and services for faculty and staff. In particular, consult the Instructor section. See also the Instructor Handbook, which is updated annually.
Questions concerning the Continuing Education offerings of the Department should be directed to the CE Coordinator [see Department Contacts section of this handbook].
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Graduate Assistants
At Ryerson, academic assistants who are also graduate students are called Graduate Assistants (“Teaching Assistants” are undergraduates employed as academic assistants). GAs may conduct tutorials, or be employed only to grade undergraduate work. They are represented by CUPE Local 3904, Unit 3 (see collective agreement).
If you are assigned a GA, please familiarise yourself with the material provided by the Learning and Teaching Office (LTO).
Please direct your GA(s) to the LTO site.
The LTO conducts one TA/GA Orientation at the beginning of each academic year; offers a learning and teaching workshop series and a Professional Development in Teaching Program; and has a monthly online newsletter: LTO Best Practices - TA/GA Edition. Encourage your GA to take advantage of these opportunities!
The LTO also operates an Awards Program for GAs. Consider nominating your outstanding GAs.
Identification
For information about Online Identification, see Login Information section
For information about Photo ID Cards, see OneCard section
I/T (Information Technology) Service
All computers and printers in the Faculty of Arts are maintained by ARTS personnel. Do NOT call CCS if you experience problems. Rather, call the ARTS Help Desk (ext. 552723).
Keys
Keys to the department and the office to which you are assigned can be picked up from the Department Administrator.
Keys must be returned at the end of your period of employment.
Access to buildings is controlled by security codes on your OneCard. If after-hours access is required, discuss your access requirements with the Department Administrator.
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Learning and Teaching Office – see LTO
Liberal Studies
The Faculty of Arts plays a leading role in liberal studies courses - a core component of Ryerson's curriculum. Students in all Ryerson programs must complete Liberal Studies as part of the requirements for graduation.
The purpose of liberal studies is to develop students' capacity to understand and appraise the social and cultural context in which they will work as professionals and live as educated citizens. Liberal studies courses broaden students' horizons; they enable students to look at the world from a variety of perspectives, to pursue ideas and interests beyond their specific career studies. The courses are also designed to develop students' critical thinking and analytic skills as well as their writing and oral communication skills.
These studies are offered at two levels: the Lower, which are normally taken during the first two years of a four-year program, and the Upper, which are normally taken during the last two years.
See the Guidelines for the Development of Liberal Studies Courses established by the Liberal Studies Committee and the Liberal Studies Council for guidance on course design, content and assignments. This document is also intended to guide proposals for new Liberal Studies courses.
Further information on Ryerson's Liberal Studies Policy and the courses offered under it may be found in the undergraduate Calendar [Click on link to current undergraduate calender, then click on “Liberal Studies” in the LH menu].
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Library
Faculty and contract lecturers have full access to the resources of the Ryerson University Library and Archives (both online and hard copy) upon presentation of a valid OneCard.
Links
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Login Information
Online Identification
There are two separate, but complementary online systems in use within the Faculty of Arts at Ryerson. One is the ROI (Ryerson Online Identity), formerly known as the Matrix ID, which is the central Ryerson system maintained by the Computing and Communication Services (CCS). An ROI is necessary for BlackBoard, RAMSS (Ryerson Administrative Management Self Service) and Power Technology (podia).
The second system is the Arts server operated within the Faculty of Arts. An Arts individual user account is necessary for networked computer use, printing, and access to the password-protected section of this web-site. That account may also provide an email account on the ARTS server (username@politics.ryerson.ca), which is recommended for those who will be in the Department for an extended period, but not necessary or required for those on short-term contracts.
It is recommended that new members of the department secure an ROI account before obtaining an Arts account, so that the same username can be used for both.
