We have a wealth of information on preparing to teach, class syllabus writing, teaching strategies, technology, copyright, and much more.

Review important resources listed on this site in the top site navigation under "Teaching Essentials", or start at our home page. 

There are some teaching workshops and short courses offered by the GMCTL available in an online format. 

• Sessional Lecturer Positions
• CUPE 3287 Agreement

Arrange a meeting with your Department Head or designate to review and discuss your teaching responsibilities, course content, class syllabus, assessments, etc.

• College lists
• USask - Academic Courses Policies

All assessments (assignments, essays, quizzes, midterm exams, and final examinations) should be discussed and approved by the department head. Clear information regarding assessment types and details are required to provide learners with valuable information about course expectations. Your final assessment or exam must be approved by your department head. Authentic assessments involve students participating in assessments mirror real-world complexity, allowing them to showcase their learning in contexts akin to their future professional endeavors beyond academia.

Your appointment includes teaching the class and all end-of-course work, including deferred and supplemental examinations and/or re-reads that students are entitled to receive. You are responsible for invigilating all examinations and grading all the assessments associated with your class.

Final examinations for off-campus classes will be scheduled by the University of Saskatchewan and must fall within the final examination period and cannot be changed without review and approval. Once scheduled, final exam information will be available to educators and students through PAWS.

Here are a few great resources for further information:

Assessments information (this site)

USask Academic Courses Policy - Assessment of Students section

USask Registrarial Services - Grade Entry information

USask Exams: Deferred and supplemental

USask Academic Integrity website

A syllabus allows an instructor to convey to students an overview of the key elements of a class, including what the students will learn, who the instructor is, how students will be assessed, and other important course information.

Your syllabus is a contract with the students and cannot be changed without notice and approval. The Academic Courses Policy requires that you provide a class syllabus on the first day of class.

The USask Academic Calendar is the official listing of major academic events and deadlines for the academic year. Educators and students must become familiar with the important dates for the term; all dates and deadlines apply both on and off-campus.

• Syllabus information
• USask Academic Calendar

The resources used by educational institutions are constantly evolving and the University of Saskatchewan revises its approach to how materials protected by copyright are used in order to meet the needs of our institution, to reflect current best practices and current federal legislation.

• Library supports for instructors
• Copyright information for instructors

Appointment to teach a class includes all end-of-course work, including deferred and supplemental examinations and/or re-reads that students are entitled to receive. You are responsible for invigilating all examinations and grading all the assessments associated with your class.

All final examinations, including those in off-campus classes, will be scheduled by the University of Saskatchewan and must fall within the final examination period. Once scheduled, final exam information will be available to educators and students through PAWS. Once posted, exam dates and times cannot be changed without the consent of the instructor and of all the students in the class. Final grades in all classes are to be submitted by the instructor and approved by the department within five business days (not including weekends or holidays). A student who is dissatisfied with the assessment of their work or their performance in any aspect of coursework is permitted to pursue an appeal.

USask Academic Courses Policy on Class Delivery, Examinations, and Assessment of Student Learning

USask Student exams information

USask Registrarial Services: Online Grade Entry, Grade Change and Grade Approval

USask Governance - Student Appeals information

Appointment to teach a class includes all end-of-course work, including deferred and supplemental examinations and/or re-reads that students are entitled to receive. You are responsible for invigilating all examinations and grading all the assessments associated with your class.

A student who cannot finish writing or is absent from a final examination through no fault of their own, for medical, compassionate, or other valid reasons, may apply for a deferred exam. Please note that a student who completes an examination cannot apply for a deferred examination.

• Students Exams information and Timeline

• Distribute and review the class syllabus (department approval required), including your contact information.

• Ask students to ensure they confirm their registration in the class in PAWS. Remind students that, should they need to withdraw for any reason, they must do so officially through PAWS to avoid academic and financial penalties.

• Explain to students that they should not make plans for the final exam period at the end of term until they have seen their final exam schedule (if applicable). Deferred examinations are only granted for compassionate or medical reasons.

• Inform students about the University Library and encourage them to review resources available to them off-campus, including academic integrity workshops, writing and math help and electronic collections.

• Ensure students are aware of Access and Equity Services and how it can assist registered students with reasonable accommodations to overcome barriers to their education.

