Scope

IU Indianapolis, IU Columbus, IU Fort Wayne

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Policy Statement

The Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) expects all departments and schools on campus to adhere to the following guidelines regarding the appointment of undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in teaching roles (e.g., primary instructors, associate instructors/teaching assistants, recitation leaders, graders, laboratory assistants, classroom facilitators).

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Procedures

1. Departments and schools should notify all students with teaching roles of their assigned teaching duties in a timely fashion, and not less than one week prior to the start of each academic semester.¹ All graduate student instructors should be issued a letter of appointment, which clearly specifies the average number of work hours per week (and the percentage of FTE) the position carries, as well as a written description of the job, benefits for which the instructor is eligible, and a supervisor’s name and contact information. In units where assignments are consistent across courses, appointees should receive a standard description of the category (e.g., grader or lab assistant). Insofar as particular categories of appointment entail different workloads in different courses (e.g., grader in a large lecture course versus a smaller discussion section), appointees should receive a description of their duties in the specific course, or courses to which they are
2. Departments and schools should require students who are in their first year of teaching to complete the hybrid TA Orientation, which includes an online Canvas course with modules and quizzes (students can register anytime) and an in-person orientation (held annually in mid-August). This training is essential to ensure that all students with teaching responsibilities have adequate preparation and resources.² Orientation topics include standards of the student code of conduct, code of academic ethics, evidence-based and inclusive teaching practices, policies on harassment and discrimination (including reporting), campus resources to promote information literacy and student well-being, and access to technology and teaching tools. The online component also includes resources for international students.
3. While orientation attendance is required in the first year of teaching, departments and schools may also require that students attend annually in order to refine and deepen their teaching practice. Additionally, departments and schools should encourage students to attend teaching workshops and events offered by the Center for Teaching and Learning, Graduate Office, within their home department, and from other campus offices.
4. Departments and schools should ensure that all student instructors have access to accommodations (as needed) and essential resources to ensure effective communication with their students and the timely preparation of class materials (e.g., email, computer and technology, assigned texts and course materials, Canvas course shell).

Footnotes:

1. In emergency situations, an academic unit may need to make changes with short notice in the schedule or assignment of student teaching assistants or instructors. In those rare cases, units should communicate any changes to students engaged in teaching as soon as possible.
2. The campus English proficiency and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) requirements stand independent of this orientation.

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