ROI – Ryerson Online Identity
An ROI account may be obtained only after Human Resources has issued an employee number. Once a number has been issued, visit http://www.ryerson.ca/accounts/ and complete the application online to activate an ROI. The ROI will be in the format username@ryerson.ca and will produce an email account. The department convention for usernames is the first initial of first name followed by surname (e.g., jsmith). If this is unavailable or undesirable, the secondary convention is firstname.surname (e.g., jane.smith).
Once the ROI account is established it will be necessary to change the password. If an email account is established on the ARTS server (username@politics.ryerson.ca), it will also be necessary to forward email to your Arts account (see "Arts Online Account" below for instructions on how to forward email).
For instructions on how to change your password, click here.
Because podia, Blackboard and RAMSS all require an ROI identity and because networked computer use and printing require an Arts account, it is strongly recommended that the same username and password be used for both.
ARTS Online Account
When an ROI username has been obtained, an Arts account (hopefully with the same username) can be established. Provide to the Department Administrator your Ryerson Online Identity username and she will arrange the establishment of an Arts account.
An ARTS username (hopefully the same as your Ryerson Online Identity) will be sent to you along with a temporary password. With it, you have access the computers in the department. Documents stored in the “Documents” folder of networked computers are backed up on the ARTS server. See Remote Access.
The ARTS account also gives you access to printing on the networked printers in JOR723, and access to the password-protected portion of this web-site. If requested, and agreed to by the Department Administrator, you may also have an email account username@politics.ryerson.ca. Where such an account is established, that email address should be used as your main email address, since messages sent to this address do not pass through Google servers located in the USA, but come directly to the Arts server housed at Ryerson. Moreover, the entire ARTS I/T system is maintained by ARTS personnel, rather than by CCS. To read more about why using the ARTS server is a good idea, click here and here.
Brief instructions are provided below. Upon request, the Arts I/T Help Desk will provide additional information specific to your operating system and software.
To change your temporary password, visit http://mail.arts.ryerson.ca and type in your username and temporary password - you will be prompted to change it upon first logon. Follow the instructions from there. Once a new password has been created you will use that password to logon to any computers in the politics department. Your email is accessible anytime at https://mail.arts.ryerson.ca/.
Configuring your e-mail accounts
To begin forwarding email sent to your @ryerson.ca account to your @politics.ryerson.ca account, you must change the settings of your @ryerson.ca account
- For R-Mail Accounts (the pre-Google system) click here for instructions.
- For Ryerson / Gmail Accounts, click here for instructions.
One major advantage of using the ARTS email system is that you can use the Outlook program (as opposed to the web-based version of Outlook) on your home computer.
A second major advantage to using the ARTS email system is the ease with which your smart-phone can be configured to work with the ARTS server. Use of Mac Mail is not recommended as its interface with the Exchange Server is occasionally problematic.
- Click here for instructions to configure smart phones and Outlook 2013
- Click here for instructions to configure Outlook 2007
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LTO (Learning and Teaching Office)
The Learning and Teaching Office (LTO) supports Ryerson’s academic mandate by providing training and resource services in the practice and scholarship of teaching. Throughout the academic year, the LTO offers a number of activities, including teaching seminars and discussion groups.
You are encouraged to subscribe to the LTO’s ‘teachnet’ listserv. Information can be found at the LTO website.
The Faculty of Arts also has a Teaching Chair.
Mail
Ryerson has a centralised mail-handling system. All mail addressed to anyone at the University should use the common address (350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3) with the three digit building code and specific location (e.g., JOR700) following the street address.
Mail is delivered to the Department’s Mail Room each morning and outgoing mail is picked up at the same time. There are outgoing ‘mailboxes’ for Inter-Office mail (within Ryerson or within the Ontario University System via IUTS) and Canada Post (external to the University).
The Department Administrator will assign to all faculty, contract lecturers, and staff who are part of the Department a mailbox for incoming mail. Mailboxes located in the Equipment/Mail room, a key for which will be provided by the Department Adminstrator.