• Establish a procedure for short-notice class cancellations due to inclement weather, illness, etc. Students and educators are encouraged to regularly check PAWS for these and other USask announcements.

• Review the class schedule highlighting any important dates and deadlines.

• Provide students with information on required textbooks available from the USask Bookstore or other open learning resources.

USask employment opportunities are advertised on the USask Career Opportunities website. Weekly job postings for the Fall and Winter terms begin being posted the first Wednesday in May. Postings for the Spring and Summer sessions begin being posted the first Wednesday in February.

Like those on campus, all off-campus educators are reviewed and selected by the appropriate USask departments and colleges. Only fully qualified applicants who have completed graduate degrees, PhD preferred, in a relevant subjects or related disciplines and/or with relevant teaching or professional experience are considered for USask instructor appointments.

Instructor (in consultation with the academic department)

• Consults with the department to review the class syllabus, course content, learning outcomes and assessment methods
• Submits a USask Bookstore textbook requisition
• Instructs the class throughout the term
• Administers/invigilates assignments and assessments
• Grading and grade submission
• All academic matters (in consultation with the department)

Department

• Selection and supervisor of instructors
• Approval of the class syllabus, course content, learning outcomes and assessment methods
• Review and approval of grade submission
• All academic matters (in consultation with the instructor)

GMCTL

• Primary contact for HR matters (appointments and payroll, scheduling conflicts, etc.)
• Final exam scheduling (if applicable)
• Review and approval of travel/expense claims
• Primary contact for all financial matters

Off-campus partner (regional college)

• Course offering decisions and preliminary class scheduling
• Support for student admission and registration through USask
• Provision and maintenance of teaching facilities
• Provision and maintenance of audio-visual and/or multimedia equipment
• On-site matters (not related to departmental academic authority or USask financial processes)

PAWS is the personalized access to web services at the University of Saskatchewan. It is a customizable web environment used by all members of the university community. When required, new employees will be provided an NSID (Network Services ID) and first-time password recovery information by USask IT Support to allow access to USask systems.

PAWS gives access to:

• your USask email account
• your class information and student lists
• instructor services and grade entry
• the Canvas learning management system
• payroll information
• Concur expense claim submission

See the New Employees channel in PAWS (login required) for information on setting up your profile, required paperwork, email, Canvas access, and additional resources and support.

USask undergraduate classes are offered in cooperation with partners across Saskatchewan. Please contact the local University Coordinator (see your letter of offer) to discuss local facilities and the location of your off-campus classroom. You can find the day and time of your class in the USask Class Search and relevant term dates in the Academic Calendar. Multimedia equipment may be available at each off-campus site; please reserve equipment with the local University Coordinator in advance.

USask undergraduate classes are offered in cooperation with partners across Saskatchewan. Please contact the local University Coordinator to discuss local facilities and equipment. Educators may also contact the GMCTL to discuss the photocopying of basic handout material to an extent consistent with the practice for similar classes on campus. If the copying needed for a class exceeds that amount, you should plan in advance to have course package materials available through the USask Bookstore.

If a class must be cancelled on short notice (inclement weather, illness, etc.), please notify your students, the department, the GMCTL, and the local University Coordinator at the regional college as soon as possible ahead of the scheduled class.

You should discuss cancellation procedures with your department and the local University Coordinator before the start of term. On the first day of classes, inform students of how cancellations will be handled; as some students in rural areas may have to travel to attend classes, it is very important that a cancellation procedure is planned and discussed in advance.

It is your responsibility to advise the GMCTL if you are unable to instruct a class. If you are unable to teach a class for several consecutive occasions, it may be necessary to schedule make-up classes or to arrange for an alternate instructor.

Educators travelling to teach off-campus classes may be eligible for car rental or for flat-rate mileage reimbursement. USask travel expense claims must be submitted through the Concur Travel and Expense channel in PAWS. Please refer to the off-campus Travel and Expense Manual provided to eligible educators at the start of each term.

In special circumstances such as inclement weather and hazardous road conditions off-campus educators may be eligible for overnight accommodation expenses, subject to pre-approval. Educators without approval for special circumstances are not eligible for accommodation expenses.