Undergraduate TAs

Undergraduate TAs (or UTAs) work to support one of the department's courses during a given semester.
The current UTAs are listed on the individual course web pages.
In addition to working with a professor, all undergraduate TAs work under the supervision of one or more head TAs, who are themselves undergraduate students (and former UTAs).
UTAs are hired each semester (between midsemester and reading period) for the following semester's courses. They are hired by the professor based on input from the head TAs. The hiring process is coordinated by the meta-TAs.
The UTA program page includes information about the TA program hirings and future semesters' hiring schedules.

This is a relatively old job description, and is in the process of being revised.

Whether this is your first semester, or if you're a veteran TA, you have been chosen to help work in one of the best programs in the university, where students like you get to help define classes and teach fellow students. During the next semester, you will be working on various aspects of a class, and you will be interacting with students, fellow TAs, your Head TAs and faculty. This document will explain some of what is expected of you from this process, and what you can expect in return. This is not meant to frighten you away, or overly complicate matters, but instead is an explicit understanding between you and the department. You should use this document as a definition of what exactly your job will entail as a TA in this department.

Basic expectations

As a TA, regardless of the class you are ta'ing, there are basic expectations about what your job will entail. They may include, but are not limited to the following:

Holding TA hours
Grading programs and written assignments
Writing/revising handouts for assignments
Working on lecture slides
Preparing support code, sample code or demos of programs
Attending class
Writing/revising supplemental material for the class
Copying slides, handouts, etc

What TAing does not mean

Just because you are now a TA, you are not a slave to the department, the class, or the professor for whom you are TAing. You are not expected to do work for your professor outside the scope of the class you are ta'ing (unless, of course, you'd really like to). You are also not expected to ignore all your other classes to focus on TAing. While you are expected to spend a certain number of hours a week working on your class, and this should be enough to make sure that the class runs smoothly and you meet all your requirements as outlined by the HTAs, you should not feel that the class is ruining your college experience. If this happens, there is a problem, and you should let your head TAs and the meta-TA know.

Where you fit in the larger picture

As a UTA, you are teaching a group of students, and are being managed by your HTAs. These HTAs have been hired to play a more administrative than teaching role. They will hold meetings, mediate grading, outline what needs to be done and generally keep the class running smoothly. They should also serve as a liaison to the faculty member (although, as a TA, you should feel comfortable talking to the course's teacher). If you feel there are problems, or if you are uncomfortable with your role in the course, you should talk to your HTAs. You should also feel free to go to the MetaTA about any issues. The MetaTA is the HTA for the department, and will help with any questions or concerns you have.

Payment

We always hope that people are TAing because they love it, and not for the money. Nonetheless, money is an important factor. As a TA, you are paid a fixed sum, parts of which will arrive in your box every 2 weeks. This fixed rate is calculated based on of 10 hours of course work per week.

In conclusion

With all of this said, you are part of an exciting program, and a member of a team that consists of dozens of other students. Welcome to the TA program!

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