Continuing Education contract lecturers will also be given a mailbox in Heaslip House (The Chang School). It is important to check that mailbox regularly as well.
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Meetings
One two-hour block each week is reserved on the timetable of all faculty members for Department Meetings. There is generally one full Department meeting per month, with the other dates used for Committee meetings and for Department Seminars/Symposia.
Faculty
Faculty are expected to attend Department meetings as well as the meetings of any Committee of which they are a member. See the RFA Collective Agreement Articles 7.3.C; 10.11.A.2; and 10.14.A.1.
Contract Lecturers
The Department has always taken the position that contract lecturers are welcome to attend and participate in Department meetings, but are not required to do so. The “obligations” of contract lecturers with a CUPE Unit 1 (day-load) contract are spelled out in Article 17 of the collective agreement; for CUPE Unit 2 (Continuing Education) this is covered by Article 12. It is clear that there is no contractual obligation to attend regular meetings.
There is also an issue as to what is meant by “participate” in Department meetings. There have been a variety of interpretations over the years, but basically, CUPE colleagues have had both voice and vote at some times and on some issues. Agendas were arranged so that “open” business was placed first on the agenda, and matters relevant to faculty only were placed later on the agenda (so the CUPE colleagues could just leave when that point was reached). This approach is not, however, without its problems.
The formal policies of the University are a bit problematic on this front, because they kind of assume that all formal business is conducted by meetings of Department Council … where the voting arrangements are codified in a Bylaw (usually providing for part-time and sessional contract lecturers to elect one of their number to the Council). In fact, the “Department Meeting,” as we know it, does not really have any status at all in the policies of the University. But we all know that decisions are made in Department Meetings, and that many of those decisions simply cannot be deferred to the Council.
In general, University policy tries to avoid putting people who are somewhat vulnerable in positions where they might face reprisals, or where the fear of possible reprisals might compromise their participation. So, in general terms, it is probably not a really great idea to have people who are hired on a course-by-course basis put in a situation where they might have serious differences with the very people who make those hiring decisions. Naturally, we’d all like to hope that such differences would not result in any form of reprisal, but university policy generally tilts toward avoiding the circumstance rather than relying on the honour of all concerned.
Finally, we all recognise that part-time and sessional contract lecturers at Ryerson are underpaid vis-à-vis their colleagues at York and UofT. While this is technically irrelevant in terms of contractual obligations, it does suggest that contract lecturers shouldn’t feel obligation to things that are not formally part of their job.
In summary, part-time and sessional contract lecturers are welcome to attend Department Meetings, but should not feel compelled to do so.
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Multi-Print – see Duplicating and Printing Services
Office
Offices are assigned by the Chair. Mode II tenure-stream faculty will normally have a single-occupancy exterior office.
Part-time, sessional, and CE contract lecturers may be expected to share offices. Unfortunately, changing timetables can make office-sharing a challenge. However, there are serious space constraints in the Faculty of Arts, and this situation is not expected to change anytime soon.
Unfortunately, no space within the Department is available for Graduate Assistants or Research Assistants.
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Office Hours
Faculty and contract lecturers are required to hold one hour of office hours for every course section. Office hours are to be posted at office entrance by the end of the first week of classes in each semester.
Office of Research Services – see OVPRI
Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation – see OVPRI
One Card
This is your Ryerson University ID card. The One Card provides the following benefits:
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Library Card at Ryerson as well as affiliated Universities
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Department specified security access
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RAC (Ryerson Athletic Centre) access for purchased memberships
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Copy/laser print card at all machines and locations on campus
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Official Access for Presentation Technology classrooms
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Monthly parking access card
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Personal funds can be added for convenient spending at all Ryerson food service locations and vending machines on campus
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Official ID for purchasing discounted TTC monthly pass and discounts on software at the bookstore
To get a One Card:
Complete the Request Form linked from http://www.ryerson.ca/hr/forms/index.html
Take the completed form to the One Card office in JOR 02 along with government issued photo ID.
