Standard Workload Form (FAQ)

 

  1. What does SWF stand for?
  • Standard Workload Form

 

  1. What are the 4 main components of my workload and SWF?  (See Article 11.01 B1)
  • Teaching contact hours
  • attributed hours for preparation
  • attributed hours for evaluation and feedback
  • attributed hours for complementary function

 

  1. What is the standard total workload per week?   (See Article 11.01 B1)
  • Total workload assigned and attributed by the College to a teacher shall not exceed 44 hours in any week

 

  1. What is the maximum number of teaching weeks per academic year?  (See Article 11.01 B1)
  • 36 weeks for post-secondary programs, and 38 weeks for non-post-secondary programs.

 

  1. What are the maximum teaching contact hours that can be assigned per week? (See Article 11.01 I)
  • For post-secondary programs the maximum is 18, and non-post-secondary the maximum is 20

 

  1. What is a teaching contact hour?  (See Article 11.01 C)
  • Each teaching contact hour shall be assigned as a 50 minute block plus a break of up to ten minutes

 

  1. What is the length of the standard teaching day? ( See Article 11.01 L1)
  • 8 hours from the start of the first assigned hour to the end of the last assigned hour, except by voluntary agreement, with Union notification

 

  1. Can I be assigned overtime?  (See  Articles 11.01 J1,J2, J3)
  • Yes overtime can be assigned, however it is voluntary, and shall not be unreasonably withheld

 

  1. How many different course preparations can be assigned per week? (See Article 11.01 D2)
  • No more than four, except by voluntary agreement, which shall not be unreasonably withheld

 

  1. How are weekly hours for preparation calculated on the SWF?
  • Weekly hours are calculated per course, based on the following formula: Teacher contact hours for the course x preparation factor

 

  1. How are weekly hours for evaluation calculated on the SWF?  (See Article 11.01 E1&E2)
  • Weekly hours are calculated per course based on the following formula:  Teacher contact hours for the course x evaluation factor x number of students in the course or section

 

  1. How many days do I have to review my SWF?   (See Article 11.02 A4)
  • 5 working days.

 

  1. How is my teaching workload assigned?  ( See Article 11.02 A1 (a)&(b))
  • Your manager will discuss the proposed workload with you. This discussion may be in person, or via email or phone.
  • No later than 6 weeks prior to the beginning of the period covered by the workload/schedule
  • your manager will then provide you with a copy of your SWF

 

  1. Can I be given a SWF without any teaching?  (See Article 11.08)
  • No. For a SWF to be issued, there must be a teaching assignment

 

  1. Can work be assigned during a non-teaching period?  (See Article 11.01 B 1 & 11.08)
  • Yes.  Professional development activities and complementary functions etc., can be undertaken by mutual consent and may be documented

 

  1. What would be considered complementary functions?   (See Articles 11.01 D3 (ix) &  11.01 F1)
  • Complementary functions or duties are those assigned on an hour for hour basis and recorded on the SWF
  • These could include marketing and program promotion, meetings, curriculum review and course development, program coordination, etc.

 

  1. Why are there 6 complementary hours assigned to the SWF?    (See Article 11.01 F1)
  • The 6 complementary hours are the allowance of the minimum weekly assigned as follows:  4 hours for routine out-of-class assistance to individual students; 2 hours for normal administrative tasks.