Graduate students ordinarily teach two out of three terms in the academic year, with the third term being a scholarship term. Your teaching position is an integral part of your term funding for two of those three terms.
You can indicate which terms you’d prefer to teach and your preferences will be noted, but teaching assignments are primarily made based on department needs and student enrolment, so your assignments may not correspond to your term preferences. If you receive external funding (such as a SSHRC or OGS award), you may teach fewer terms in a year.
Refusing a teaching position or failing to complete a teaching assignment during your non-scholarship term can lead to the loss not only of the payment directly associated with your teaching, but of other parts of your term funding package. If you think you may have to refuse a teaching position or if you have any questions about how your teaching affects your graduate funding, contact the Graduate Coordinator.