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Online Identification – see Login Information
OVPRI (Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation)
The Office of the Vice President Research and Innovation (OVPRI) is Ryerson's central research administration office and point of contact for the federal granting councils (NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR), government ministries, industry, associations and foundations which typically provide financial support for university scholarship, research and creative activities (SRC). Both grants (which support the direct costs of ongoing research programs of faculty members) and contracts (which fund research with specified deliverables) are developed, approved and administered within the framework of University, funding agency, and federal regulations.
ResearchNet, the OVPRI E-mail Listserv is intended to provide research funding opportunities and other research-related notices, as they are announced, to Ryerson faculty and staff. If you wish to be on the Listserv, contact the OVPRI.
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Partnerships
First Nations (First Nations Technical Institute)
Through a groundbreaking (and award-winning!) partnership between First Nations Technical Institute (FNTI) and Ryerson University, the Public Administration and Governance program is being made available through courses delivered in First Nations Communities across Ontario.
This program is an important initiative that provides learning and academic accreditation to First Nations Administrators. It will assist First Nations government administrators (and administrators of other Native organizations) to manage effectively and to gain control over their economic future. More information on this program can be found here.
Instructors teaching in the FNTI partnership should consult both the FNTI Instructor Guide and the Cultural Standards and Guiding Principles.
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Photocopying
All photocopying at Ryerson is administered by Duplicating and Printing Services (formerly MultiPrint), a division of University Business Services (formerly Ancillary Services). This copying is generally available in two forms:
Self-Serve
The identity card (see OneCard section of this handbook) of every faculty, instructor, and staff is programmed to operate photocopiers located all over campus, and to charge copies made to the Department’s accounts by employee number. Copies made this way cost about $.10/page, so this method should be used to make individual copies only.
Work Order
When multiple copies are required (e.g., tests, exams, handouts), a work-order should be completed and the copying ordered through Duplicating and Printing Services. Copies made this way cost about $.04/page, so it is MUCH more economical than the self-serve method. Consult with the Department Adminstrator to make arrangements for large jobs to be done by Duplicating and Printing Services. Remember that 2-3 days lead time is required for such jobs.
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Policies
There are many levels of Policy that affect everyone at Ryerson.
Institutional Level
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Absence During Term: permission must be obtained from the Chair as per provisions of relevant Collective Agreement.
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Collective Agreements
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Community Regulations [Go to the Calendar home page, click on the current undergraduate calendar > "Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct” in the Policies and Procedures section > “Community Regulations”]
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Human Resources
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Outside Professional Activity: must be reported as per provisions of relevant Collective Agreement
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Registrar
- Senate Policies
Most academic policies of the University are policies of Senate. A complete listing is available on the Senate Policies page. Below is a list of frequently-used Senate policies.
Departmet Level Also see “Policy” section of Student Handbooks]
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Appeals
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Computers: When faculty are hired, a new “standard-issue” computer is purchased for their use as part of the “start-up” package provided by the Faculty of Arts. The Department aims to replace faculty computers on a cycle of approximately four years. If faculty desire a computer that costs more than the “standard issue,” they will be responsible for the price differential or, in the case of replacement computers, may negotiate a delayed replacement time so that the Department’s cost per machine per year remains constant.
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Course Management: In addition to the Senate Policies on Course Management (Undergraduate and Graduate), the Department has approved additional policy governing:
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Grad course assignment: The goal is to have every faculty member who wishes to teach a graduate course teach no more than one graduate course section per academic year.
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Grade Appeals: In addition to the Senate Policies on Appeals (Undergraduate and Graduate), the Department has additional Appeals Policy governing the process of appeals from Graduate Assistant to Instructor, to Chair (who may solicit the advice of Appeals Advisory Committee). Consult the Appeals section of this Handbook plus the Appeals section in the relevant STUDENT Handbook.
