Academic Donships

Appointment Type: 8 Month Contract, 2025-2026 Academic year.

The following are anticipated dates and will be confirmed when the University of Toronto finalizes the calendar for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Semester #1: Saturday, August 9, 2025 – Tuesday, December 23, 2025
Semester #2: Sunday, January 4, 2026 – Friday May 1, 2026

Number of Positions: 12

Time Commitment: 15 hours per week on average.

Classification & Hiring Range: Stipend plus Room & Board

Reports to: Dean of Arts and Dean of Students

Trinity College is a vibrant and diverse academic community with a rich history and excellent local and international reputation. Since its founding in 1851, the College has valued and fostered a high level of academic achievement with some 2,000 currently registered students, 450 of whom live at the College. Trinity College grounds comprise spectacular historic buildings, and the College is among the smallest and most prestigious colleges on the St. George Campus of the University of Toronto. Trinity’s campus currently consists of four main buildings and is located in the central Toronto downtown core, steps from the Bloor-St. George subway and Queen’s Park. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated leader to bring coordination and oversight to a diverse range of activities, events and bookings at the College, integrating existing internal institutional needs while pursuing business development opportunities for the College.

Position Summary:

Trinity College appoints academic dons in a variety of disciplines. Through formal and informal activities, academic dons provide support for undergraduates in their disciplines and encourage the overall academic and personal development of students.

Academic dons live in residence at the College and combine student life responsibilities with academic responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Below is a summary of responsibilities. For detailed information about Trinity donships, please see the terms and conditions of employment as an academic don at Trinity College. The topics covered include: time commitment and division of duties; academic responsibilities; student life responsibilities; remuneration; restrictions and requirements.

Academic

• Provide academic assistance in designated areas to Trinity undergraduates in one-to-one tutorials/consultations and small­ group sessions or seminars.
• Assist College staff with the academic orientation and matriculation of new students, with a spring session for first-year students on choosing a program of study, and with counselling sessions for upper-year students on careers and applications for postgraduate study
• Provide information to students about the academic support services offered by the College’s Registrar’s Office, Writing Centre and Math Aid Centre and refer students in academic difficulty to the Registrar’s Office.
• Involve themselves in the activities of any College student society there may be in their academic areas.
• Promote interaction between faculty and students. At least once a term, every don, either individually or with one or more other dons, holds an Academic Community Dinner, an event at which Trinity students meet professors, especially Trinity professors, in their area of study.
• Are expected to respect and uphold “the integrity of the teaching and learning relationship” (University of Toronto Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters, Preamble).

Student Life

• Assist with supplying information on residence life and on student services provided by college and university facilities. Help maintain reasonable standards of conduct, safety and security, including upholding the Trinity College Community Standards.
• Serve as an initial contact for students who are in emotional, psychological, physical, social, economic, or academic difficulty, and referring such students when appropriate to the professional services offered by the college, the university, and the wider community.
• Respond to crises of a varied nature (e.g., illness, mental health, etc.), providing initial care (e.g., until the manager on call or Dean is reached and the student no longer needs help) and in some cases providing on-going follow-up (e.g., brief check-­ins).
• Serve as “duty dons” on rotation and reporting each shift, including any incidents occurring during a given shift, to the on-call staff, in the form of a written “duty report.”
• As part of the Trinity College community, assist with the reading and assessment of Trinity College Student Profiles during the College admissions cycle.
• Serve as role models for students. This responsibility requires, among other things, that dons be beyond reproach in their personal conduct, including their academic conduct.

Qualifications:

• Applicants should be enrolled in (or applying for admission to) a graduate or second-entry professional program, or pursuing post-doctoral studies, at the University of Toronto.
• Applicants must have excellent academic records and should have, or be willing to acquire, a good working knowledge of the University ‘s undergraduate courses (especially first- and second-year courses) in their areas. Tutoring or TA experience is an asset. Residential experience is also an asset.

Applications:
Please apply using the MS forms below. If you have any trouble uploading documents, please email Emily Gilbert at em.gilbert@mail.utoronto.ca.

Current U of T Students- Please use this form.

Prospective U of T Students- Please use this form.

Application Deadline: January 31, 2025, at midnight

Trinity College is a federated university in the University of Toronto and offers excellent employment opportunities with exceptional benefits. The College is a culturally diverse community that sustains a tradition of academic excellence and provides a vibrant and welcoming community of students, faculty, alumni and staff.

Trinity College is committed to Employment Equity and Diversity based on merit, transparency, accessibility and inclusion ensuring that all candidates are given a fair opportunity. If you need this job posting in an alternative format or if you require accommodation measures, please contact us at trinity.hr@utoronto.ca and we will work with you to meet your needs at every stage of the recruitment and selection process.

We thank all applicants for their interest in this position. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.