Key Contacts

If you have questions, please contact the CLAS Graduate Affairs Manager.

Applicability

Graduate assistants.

Policy Purpose and Description

NA

Definitions

NA

Procedure

All departments and schools in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) with new Teaching Assistants are required to provide or participate in a TA orientation during the three-day period preceding the beginning of Fall semester classes that does not conflict with the Graduate College orientation. We highly encourage CLAS departments to have new Teaching Assistants attend the Center for Teaching orientation, and choose a session based on the descriptions available online. Academic unit TA orientation should include preparatory instructional training in the discipline. Some larger units may wish to divide the teaching assistants into smaller groups according to specialization, while smaller units may wish to work with other departments in offering annual TA orientation. 

An effective TA orientation should include review of the following, as outlined in the TA Orientation slide deck:

• Information about required compliances
  • Student Records, Confidentiality, FERPA
  • Harassment Prevention Education Course Information
  • Free speech and expression
• CLAS Required Syllabus Template
• ICON Introduction
• MAUI Introduction
• CLAS Undergraduate Teaching Policies + Procedures
  • Attendance and Modality
  • Grading and Exams
  • Misconduct
• Supporting students in distress
• Teaching resources and support for graduate students
  • University of Iowa Center for Teaching
  • Office of Teaching and Learning Technology
• Teaching Observation and Evaluation
  • Student Perception of Teaching (SPOT)
  • Assessment of Teaching

CLAS departments and schools are further urged to observe all TAs at least once a semester using a mentored observation framework that is treated separately from the required end-of-semester TA performance evaluation and from the SPOT (Student Perceptions of Teaching) evaluation. Departments are encouraged to review the mentored observation framework during orientation or during the first week of teaching. More information can be found on the policy for Evaluation of Teaching Assistants.

Forms

NA

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions, please contact the CLAS Graduate Affairs Manager.

Related Information

TA Orientation: Center for Teaching

TA Orientation: Graduate College

TA Orientation: Harassment Prevention Training

TA Orientation: I-9 sign up

2025 TA Orientation Slide Deck (required)

2025 TA Orientation information for graduate students (optional)

Update to COGs orientation participation

Revised

July 2025