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Guidelines for Syllabi: The Senate Course Management Policy provides definitive advice on what must be included in undergraduate syllabi. In 2012, the Interim Chair produced a document intended to supplement that policy, and provide some actual text of what should be included.
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Printing: The Department provides two networked printers, and provides replacement cartridges for the networked printers. If faculty wish to have individual printers in their offices, they are welcome to do so, but will be responsible for both acquisition cost and replacement cartridge costs.
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Research Assistants: Funding for Research Assistants is now allocated to Graduate Programs rather than the Department. Faculty who are involved with graduate teaching/supervision should consult with the Graduate Director of the program in which they are involved (see “Department Contacts” section of this handbook).
Faculty of Arts
- Meeting Room Use: All meeting rooms in the Faculty of Arts are booked through a central electronic booking system. Request booking with the Department Administrator or, in her absence, with a Program Administrator. The rooms may be booked by faculty for meetings, but are NOT to be used for classes unless arranged through the Dean’s office.
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Printing
Anything sent to the networked printers will print on machines located in the Equipment and Mail Room, and should be claimed at that location IMMEDIATELY upon completion of the print job. If it is important enough to print (at about $.10 per page) it should be important enough to claim.
New printer cartridges are stored in the lower cupboard. Used printer cartridges are kept for recycling. If you don`t know how to change a printer cartridge, get someone who does. The printers are expensive but their innards are largely made of plastic. Excessive force can easily necessitate very expensive repairs.
If the printer indicates that a fuser or transfer kit is required, call the Arts I/T help desk at ext. 552723.
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RAMSS (Ryerson Administrative Management Self Service)
Prior to the start of the term, and only after your teaching contract has been processed, you can use your Ryerson Online Identity (formerly known as Matrix ID) to access RAMSS, the system which provides you with limited access to your class information. You can access your class roster (class list); download your roster to a file; order test response sheets (TRS); and, once the Registrar opens your course grade roster at the end of the term, record your final grades. RAMSS is accessible through the University’s portal my.ryerson.ca.
In addition to Student Administration, RAMSS also contains an e-HR module used to initiate employment contracts, report hours, and complete various self-help functions (e.g., change contact information). Pay statements can be downloaded from this module as well.
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Remote Access (Documents)
When an ARTS username(hopefully the same as your Ryerson Online Identity) has been established for you, you have access the computers in the department. Documents stored in the “Documents” folder of networked computers are backed up on the ARTS server and are available remotely at \\morpheus.arts.ryerson.ca\mydocs or if you have a Mac use Finder, Go, Connect to Server and type in smb://morpheus.arts.ryerson.ca/mydocs (This requires a VPN connection to ARTS - for details contact help@arts.ryerson.ca).
ROI - Ryerson Online Identity
See "Login information > ROI - Ryerson Online Identity"
SAS (Student Administrative System)
The central electronic student records at Ryerson University are managed by a PeopleSoft product almost-universally referred to as “SAS”. This is the system that tracks student progress, personal information, grades, finances, and many other things.The portion of it to which faculty and contract lecturers have access, RAMSS (see “RAMSS” section of this handbook), is available through my.ryerson.ca. Given the legal protections of personal privacy, student information is accessible only by administrators and is controlled on a “need to know” basis.
Seminars/Symposia
The SRC Committee is responsible to organize a series of Seminars/Symposia throughout the academic year. These are designed to balance two imperatives: 1) to provide faculty with the opportunity to present their research and receive the comments of colleagues; and 2) to bring in external speakers whose presentations are thought to have broad resonance with members of the Department. The Seminars/Symposia are open and will be publicized in the Events section of the Department web-site. An archive of past events is also maintained here.
In addition, the Department hosts the annual Phyllis Clarke Memorial Lecture, usually held in March to honour the memory of a long-time member of the Department.
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Significant Dates
Significant dates are published in the calendars each year. For dates pertaining to regular (i.e., not Continuing Education) undergraduate courses, go to the Calendar home page, click on the link to the current undergraduate calender, and then click on “Significant Dates” in the Policies and Procedures section.
