All graduate students in the PhD program are required to serve as Teaching Assistants (TAs) for two semesters, typically in the spring of their first year and the fall of their second year.
General Expectations and Communication
It is important for TAs to communicate regularly with their supervising professor to understand specific expectations and ensure effective fulfillment of duties. If a TA is unable to teach their assigned section, they must promptly notify both the instructor and the Graduate Office.
Workload and Training
Workload
TAs are generally expected to work up to 20 hours per week, which includes responsibilities such as grading and proctoring. Unreasonable workloads, such as 16 hours of grading in a three-day span, are not permitted.
Teaching Assistant Training and Evaluation Program (TATEP)
All new TAs must achieve certification through the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) Teaching Assistant Institute (TAI) program.
Instructor vs. TA Responsibilities
While a TA may be asked to contribute some course material, the ultimate responsibility for all course material rests with the instructor. This includes content and records within a learning management system (LMS) like Canvas. The instructor is also responsible for preparing syllabi, preparing and administering exams, and submitting final student grades.
TA Tasks for Laboratory-Based Courses
For laboratory-based courses, TA responsibilities may also include:
Remaining Present: TAs are expected to be present in the lab for the entire duration of the session, from before students arrive until all students have left and the lab is secured. No other work should be done during the lab period.
Giving Lab Lectures/Pre-Lab Briefings: TAs are responsible for delivering a pre-lab lecture or briefing at the beginning of the lab session. This lecture should prepare students for the experiment, covering theoretical concepts, experimental procedures, safety precautions, and expected outcomes. The content of this lecture should be coordinated with and approved by the supervising instructor.
Conducting the Laboratory Session: TAs are expected to guide students through experiments, ensuring they understand procedures and concepts. This often involves demonstrating techniques, showing students how to use specific equipment, perform calculations, or execute particular experimental techniques. TAs should actively move around the lab, observing students’ work, answering questions, providing individual guidance, and troubleshooting problems as they arise.
Enforcing Safety Regulations: TAs must ensure a safe and orderly lab environment and strictly enforce all departmental and university safety regulations.
Overseeing Equipment and Supplies: Monitoring the proper use and care of laboratory equipment and supplies, guarding against misuse, and reporting any issues or damage.
TA Tasks for Lecture-Based Courses
For lecture-based courses, TA responsibilities may include:
Meeting with Professor/Other TAs: Regularly meeting with the supervising professor and other TAs (if applicable) to discuss course progress and student concerns.
Attending Lectures: TAs may be expected to attend main lectures to stay informed about course content and the professor’s expectations.
Leading Discussion or Recitation Sections: For large lecture courses, TAs may lead smaller, supplementary sessions where students can discuss lecture material, ask questions, work through problems, and clarify concepts.
Holding Office Hours: TAs should hold regular office hours to provide one-on-one or small-group assistance, answering questions about course content and assignments. If a TA cannot make their assigned office hours, they should arrange for a substitute if possible.
Review Sessions: Organizing and leading review sessions before exams to help students prepare.
Proctoring Exams: Supervising students alongside the instructor during exams to ensure academic integrity. In lieu of one of their office hours, TAs may be assigned a weekly proctoring shift for Centralized Proctoring.
Grading Assignments: TAs may assist with grading homework, quizzes, papers, lab reports, and other coursework. For these duties, instructors must provide TAs with clear rubrics and answer keys. TAs are expected to grade promptly, within a reasonable timeframe set by the instructor and aligned with workload expectations.