How to Verify Tentative Appointment Forms

(Appointments for Fall 2006 and Winter 2007 Semesters)
   
Set up a meeting between you (the departmental delegate) and the person in charge of hiring TAs in your department for late April, for Fall appointments, and by late November, for Winter appointments. This timing is necessary because it falls between the application deadline and the date for the department to inform applicants of the results of their application. This way, problems may be corrected before notice of appointments has been made.
   
Every graduate student who is PhD 5†or lower, or Masters 2 or lower, and who has held a TAship previously is in the priority pool. They have priority for future TA-ships over new incoming students, continuing students who have not held an appointment at McGill before and students who have exhausted their priority pool entitlement (PhD 6+ and Masters 3+ ).
   
You have the right to view the tentative appointment list as well as applications of students who have previously been TAs.
   
  †Actually, it's a bit more complicated with PhD 5s; Step 3 deals with specifics for PhD 5s.
   
 
 
The Steps
   
The General Checks
   
1. Ask if all grad students who applied received a TAship.
  • If the answer is yes, and you have no information to the contrary (i.e. from job applications), skip down to 7.
  • If the answer is no, continue to 2.
   
2. Ask if all applicants in
  • PhD 2—PhD 5,
  • Masters 2, and
  • any PhD/Masters 1 who held an appointment in the previous semester, received a TAship
  • If the answer is yes, look through the rejected applications and confirm that all rejected applicants are either PhD 6+, Masters 3+, or PhD/Masters 1 who haven't yet had a TAship. Upon confirmation of this, skip to 7.
  • If the answer is no, continue to 3,4,5.
   
Specifics
   
  PhD 5
3. Ask if any PhD 5 applicants had their applications rejected. If so,
  • if it is because they began in PhD 1 and held an appointment in that first year, ask for proof of enrolment date and level as well as proof that they were hired in that year. These applicants would not be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because they were also at McGill as a Masters student and held a TA-ship as a Masters 1 or 2 student, ask for proof of enrolment dates and proof that they had an appointment as a Masters 1 or 2 student. These applicants would not be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because they have never held a TAship in the past, ask for proof by looking at previous (up to five years' worth of) appointment forms. These applicants would not be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because the claim has been made that these applicants would not be qualified, ensure that this is truly the case: They must be unqualified for EVERY position being offered. These applicants would still be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because of a lack of available TAships, and the applicants have not been shown to be out of the Priority Pool, make a note and pay careful attention at step 6.
   
  All other reasons ought to be invalid. If you are not sure, contact AGSEM.
   
   
  PhD 2-4; Masters 2
4. Ask if any PhD 2—PhD 4 or Masters 2 applicants had their applications rejected. If so,
  • if it is because they have never held a TAship in the past, ask for proof by looking at previous (up to four years' worth of) appointment forms. These applicants would not be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because the claim has been made that these applicants would not be qualified, ensure that this is truly the case: They must be unqualified for EVERY position being offered. These applicants would still be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because of a lack of available TAships, and the applicants have not been shown to be out of the Priority Pool, make a note and pay careful attention at step 6.
   
  All other reasons ought to be invalid. If you are not sure, contact AGSEM.
   
  PhD/Masters 1
5. Ask if any PhD 1 or Masters 1 students had their applications rejected. If so, and if they are in their second semester,
  • if it is because they did not hold a TAship in the first semester, confirm by looking at the last semester's appointment form. These applicants would not be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because the claim has been made that the applicants would not be qualified, ensure that this is truly the case: They must be unqualified for ALL the positions being offered. These applicants would still be in the Priority Pool.
  • if it is because of a lack of available TAships, and the applicants have not been shown to be out of the Priority Pool, make a note and pay careful attention at step 6.
   
  All other reasons ought to be invalid. If you are not sure, contact AGSEM.
   
  If the applicants are in their first semester, they are not in the Priority Pool; the department is under no compulsion to hire them.
   
  Priority Pool Hiring Rules
6. If there are not enough TAships to give to all qualified Priority Pool applicants, then the following articles apply:
   
  Article 13.02.02
... A number of appointments may be reserved by the employer for Category I applicants [applicants who have never held a TAship in the past]. This number shall not exceed the number of employees who have left the Priority Pool in the appropriate reference period [Winter and Summer semesters for Fall appointments; Fall semester for Winter appointments].
... All remaining appointments are offered to Category II [Priority Pool] applicants.
   
  Article 13.02.03
In the event that it is not possible to offer employment to all qualified Priority Pool applicants in the Hiring Unit [department/school/centre], appointments shall be granted in decreasing order of priority to [employees in the Priority Pool and]:
... registered at the PhD 4 and 5 levels,
... registered at the PhD 3 level,
... registered at the PhD 2 level,
... registered at the Masters 2 level,
... registered at the PhD 1 level,
... registered at the Masters 1 level.
In the event of a tie, priority shall be given to the employee who has accumulated the greatest number of hours of appointment.
  If appointments have been given to Category I applicants while some Priority Pool applicants have not received an appointment, ask for proof that the number of Category I appointments corresponds with the number of TAs who left the Priority Pool (by becoming PhD 6 or Masters 3 students,
   
  Finishing Up
7. If there have been any complaints on course selection, bring them up now. Discuss how course selections were made and suggest changes to try to accommodate any TAs who have concerns with their appointments.
  • keep in mind that this step is being done as a service to your fellow union members but is not covered by anything in the collective agreement.
   
8. Fill out the form you have been given by AGSEM, giving the results of the verification you just made and then send the form to AGSEM, via email, if possible.
   
Final Note
   
If you are not provided with information you have requested, or you question any part of the selection procedure, please call AGSEM and we will get involved. You have the right to have another AGSEM representative to attend the verification meeting with you.
   
 
AGSEM
Email: <agsem@web.net>
Phone: (514) 398-2582
Fax: (514) 398-2623
updated Oct. 12, 2006