For dates related to Continuing Education courses, from the CE home page, click on “Important Dates” in the menu located in the lower RH corner. Please note that the course dates shown in the CE Calendar provide for a final week in which an exam is normally held. The “start date” is the first day of class; the “end date” is the date of the exam, if one is used.
For dates related to Graduate Programs, consult the Significant Dates page of the YSGS website.
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Statements
In the past, the Department produced quarterly statements itemising your expenditures in the categories of photocopying, laser printing, and long-distance telephone, however that practice has been discontinued.
The Department pays, on your behalf, the costs of photocopying, laser printing, and telephone. These items constitute a significant expense to the Department, so every effort should be made to be frugal in all categories. The Department should be reimbursed for all charges incurred for personal and non-Ryerson use; and all expenses that are part of a funded research project should be charged to the appropriate research account.
A “Long Distance Report” for your extension can be generated by the Department Administrator upon request.
The Department Administrator will generate statements to advise RFA members of the balance available in their Professional Development and "fund 13" research accounts.
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Student Administrative System (SAS)
See "SAS"
Student Correspondence
The FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Personal Privacy Act) requires that all correspondence with students must be retained for a period of one year. It is therefore extremely important to develop filing systems for both paper and electronic correspondence. It is also extremely important to keep all correspondence on-topic and professional in tone.
For further information about the FIPPA and its implications for faculty, contract lecturers, and staff, please see the FIPPA section of this Handbook.
If you are concerned about these requirements, or need advice on any matter of administration pertaining to them, please contact the Office of the General Counsel and Board Secretariat of the University.
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Student Handbook
The Department is obliged to produce – and update annually – a Student Handbook for each of its undergraduate programs. Some of the content required is spelled out in the Senate Course Management Policy. Other things have been included at the discretion of the Department. All faculty, contract lecturers, and staff should be familiar with the provisions of the student handbooks to ensure that we are all “on the same page” when dealing with students. Click here for Departmental Student Handbooks.
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Student Work
Student work must be returned to students personally. Work must NOT be left outside of offices for pickup, and should not be entrusted to other students unless such pick up is formally authorised by the student whose work it is.
The FIPPA (Freedom of Information and Personal Privacy Act) as well as the University’s Course Management Policy require that all unclaimed student work must be retained for a period of one year. This generally applies particularly to final exams, but also applies to term work that is not returned to the student, for whatever reason.
Part Time and Sessional contract lecturers should bundle all unclaimed student work – clearly indicating the term, the course, and their name – and give the bundles to the Department Administrator, who will ensure that they are securely stored for one year.
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Syllabi (Course Outlines)
The Ryerson Course Management Policy requires that students be provided with a syllabus by, or at, the first meeting of every course. It must, at a minimum, include the following information:
- Course identification (name, number, section, term and year, prerequisites, if any)
- Your name, Ryerson (ARTS) e-mail address, and/or a telephone number where students may reach you (your Ryerson office phone number, not personal line)
- A course description, including the academic focus and scope of the course, course objectives, and the sequence and schedule of topics
- Texts and reading lists
- A description of teaching methods that will be used
- Specific details on any information technology requirements for courses utilizing IT in course work, assignments, or exams
- A list of course assignments, tests, and exams and approximate deadlines, and the inclusion of “snap tests” or other unscheduled evaluations as part of the grading scheme, if applicable
- A detailed marking or evaluation scheme, including the weighting of each assignment, test, and/or other unit of evaluation
- If appropriate, an indication of any requirement for the submission of work to an electronic plagiarism detection service (see Turnitin.com)
- An indication of approximately when the first test results/term work will be returned to students, which should be prior to the final deadline for dropping courses without academic penalty
- Provision that planned alterations in the list of course assignments, tests, approximate deadlines, and marking scheme, as they appear in the course outline, shall be discussed and agreed to in class prior to implementation.
