Call for Instructors

“Those in the classes are engaged with the material. They have chosen to be there and look to make the most of it. They come from a wide background, ranging from teaching and engineering to psychiatry and accounting, and to them retirement does not mean retiring from learning. It is this drive that particularly appeals to me.”
- Clay Burlingham

“Teaching an SSCL class is essentially the Platonic ideal of teaching. In other words, it's what teaching should be. Everyone who is there is only there because they want to be. They are interested in the material. Plus, they often have lived experiences which connect to the material and want to participate. It's an amazing experience.”
- Jason Zorbas

“I try to avoid the jargon, that can come with a particular field, and if I do have to use words that are particularly laden, I look to unpack them (for example, “existentialism”)
- Clay Burlingham

“I tend to use less technology and fewer pop-culture references.”
- Jason Zorbas

“I like the hybrid classes, but one needs to remember that in teaching one, it means speaking to two worlds (those in the classroom and those at home) at the same time. That means writing on the board will not be seen by those at home, so using a white board is essential, for those not in the classroom. Questions asked in class have to be repeated for those at home, and that is not always easy to remember. In finding ways to balance questions, so that the thread of the lecture, remains forefront, usually some kind of method much be found, so that questions, which are always good, do not hijack the class. I found setting aside a set amount of time (ten minutes) prior to the break as one way to deal this.”
- Clay Burlingham

“Hybrid teaching is a little more difficult because of the need to be aware of the camera, and therefore where you are standing. As well, it is hard to use PowerPoint, so I usually dispense with it altogether. Also, because of the online section, questions need to be asked at a specific time, instead of organically during the lecture. Having said this, these are relatively minor issues, and I don't usually have any problems with hybrid teaching.”
- Jason Zorbas

“I think that it is important to unpack the material in a way that interests. Those in the class want to be there. Have a topic that will intrigue, and present it in a way that will draw them in. These are people who want to think, and with that, give them something to think about. An outline of the lectures really helps, as does a short bibliography.”
- Clay Burlingham

“I would recommend that you know your audience. These are not undergraduates but rather mostly retirees who are still dedicated to learning. The strategies and teaching styles that work for an SSCL class will likely be different than an undergraduate class. Also, expect questions. Good, thoughtful questions. Finally, you will likely be challenged at some point on some of your material. Be humble and receptive to this. There's a really good chance that they're right and you're wrong.”
- Jason Zorbas

“It is nice to be able to just teach. In the classes I do for the University, there are assignments, which change the tone of the class, for people never really like being marked. Here, one can focus just on the lectures, along with the questions they generate.”
- Clay Burlingham

“Initially, I was looking for work and a colleague suggested SSCL as an option. After my first class, I was hooked! I've been teaching for the program ever since.”
- Jason Zorbas

Saskatoon Seniors Continued Learning (SSCL) is a non-profit partnered with the University of Saskatchewan to offer engaging, non-credit courses for adults 55+. Courses are taught by instructors affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan (i.e., professors, sessional lecturers, PhD candidates) and the operations are supported by a Program Manager and volunteer Board.

Instructors must be affiliated with the University of Saskatchewan—this includes current or retired faculty, sessional lecturers, and PhD candidates. While most courses come through the College of Arts & Science, proposals are welcome from all Colleges, including St. Thomas More.

SSCL runs three terms each year: Fall (September–November), Winter (January–March), and Spring (March–May). Courses are 8 weeks long, with one 2-hour class per week.

Once your course proposal is received, the Program Manager collates all submissions and presents them to the SSCL Program Committee who then approves each term’s courses.

• Submit proposal

You’re welcome to submit multiple course proposals! Please make a separate submission for each one. Offering a variety of topics gives the SSCL Program Committee more options to consider when building the upcoming term’s schedule.

Most courses are hybrid: in-person at the University (ARTS 202) and online via Zoom. Some instructors teach online-only, though this is less common.

As of September 2025: $1,650 for online-only delivery and $1,800 for hybrid delivery.

Only if you’re a member of the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association or the St. Thomas More College Faculty Association. In that case we need a letter from your Dean or Department Head approving your teaching appointment.

There are no health care benefits in the contract with SSCL, only a monetary honorarium.

Only if your total earnings across all contracts (not just SSCL) exceed $30,000 in the fiscal year. In that case, SSCL can apply and report GST accordingly.

Yes. About one week before your class begins, the Zoom Lead will email you the number of in-person and online enrolments.

Rare. Courses with fewer than 10 enrolments are cancelled. Courses with 10–15 are reviewed by the Program Committee; courses with 15+ run as planned.

No student emails are shared.

SSCL does not currently have access to the CANVAS platform. As an alternative, you may setup a shared folder in your personal OneDrive (we will send instructions). After adding whatever files you want, you will share the link with us which will in turn be sent out to all students from our end.

You won’t need to - our amazing Zoom Lead takes care of all the Zoom link setup for you!

The students are all members of SSCL, aged 55+.

Yes. A cabinet at the front of the classroom (under the computer) contains a lapel microphone for you and a handheld wireless microphone for student questions. You will be provided with the code to unlock the cabinet. A control box beside the computer manages the audio and video. Spare batteries are usually available in the cabinet, though occasionally they are depleted without notice.

IT support from the University of Saskatchewan is available but should be contacted only in emergencies at 306-966-4263. If you are unfamiliar with the classroom technology, please schedule a tutorial with IT before the start of your course. SSCL in-class monitors cannot provide technical support.

SSCL provides volunteer monitors to support both classroom and online participation. You will be sent their contact information before the start of your course.

Please phone your Zoom Monitor right away. The Zoom Monitor (or Lead) can notify both in-person and online registrants if the class is cancelled.