TA Assignment Forms
CS TA Assignment Team
The CS TA Assignment Team is a shared effort between ISG and the CS Graduate Office. The team works to ensure that CS courses are staffed by appropriate TAs/IAs and that eligible graduate students are receiving their TA positions in a clear and fair way.
Due to the size of the School's undergraduate population, there are 250-450 TA units to assign each term across 40-50 courses. Each course covers different topics and specific research areas may lend themselves better to specific courses.
The CS TA Assignment Team itself is small and the work is only made possible through cooperation from graduate students, graduate supervisors, and instructors. We ask that you keep a look out for our emails each month.
TA eligibility
To be eligible to TA, graduate students must be enrolled with a full-time course load and on-campus for the duration that they are TAing. TA eligibility is determined by the CS Graduate Office. Students who are eligible are guaranteed a TA unit assuming that they fill out the TA preference form and sign their TA contracts.
Over-eligible MMath and PhD students
MMath and PhD students who have completed their TA unit requirements or have gone over their time limit are not guaranteed TA units. TA positions for these students are only possible if eligible TAs have all been assigned and a surplus of TA positions are available.
MDSAI students, MMath coursework students
MMath Coursework and MDSAI students are not guaranteed a TA position. These students are welcome to complete the TA preference form and may be contacted if there is a surplus of TA positions available.
The MDSAI program is academically demanding and time intensive. For these reasons, MDSAI students are not encouraged to apply for a TA position unless they are strongly confident that they can manage an additional 80 hours of work during the term that is expected of a TA unit.
Questions?
Timeline for Fall 2024 TA assignments
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2024
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Jun
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Supervisor buyouts + instructor preferences
Graduate supervisors are to complete the Grad Office's TA supervisor buyout form.
CS Instructors are also to submit requests for specific TAs or notes for what skills/duties the TAs should have for their course.
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TA preferences forms
All grad students are expected to complete the TA preference form so that the team has an understanding of your eligibility, your course preferences, your duty preferences, and any relevant background information.
Preferences are not guaranteed due to TA eligibility issues, but all submissions will be considered.
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Jul
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TA Assignment Team
Around this time is when ISCs will determine suitable Instructional Apprentices (IA) based on instructor input and TA preferences forms.
The CS TA Assignment Team will then compile the list of eligible TAs, and based on all TA preferences and instructor/ISC requests, begin to assign grads to suitable CS courses.
Factors that come into play are not just preferences but previous TA experiences, research backgrounds relating to course content, the number of TAs assigned, etc.
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Tentative TA assignment period
All graduate students and instructors are shown their tentative assignments on Odyssey, showing the number of TA units, the courses assigned, and whether or not a student has declined their TA or been bought out.
Both sides have a week or so to email concerns to the CS TA Assignment Team or Grad Office. All inquiries are considered but only reasonable requests can be accommodated at this time.
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Aug
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Finalized TA assignment period
Within 2 weeks of the tentative TA assignment period, any adjustments or updates are made on Odyssey. Students are to confirm their assigned units + position for the next term.
Instructors/ISCs may begin to reach out to their assigned TAs/IAs to determine expectations for the upcoming term.
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TA contracts issued
To accept a TA position and receive TA funding, students are required to sign their TA contracts made available online.
Instructors/ISCs will also provide TA agreement forms to finalize TA expectations and duties.
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Jun