Teaching Assistantship

Each term the ECE department hires Teaching Assistants (TA's) to assist with course work, teaching, and aid students with their comprehension of course materials. Typical TA duties include tutoring, marking, laboratory/project assistance, holding office hours for student inquiries, proctoring exams, and other duties assigned by the instructor or department.

TA eligibility

TA Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for and hold a TA position in the first round of applications, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Will be an active, full-time on-campus MASc or PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the term of the TAship.
  • No more than 1 previous TA infraction
  • Completed Expectations Teaching Assistant Training, or will be enrolled in Expectations at the time of application and will have successfully complete the training by the beginning of term in which you will hold TA position
  • Note: M.Eng. and M.Eng. Co-op students are not eligible to apply in round 1 but may be considered to fill vacant positions in round 2. M.Eng. and M.Eng. Co-op students are not required to take the ExpecTAtions Workshop.

Additionally, to be eligible to apply in the first round of applications students must meet the following program specific criteria at the time of application:

M.A.Sc. Students

  • Have an overall average of 75% or more. If a student has not completed any courses, then they meet this requirement.
  • Are in terms 1 to 5 of their academic program.

Ph.D. Students

  • Have an overall average of 78% or more. If a student has not completed any courses, then they meet this requirement.
  • Are in terms 1 to 14 of their academic program.
  • If they are in term 5 or more, then they have passed the PhD Comprehensive Background Exam.
  • If they are in term 8 or more, then they have passed the PhD Comprehensive Proposal Exam.
  • If they are in term 11 or more, then they have passed the PhD Seminar Milestone.

Direct Entry Ph.D. Students

  • Have an overall average of 78% or more. If a student has not completed any courses, then they meet this requirement.
  • Are in terms 1 to 17 of their academic program.
  • If they are in term 6 or more, then they have passed the PhD Comprehensive Background Exam.
  • If they are in term 9 or more, then they have passed the PhD Comprehensive Proposal Exam.
  • If they are in term 12 or more, then they have passed the PhD Seminar Milestone.

TA Selection Process

TA Selection Process

Available TA positions are assigned through a multiple stage process. Students who are eligible to apply in round 1 will receive an e-mail with instructions when applications open. Eligible students have approximately 2 weeks to apply to their top 3 courses of interest.

Before applying applicants must ensure they meet the eligibility criteria or will not be able to accept a TA contract.

Once you have submitted your application you will receive an automatic e-mail indicating your application was received. If you do not receive the automatic e-mail please contact the Academic Services Coordinator (https://uwaterloo.ca/electrical-computer-engineering/contacts?title=&group[59]=59https://uwaterloo.ca/electrical-computer-engineering/contacts?title=&group[59]=59)

Waitlist

Waitlist

A waitlist is created at the end of round 1. If you applied to TA positions and were not selected you will be automatically added to the waitlist. Students who were ineligible in round 1 may be added to the round 2 waitlist.

There is no deadline for contracts to be issued in round 2. Instructors may hire TAs at any point throughout the term. If an instructor would like to hire you, you will be contacted directly from the instructor or the Academic Services Coordinator. Please note we do not keep a running list of available TA positions.

Requirements and Responsibilities

Requirements and Responsibilities

The TA contract outlines the requirements and responsibilities. Please read the contract thoroughly. Your instructor will give you your specific responsibilities for the term.

Failing to Meet TA Requirements

If you fail to meet the requirements of your TA contract or the responsibilities given by your instructor you may be issued a TA infraction. Upon receiving a TA infraction you will be issued a TA demerit point. If you receive 1 demerit point you will be prevented from holding a TA position in the following term. If you receive 2 demerit points you will be prevented from applying to the TA cycle for the remainder of your program.

If you only receive 1 demerit point and do not receive any further infractions the next term you receive a TA position, the demerit point will be removed from your TA record.

Potential causes of TA infractions:

  • Failing to show up and perform assigned duty as acceptable to the course and/or lab instructor (e.g. proctoring assignment, tutorial delivery, marking assignment, etc.) without acceptable documentation
  • Signing a contract initially and then resigning without acceptable reasons

If you have received a TA infraction you will have the opportunity to appeal the infraction if you wish to contest the decision. If you would like to appeal the demerit point please notify the Academic Services Coordinator.

Next Steps

After you have accepted your contract please reach out to the instructor to coordinate the details of your TA position. If this is your first TA position you will receive an e-mail prompting you to set up your Workday account and payment details sometime during your first month in the position.

Have further questions? Please contact the Electrical and Computer Engineering Academic Services Coordinator:

 https://uwaterloo.ca/electrical-computer-engineering/contacts?title=&group[59]=59