Sessional Lecturer, INF2236H - Freedom of Information: Skills for Professional Practice

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.

Diversity Statement

The University of Toronto embraces Diversity and is building a culture of belonging that increases our capacity to effectively address and serve the interests of our global community. We strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized persons, women, persons with disabilities, and people of diverse sexual and gender identities. We value applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion and recognize that diverse perspectives, experiences, and expertise are essential to strengthening our academic mission.

As part of your application, you will be asked to complete a brief Diversity Survey. This survey is voluntary. Any information directly related to you is confidential and cannot be accessed by search committees or human resources staff. Results will be aggregated for institutional planning purposes. For more information, please see 

Accessibility Statement

The University strives to be an equitable and inclusive community, and proactively seeks to increase diversity among its community members. Our values regarding equity and diversity are linked with our unwavering commitment to excellence in the pursuit of our academic mission.

The University is committed to the principles of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). As such, we strive to make our recruitment, assessment and selection processes as accessible as possible and provide accommodations as required for applicants with disabilities.

If you require any accommodations at any point during the application and hiring process, please contact uoft.careers@utoronto.ca.

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