A Community of Contract Faculty

The interests of contract faculty are unique to our positions within the wider institution, and our roles and responsibilities are often misunderstood and lacking clarity. This CoP will be a safe space to explore the unique position contract faculty are in. Potential topics include understanding our duties, workload, service commitments, pursuing research, maintaining currency in our discipline, avenues for professional development, teaching successes and challenges, or other topics identified by community members.

All who identify as contract faculty at UBC Okanagan—including lecturers, sessionals, post-doctoral teaching fellows, adjuncts, and clinical instructors—are invited to join.

This CoP meets once a month on both in person (SCI 331) and virtually.

2024 Term 1 schedule:

• Wednesday, September 25^th   2:00 – 3:00 PM
• Wednesday, October 23^rd       10:00 – 11:00 AM
• Wednesday, November 27^th   10:00 – 11:00 AM

2025 Term 2 schedule:

• Thursday, January 23^rd            10:00 – 11:00 AM
• Thursday, February 27^th          10:00 – 11:00 AM
• Thursday, March 27^th              10:00 – 11:00 AM
• Thursday, April 24^th                 10:00 – 11:00 AM

Please reach out to the CTL Coordinator for this CoP, Barbara Komlos Barbara.komlos@ubc.ca to be added to the email list and to receive the Zoom link to join virtually.

1. To create an inclusive space where contract faculty and members can support each other through sharing their experience and understanding of their roles, duties, workload, and service commitments within UBCO’s organizational framework.
2. To foster a collaborative and creative environment where contract faculty can explore instructional techniques, broader pedagogical strategies, maintaining currency and test out creative assessment ideas.

• Catherine (Katey) Kyle, Lecturer, Community, Culture and Global Studies, IKB Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences; CTL Faculty Fellow catherine.kyle@ubc.ca
• Xia (Summer) Li, Lecturer, Chemistry, IKB Faculty of Science summerxia.li@ubc.ca
• Fawad Najam, Lecturer, School of Engineering fawad.najam@ubc.ca
• Barbara Komlos, CTL Educational Consultant for Curriculum & Faculty Development, will set up a Teams Channel for this CoP to be used for informal discussions and to connect and support CoP members. Email barbara.komlos@ubc.ca to be added to the Teams Channel. Communication will also be sent via email.