2012 - 2013

• 1. Overview
• 2. FAQ
• 3. TA offer process and criteria
• 4. Teaching Tips
• 5. Department Rules
• 6. Department Contact Information
• 7. Ethical Issues for TAs
• 8. Department Policy on Cheating by TAs
• 9. Related links

2. FAQ

1. I don't have a TA appointment, but would like one. How do I apply?
2. When are TA offers usually made?
3. What criteria are used to determine who gets a TA offer? How can I find out more about the offer process?
4. What can I do to increase my chances of getting a TA offer?
5. If I didn't get a TA offer in the initial rounds of offers, do I still have a chance of getting one?
6. I have a TA appointment, but want to resign. What do I have to do?
7. How do I update my TA application?
8. I'm a newly admitted student. What do I have to do to apply for a teaching assistantship?
9. I'm a newly admitted student who did not receive a TA offer yet. How can I find out about my chances of getting an offer?
10. I am looking for a TA position, and would like to meet Dr. Barry to discuss this. When can I do that?
11. When will I know if I will get an offer or not?

Q1. I don't have a TA appointment, but would like one. How do I apply?

If you are a returning student and have not yet done so, submit an application. The forms are available online. Once you submit the form we will consider you for any open TA positions.

If you are a new incoming student, we consider you for a TA offer as part of the application process. If you do not get a TA offer from us as part of your admission, you are welcome to apply for any remaining positions. See Q8 and Q9 below for more information.

Q2. When are TA offers usually made?

For Fall semester, most offers to new incoming students are made in April, and most offers to returning students are made in April and early May. For Spring semester, most offers are made in November and December. Most summer appointments are made in April.

In all cases, we make additional offers after the times stated above, as the need arises (see Q4).

Q3. What criteria are used to determine who gets a TA offer? How can I find out more about the offer process?

Check the TA offer process and criteria section.

Q4. What can I do to increase my chances of getting a TA offer?

Here are a number of items:

• Be familiar with all the criteria listed in the TA offer process and criteria section.
• Submit your application on time and make sure it is complete, accurate, and up to date. Although applications are accepted at any time, your chances are best if you submit your application prior to the deadline for the initial round of offers. This deadline is announced by e-mail sent to the CS grads mailing list. Remember that applications are not kept from year to year, so you need to reapply in the Spring for next Fall's positions. (However, applications received for Fall semester are kept on file for Spring, so you do NOT need to reapply for Spring if you have already applied for Fall.)
• If you are a student whose native language is not English, make sure you have passed the University's TA English requirements by passing the TOEFL or SETTA test, or by participating in the University's TA English courses. If you must take the SETTA test, take it as soon as you can since it takes 2-3 weeks for us to get the results. If you have passed the test or the English class with a low score, consider retaking the test or class to earn a higher score.
• Include a good number of preferences in your application. Also list a variety of classes in terms of level and area. Some students put too few preferences, which limits their chances. Occasionally students put too many, listing classes they did poorly in or classes they are really not interested in TAing.
• Do well in the courses you take, and make suitable degree progress.
• If you are a current TA, do an excellent (not just OK) job in your current assignment.
• Work on your teaching background and potential. For example, attend workshops sponsored by the department or Center for Teaching and Learning, etc. Or take a class on teaching. Teaching improvement classes and workshops can be reported in the "other information" space at the end of the TA application form.

Q5. If I didn't get a TA offer in the initial rounds of offers, do I still have a chance of getting one?

We do make a number of offers after the initial rounds since some TAs will decline offers or resign. We should know about these openings a month or more before the beginning of classes, and will fill them as they occur. We also make additional appointments based on higher than expected enrollment. These appointments are usually made around the beginning of classes. The number of appointments that open up after the initial rounds varies from semester to semester, but is usually about a half dozen. The TA announcement page contains more information.

Q6. I have a TA appointment, but want to resign. What do I have to do?

First, unless there is an emergency, you should not resign after classes begin. If you wish to resign before classes begin, resign sufficiently before the start of classes (six weeks) that we have ample time to find and appoint a replacement. The department has had problems in the past with TAs resigning just prior to the beginning of classes. Because of the disruption this caused, the department now has the following policy:

1. Teaching Assistants may resign their TA appointment for an RA appointment if they resign prior to the announced application deadline, which is usually 4 - 6 weeks before the start of classes of each semester.
2. TAs who wish to resign their TA appointment after the above deadline will need written permission from the Department Head or TA Supervisor.
3. The department will not process RA offers to TAs that resign without meeting these criteria. TAs who resign less than two weeks before the beginning of classes will forfeit their eligibility to receive any form of support from the department in the future.

If you are resigning because you are graduating or have a job offer elsewhere, we still ask that you let us know as far in advance of the beginning of the semester as possible. Finding new TAs for certain classes is very time consuming, and so the more notice we have the better.

Resignations must be submitted in hardcopy and signed. They should be given to Liz Freppert, and, for students on a yearly appointment, must include whether you are just resigning for the next semester, or for the entire year.

Q7. How do I update my TA application?

E-mail Liz Freppert (freppert@cs.umn.edu), and she will make the requested updates.

Q8. I'm a newly admitted student. What do I have to do to apply for a teaching assistantship?

All new students are considered for teaching assistantships automatically as part of the admissions process --- you do not need to submit any further information beyond what you submitted when you applied for admission. If we select you for a teaching assistantship we will notify you sometime in the Spring. If we do not select you, you are welcome to apply for any positions still open by submitting an application when you arrive here. (Note: if you are an international student and have not fulfilled the University's University's TA English requirements, you must register for one of the tests to fulfill that requirement before submitting your application.)

Q9. I'm a newly admitted student who did not receive a TA offer yet. How can I find out about my chances of getting an offer?

Our original offers to new incoming students go out in April. If you do not get an offer then, then you may apply for any open positions when you arrive here. Usually about a half dozen TA positions open up in August or early September. However, since a large number of students are interested in those positions, the chance of getting a position is not great. The TA announcement page contains more information.

If you come here and apply for a TA position, but do not receive one for Fall, you will be automatically considered for Spring positions when we make the Spring TA offers in November. Usually about a dozen new offers are made then.

Q10. I am looking for a TA position, and would like to meet Dr. Barry to discuss this. When can I do that?

If you have questions beyond the information given here, you are welcome to see Dr. Barry during his regularly scheduled office hours. If the regular office hours do not work for you, then feel free to contact him by e-mail to set up a time.

Dr. Barry does not have regularly scheduled office hours during the summer; however, if there are a significant number of open positions, he will schedule a few office hours in August. The times for these will be posted on the TA announcement page.

Because of the number of inquiries we get about open TA positions, Dr. Barry will post updates on whether there are any positions open, the likelihood of getting a positions, etc. to the TA announcement page. Please check this page regularly if you are interested in the TA offer situation.

Q11. When will I know if I will get an offer or not?

Because we make offers up to and sometimes after the start of classes, there is no set date for when final decisions are made on any individual's application. Rather, applicants stay in the application pool until they get an offer, or until all positions are filled around the start of classes. See questions Q2 and Q5 above, as well as the TA offer process and criteria section of this handbook for more information.