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Graduate Teaching Assistants

Assist department chairperson, faculty members, or other professional staff members in college or university by performing teaching or teaching-related duties, such as teaching lower level courses, developing teaching materials, preparing and giving examinations, and grading examinations or papers. Graduate assistants must be enrolled in a graduate school program. Graduate assistants who primarily perform non-teaching duties, such as laboratory research, should be reported in the occupational category related to the work performed.

Other names for Graduate Teaching Assistants: Graduate Assistant, Graduate Fellow, Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Instructor, Proctor, Research Assistant (RA), Teaching Assistant (TA), Teaching Fellow,

What do Graduate Teaching Assistants do?

  • Lead discussion sections, tutorials, and laboratory sections.
  • Evaluate and grade examinations, assignments, and papers, and record grades.
  • Return assignments to students in accordance with established deadlines.
  • Schedule and maintain regular office hours to meet with students.
  • Inform students of the procedures for completing and submitting class work such as lab reports.
  • Prepare and proctor examinations.
  • Notify instructors of errors or problems with assignments.
  • Meet with supervisors to discuss students' grades, and to complete required grade-related paperwork.
  • Copy and distribute classroom materials.
  • Demonstrate use of laboratory equipment, and enforce laboratory rules.
  • Teach undergraduate level courses.
  • Complete laboratory projects prior to assigning them to students so that any needed modifications can be made.
  • Develop teaching materials such as syllabi, visual aids, answer keys, supplementary notes, and course websites.
  • Provide assistance to faculty members or staff with laboratory or field research.
  • Arrange for supervisors to conduct teaching observations; meet with supervisors to receive feedback about teaching performance.
  • Attend lectures given by the instructor whom they are assisting.
  • Order or obtain materials needed for classes.
  • Provide instructors with assistance in the use of audiovisual equipment.
  • Assist faculty members or staff with student conferences.