Students might not notice if their professor is a sessional or a standard employee, but the professors that can’t afford to work here do.
The University of Calgary hires roughly 900 sessionals every year. Sessionals are hired to teach one or two courses per semester without knowing if they’ll be re-hired in the future. They teach the same courses as their tenured colleagues, but with drastically different benefits. The University of Calgary Faculty Association president Anne Stalker represents the sessionals and has been working on improving their situation.
“Sessionals have been a major issue for us in negotiations for several years,” said Stalker. “The fact that they are so vulnerable is problematic at a university. It may, in certain circumstances, have an impact on what they feel comfortable saying to a class, for instance, or make them feel uncomfortable about trying out new things because if they’re evaluated poorly they may not be hired again.”
Students’ Union vice-president academic Brittany Sargent found this to be frightening.
“A university is about free exchange of academic ideas and exploring all kinds of problems whether they’re controversial or not,” said Sargent.
Political science sessional Dr. Allison Dube finds the lack of security and low wages to be his main concern.
“It’s very frustrating because every time I taught since 2001, I assumed it would be the last time I’d get to do it,” said Dube. “I’ve given more farewell tours than Liberace at this point. It’s emotionally draining.”
Dube pointed out that he could likely be making several times his current wage if he was working as a bus driver. He has won four Student’s Union teaching excellence awards, three in the past four years. Currently, sessionals make a minimum of $5,150 per course–but few get paid more according to Stalker. For Dube, this worked out to $25,500 in 2006.
“When you image a single guy with a mortgage and utilities, can you imagine how far $25,500 goes?” said Dube. “Barring winning the lottery or the school treating me fairly, I can’t afford to work here anymore.”
Consulting Services and Staff Relations director Jodi Stroh explained why the university finds sessionals useful in opposition to hiring more standard employees.
“One of the major reasons is expertise,” said Stroh. “You can’t cover every expertise.”
She explained the faculty of law brings in corporate members from professional offices to teach some specialized courses. An unexpected leave of absence from a professor or an increase in enrollment may also lead to sessional employment.
Sessionals like Dube that have been working for several consecutive years are supposed to have first consideration to get hired for a position, noted Stalker.
“Human Resources is going to work with the faculty association to make a sessional review committee that will come to address some issues as to why some sessionals may be hired repeatedly,” said Stroh.
Stalker was also concerned with the lack of benefits for repeat sessionals.
“Most will not be on a benefit plan,” said Stalker. “They’re not expected to write for the university or to do research, they’re hired specifically to teach courses. It’s a huge difference in the nature of the appointment.”
Dube acknowledged this difference had a great impact in his career.
“When I have my students, I give them all my time and I wouldn’t have it any other way, but I have this dream to write this book,” said Dube. “At this salary, I haven’t even been able to break even. I’m never going to be able to take the time to write.”
Sargent explained how students can help change the current situation.
“It’s important that they talk to their department heads, or they write formal letters to formalize how they feel,” said Sargent.