- Students are expected to be familiar with general policies and procedures. However, you should also include in your course outline statements related to academic integrity and conduct, academic consideration, non-academic conduct, and examination policies and procedures.
Guidelines for Syllabi: The Senate Course Management Policy provides definitive advice on what must be included in undergraduate syllabi. In 2012, the Interim Chair produced a document intended to supplement that policy, and provide some actual text of what should be included
As required by Senate policy, the Department has adopted policy covering:
Well before the start of term, part-time, sessional, and CE contract lecturers should provide the Undergraduate Director with copies of course syllabi for review and comment. Copies of previous course outlines for the course may be requested from the Department Administrator.
Hard copies of syllabi should no longer be produced for distribution to students. Instead, an electronic version should be posted on the course D2L site.
The Department must maintain copies of syllabi for all courses offered under the auspices of the Department of Politics and Public Administration (including CE and graduate courses). Complete syllabi, including all assignments should be saved in a file using the naming convention “course code-term-instructor” (e.g., POG100-F12-Smith) and the electronic file submitted to the Department following the instructions below. Please use the file naming convention. This may not seem terribly important to you, but the Department offers approximately 200 undergraduate course sections in each academic year, so keeping track of them all - and ensuring that a copy of each syllabus is on file - becomes a very big administrative job. When Periodic Program Reviews are conducted, it is necessary to produce ALL syllabi for the period of the Review (normally 7 years). That amounts to some 1400 syllabi. Please make this task easier by:
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submitting ALL of the syllabi for ALL of your courses; and
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submitting a single file (as described above) named using the convention described above.
Instructions for submitting syllabi:
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Login at my.ryerson.ca
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Select “Apps” in the top menu
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Select “Google Drive”
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Select “Shared with me” in the LH menu
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Select the folder “Course Outlines: Politics and Public Admin”
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At the next screen, you will see six (6) folders, one for each course type
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Select the appropriate folder for the outline you wish to upload
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Select the appropriate folder for the academic year in which your course is taught
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Click on the “New” button at the top of the LH menu
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From the drop-down menu that appears, select “File Upload”
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Locate the file on your hard drive and double-click. It will appear in the folder.
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Once the file is in the proper folder, check to ensure that the file is named properly.
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If required, right click on the file name, select “rename” and correct file name in the pop-up box
Course-Instructor-Term (e.g., Smith-POG100-F18)
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Use the “back” button to navigate back to whichever level of menu you need to upload a second outline
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Repeat the same process used for the first one.
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Logoff
If you are unable to access this “Google Drive” through your my.ryerson.ca page, contact the Undergraduate Program Director or the Chair, who may give you access or may ask you to simply submit your syllabi to syllabi@politics.ryerson.ca as an email attachment.
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Teaching Assistants
See Graduate Assistants
Telephone Service
All offices are equipped with a telephone. Ryerson uses the Meridian system in which a four-digit extension is assigned to each line. Beginning in 2017, the four-digit extension numbers are being converted to six-digit numbers. Dial 9 before any external number.
Charges
All telephones are enabled to allow long-distance calling. A “Long Distance Report” for your extension can be generated by the Department Administrator upon request. Long-distance charges should be minimal, as personal calls are not to be made from office telephones except in exceptional circumstances (and then reimbursement is expected) and research-related long-distance charges should be charged against research grants.
Voice-Mail
Effective Fall 2009, voice-mail is no longer provided automatically to part-time and sessional contract lecturers, but may be provided when requested and authorised by the Chair.
Where voice-mail is required and where there is more than one person sharing a telephone extension, additional “phantom” voice-mail boxes may be attached to a single extension.
Once the extension is configured, voice-mail can be set-up with outgoing message and password.
