Key Contacts

Applicability

Graduate assistants.

Policy Purpose and Description

NA

Definitions

NA

Procedure

All departments and schools in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences are required to provide a TA orientation during the three-day period preceding the beginning of Fall semester classes that does not conflict with the Graduate College orientation. This 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 departments may wish to work with other departments in offering annual TA orientation. All TA supervisors must observe the teaching of new TAs by the eighth week of the semester and provide written feedback to all TAs on their overall performance of duties at the end of each semester using an instrument separate from the ACE teaching evaluation. 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.

An effective TA orientation should include review of the following:

• Information about FERPA and Harassment Prevention Education
  • Student Records, Confidentiality, FERPA
  • Harassment Prevention Education Course Information
• Mental health and crisis response resources
  • Quick Guide for Responding to Distress
• Required content of the course syllabus
  • CLAS Required Syllabus Elements
• Creating a coherent lesson plan for each class period
  • Resource Collections
• Using the ICON site
• Instructor guidelines for meeting classes, holding office hours, and covering absences (including departmental policies for securing substitutes)
  • Time Committed to Instruction
• Meeting deadlines for class lists, student attendance, and submission of grades
  • Teaching Policies & Resources — Class Lists
• Policies regarding student absences, student workload, student accommodations, final examinations, and textbooks and teaching materials
  • Student Attendance and Absences
  • Student Workload Guidelines
  • Accommodating Students with Disabilities and Related SDS Information
  • Examination Policies and Best Practices
  • Teaching Policies & Resources — Textbooks and Materials
• Cultivating a welcoming and professional classroom atmosphere
  • Classroom Management
  • Free speech and expression
• The timely and effective grading of student work
  • Grades: Undergraduate Policies and Guidelines
• Handling academic misconduct. CLAS requires that reports about academic misconduct be submitted using the form found on the link below.
  • Teaching Policies & Resources — Academic Fraud
• Required ACE course evaluations
  • Teaching Policies & Resources — Student Evaluation of Teaching
• Resources and Support available through the Center for Teaching
  • Graduate Students and Postdocs

Forms

NA

Frequently Asked Questions

NA

Related Information

NA