Faculty of Social Work – Term Certain Sessional Instructor

Job Summary

The Term Certain Sessional Instructor in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Calgary is a specialized academic role dedicated to preparing the next generation of social work leaders across Alberta. Operating as a “Practice-Based Educator,” you will deliver curriculum for BSW, MSW, or PhD programs in Calgary, Edmonton, or Lethbridge. This role requires the “wit” to integrate complex Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization (EDID) frameworks into your teaching and the “grit” to mentor students across face-to-face, blended, and online platforms.

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Job Details

• Employer: University of Calgary (Faculty of Social Work).

• Locations: Calgary, Edmonton (Central/Northern), and Lethbridge (Southern).

• Position Type: Term Certain Sessional Instructor (Multiple academic terms).

• Delivery Modes: Face-to-face, blended, and online (Zoom/D2L).

• Remuneration: Calculated per Schedule B of the Faculty Association Collective Agreement.

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Areas of Instructional Expertise

The Faculty seeks instructors with specialized knowledge in diverse social work domains, including:

• Clinical Practice: Trauma-informed care, addictions, mental health, and gerontology.

• Macro Practice: International community development, leadership, social policy, and research.

• Specialized Frameworks: Africentric Social Work, Green Social Work, and practice with Indigenous, racialized, and marginalized populations.

• Field Education: Providing supervision and mentorship for practicum students.

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Candidate Profile & Requirements

• The “Experienced Clinician”: Must hold a completed MSW with a minimum of 2 years of post-MSW experience.

• Regulatory Standing: Current registration in good standing with the Alberta College of Social Workers (ACSW) or an equivalent body.

• Educational Wit: Demonstrated excellence in post-secondary teaching with a “passion for mentorship.”

• EDID Champion: Ability to authentically incorporate Indigenous perspectives and Decolonization into course content.

• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable navigating online instructional tools like Zoom and Desire2Learn (D2L).

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Technical Insights: The Social Work Pedagogical Framework

Teaching social work in Alberta requires a commitment to the Canadian Association for Social Work Education (CASWE) standards.

• Decolonizing the Classroom: You will move beyond “inclusion” toward Decolonization, which involves challenging Eurocentric knowledge systems and prioritizing Indigenous ways of knowing and being.

• Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: Given the subject matter, you must employ “Safety, Trustworthiness, and Choice” in your teaching style to support students who may have lived experience with the topics discussed.

• The “Micro-Mezzo-Macro” Bridge: Your instruction should help students navigate the link between individual clinical support (Micro) and systemic policy change (Macro).

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Diversity and Representation Statistics

The University of Calgary and the Faculty of Social Work provide concrete data to support their commitment to an inclusive workforce:

• Indigenous Population: Calgary is home to a growing urban Indigenous population of approximately 50,000 people. The university supports this community through an Indigenous Strategy involving 18 Elders.

• Provincial Reach: The Faculty serves over 1,000 students across the province, necessitating a workforce that reflects the diverse intersecting social locations of its student body.

• Institutional EDI Goals: UCalgary recognizes that diverse faculty enrich the research experience. In Canadian academia, visible minorities make up roughly 21% of full-time professors, and the university strives to lead in increasing this representation through targeted recruitment of women, Indigenous peoples, and racialized minorities.

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Job Description

Do you believe that social work is the key to a more equitable and just future? The University of Calgary is seeking Sessional Instructors to join our Faculty of Social Work. We aren’t just teaching “case management”; we are cultivating leaders who will challenge systemic barriers and provide compassionate, evidence-based care. If you have the “grit” to lead a clinical seminar and the “wit” to foster a decolonized learning environment, you belong with us.

In this role, you are a “Practice Mentor.” You understand that social work education is a balance of high-level theory and boots-on-the-ground reality. Your goal is to provide “Excellence in Professional Development,” ensuring that our graduates are ready to lead in child welfare, mental health, and social justice. We look for “Integrity-first” practitioners who are ready to share their expertise across Alberta’s diverse communities.

Joining UCalgary means joining Canada’s entrepreneurial university in a city defined by its leadership and philanthropy. We offer a vibrant, multi-regional environment where your professional development is prioritized alongside student success. If you are a registered social worker with a commitment to “Equity and Indigenous Perspectives,” we invite you to electronically submit your application to Dr. Jessica Ayala and start creating the future of social work today.