Voice-Mail Configuration Instructions
CCS sets up mailbox or phantom mailbox. If you are the only user, the mailbox number will be the four-digit extension number. If there are multiple user the phantom mailbox number will be the four-digit extension number followed by 01, 02, 03, etc. (e.g, 704601, 704602, etc.). A temporary password will be provided by CCS.
You may access your voice-mail box by pressing the “Messages” button on the telephone connected to the extension. Remotely, you may get to the same place by dialling 416-979-5244. You will be prompted for a mailbox number. If you are a sole-user, just enter the extension number, but if you have been assigned a unique phantom mailbox number, enter it rather than the extension number (i.e. enter 704601 and not 7046).
When giving out your extension number for people to call you, however, use only the four digit extension number and not the phantom number.
The first time you login to your new mailbox, you will need the temporary password provided by CCS (don’t forget to enter “#” at the end). The Call Pilot voice mail system will tell you that the temporary password assigned by the administrator must be changed. To change the password, press 84 and select a new six digit password.
After selecting a new password, press 82 and follow the system prompts to record a personal greeting for your mailbox. There are further instructions in the front of the Internal Directory.
With phantom voice mail on Call Pilot, the Message lamp will illuminate when there are messages in a person's mailbox. Unfortunately, even though the lamp is lit, you cannot tell which person has the message, so you'll need to dial in periodically to check for messages.
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Textbooks/Course Packs
All instructors order textbooks and course packs from the Campus Store (Ryerson Bookstore) on the prescribed order form. Please note the deadline thereon. Part-time, Sessional and CE contract lecturers may be expected to use textbooks or course packs in current use. If new, custom course packs are to be designed and used, arrangements must be made with the custom publishing division of the Ryerson Bookstore. As a result of changing copyright legislation, custom reading requirements should first be discussed with the Library, which may be able to arrange electronic reserve readings. Part-time, Sessional and CE contract lecturers wishing to design and use a distinct course pack must obtain the approval of the Undergraduate Program Director, CE coordinator or the Chair.
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turnitin.com
The University subscribes to turnitin.com, a textual similarity data base that checks student work against online sources and previously submitted assignments at all participating universities. Participation is voluntary, but its use is strongly encouraged, particularly in large classes where considerable marking is done by Graduate Assistants. The service is fully integrated with D2L. Further information about the service is available on Ryerson’s Academic Integrity web-site, and on the web-site of turnitin.com.
Unions
Most Ryerson employees are unionized. Their employment is governed by collective agreements.
Each of the unions or union locals has an internally democratic structure that provides for Department representation within the councils of the Union. Two Department Representatives are elected to the RFA (Ryerson Faculty Association) “Representatives’ Council” in staggered two-year terms (one Rep is elected each year). One “Department Steward” is elected to the CUPE 3904 “Stewards’ Council” from each Unit in each academic year. One “Department Steward” is elected to the OPSEU “Stewards’ Council” in each academic year. In elections conducted by the respective union, these representatives are elected by members of their bargaining unit within the Department.
Ryerson Faculty Association
Represents all tenured, tenure track and limited term faculty (LTF).
Contacts:
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President:
- Executive Director, Labour Relations:
- Labour Relations Officer
CUPE Local 3904
Consisting of three discrete “units,” each with its own Collective Agreement, CUPE Local 3904 represents all Part-time, Sessional and Continuing Education contract lecturers as well all Graduate and Teaching assistants.
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The Unit One agreement covers Part-time and Sessional contract lecturers. A Sessional contract lecturer is one who teaches three or more sections in a given semester under a contract administered by the Department. A Part-time contract lecturer is one who teaches fewer than three courses in a given semester also under contract administered by the Department.
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The Unit Two agreement covers contract lecturers whose appointment is through the G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education.
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The Unit Three agreement covers graduate assistants, teaching assistants (undergraduate students), and Invigilators.
Contacts
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Staff Representative:
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President:
Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) Local 596
Represents administrative staff and research assistants in the negotiation and administration of a Collective Agreement.
Contacts:
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