University of Toronto
Faculty of Information
Sessional Lecturer
Winter Term 2027 ( January 2027 - April 2027 )
INF2236H - Freedom of Information: Skills for Professional Practice
Course Description:
This course focuses on the ethics and practices associated with information access compliance for current and prospective public sector employees. The emergence of Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation over the latter half of the 20th century established a broad obligation for public sectors to engage in disclosure compliant information practices. Despite this the political logic that grounds FOI legislation is still a contested ideal, and the infrastructure required to operationalize findable and accessible records is unevenly distributed across public sector entities. This course engages students in the political theory and operational practice of FOI compliance for information professionals. Course topics include the political philosophy of FOI legislation as well as practical limitations to its scope and application; implementation of FOI in the context of public administration; and strategies to enhance compliance at individual, divisional, and sector-wide scales of practice. The vocational skills developed in this course will be instrumental for all students in the Masters of Information, in addition to enhancing the methodological skills of research interested students.
The course can be used to fulfill the “Professional Values” Professional Requirement.
Estimate of the course enrolment: 35
Estimate of TA Support: None anticipated. Estimate of 75 hours with enrollment of 36 or greater. Allocation of TA hours, if any, will be based on enrolment numbers.
Class Schedule: TBD. You are required to be located in geographical proximity to the applicable University premises in order to attend and perform your duties on University premises as of the Starting Date.
Sessional dates of appointment: January 1, 2027 - April 30, 2027
Salary:
Sessional Lecturer I: $10,889
Sessional Lecturer I Long Term: $11,652
Sessional Lecturer II $11,652
Sessional Lecturer II Long Term: $11,924
Sessional Lecturer III: $11,924
Sessional Lecturer III Long Term: $12,202
Please note that should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.
Qualifications: Preferably candidates will have a completed, or nearly completed, PhD degree in an area related to the course or a Master’s degree plus extensive professional experience in an area related to the course. Teaching experience is preferred.
Brief description of duties: Preparing course materials; delivering course content (e.g., seminars, lectures, and labs); developing and administering course assignments, tests & exams; grading; holding regular office hours.
Application Deadline: June. 1, 2026
Application Process: Applicants must submit a CV and a completed CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form in one pdf file to the attention of:
Nafiseh Yazdian, Administrative Coordinator
Faculty of Information, 140 St. George Street University of Toronto
sessional.ischool@utoronto.ca
This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement. Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II and Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12.
