Supervisory/Evaluative Process for Graduate Teaching Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants and Graduate Assistants

Transcription

1 Supervisory/Evaluative Process for Graduate Teaching Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants and Graduate Assistants Graduate Teaching Assistants Graduate teaching assistants (TA s) must hold a minimum of a masters degree in the field to be the teacher of record in an undergraduate course. TA s without masters degrees may also assist faculty in the teaching of undergraduate or graduate courses. This can be done on the undergraduate level by assisting faculty in gathering information for the teaching of a course, leading smaller group study sessions that meet between large lecture sections, proctoring examinations, writing items for multiple choice examinations, and grading examinations. TA s for graduate courses may assist instructors by helping in gathering information for the teaching of a course (e.g., literature searchers), assisting in the set-up for a course, and running equipment (e.g., equipment in a GSAM s room) for the professor. Supervision TA s who are instructors of record will be assigned a supervisor by the chair of the department housing the course. The supervisor is to meet with the TA and review his/her course outline before the semester begins. The supervisor will meet with the TA at least four times during the semester to facilitate her/his success during the course. Among the topics to be covered with the TA are effective teaching strategies, ethical issues in teaching, and effective assessment techniques. The supervisor will also sit in on at least one class meeting during each of the first two semesters the TA teaches to provide helpful hints for their teaching and provide a written assessment of teaching effectiveness. TA s assisting instructors in large courses will be supervised by the instructor teaching the course. After an initial orientation meeting, s/he will meet with his/her supervisees several times during the semester to enhance her/his effectiveness. Topics to be covered with TA s are effective teaching strategies, ethical issues in teaching, and effective assessment techniques. TA s assisting instructors in smaller classes will meet with the instructor several times during the semester to determine their effectiveness with assigned tasks. It is expected that the supervisor s behavior will be professional and ethical at all times when interacting with a TA. Evaluation Evaluation of TA s who are teachers of record will occur by having students in their course(s) evaluate them the same as they do other instructors. TA s for large sections that teach smaller group sections will be evaluated in this manner as well. Other TA s will be evaluated on the following questionnaire:

2 GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR RATING FORM Name of Graduate Teaching Assistant Term Year Instructions: Evaluate the Graduate Teaching Assistant s (TA) job performance by circling a number from 1-5 on the scale below. 1 represents Poor while 5 stands for Excellent. No Inf stands for No Information. Part I 1. Completes assigned duties satisfactorily No Inf 2. Works well independently No Inf 3. Is ethical and professional in behavior No Inf 4. Shows initiative No Inf 5. Communicates effectively No Inf 6. Is an effective teacher as evaluated by her/his No Inf supervisor (attach written evaluation) 7. Overall rating of job performance No Inf Please give any additional feedback here: Supervisor Teaching Assistant Date evaluation given to teaching assistant: Please provide the TA with a copy of this form, keep one for your records, and send one to Ms. Dianne Smith of the Graduate Office.

3 Graduate Research Assistants Graduate research assistants (GRA s) assist faculty in research by conducting literature reviews, collecting data, running experiments, maintaining equipment necessary for research, and completing other tasks directly related to research projects. Supervision The supervisor is to meet with the GRA and review her/his duties before the semester begins or before there is any change in assigned duties. The supervisor will meet with the GRA periodically to endure that assignments are being completed in a satisfactory manner. In relation with student researchers, supervisors should be fair and nonexploitative. Supervisors have a duty to supervise and support the student researcher and inform her/him of the ethical dimensions of research and requirements of approvals and standards for dealing with human subjects. Supervisors should not discriminate among student researchers on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, or other irrelevant factors. Supervisors should be collaborative with their student researcher and should be prepared to appropriately credit he creative contributions of student researchers to intellectual works intended for presentation or publication. It is improper to use positions of authority to appropriate the works of others or to claim credit for it. Supervisors should ensure that those in subordinate positions receive fair authorship credit. Evaluation GRA s will be evaluated on the following questionnaire:

4 GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR RATING FORM Name of Graduate Research Assistant Term Year Instructions: Evaluate the Graduate Research Assistant s (TA) job performance by circling a number from 1-5 on the scale below. 1 represents Poor while 5 stands for Excellent. No Inf stands for No Information. Part I 1. Completes assigned duties satisfactorily No Inf 2. Works well independently No Inf 3. Is ethical and professional in behavior No Inf 4. Shows initiative No Inf 5. Communicates effectively No Inf 6. Is an effective researcher as evaluated by her/his No Inf supervisor (attach written evaluation) 7. Overall rating of job performance No Inf Please give any additional feedback here: Supervisor Research Assistant Date evaluation given to research assistant: Please provide the GRA with a copy of this form, keep one for your records, and send one to Ms. Dianne Smith of the Graduate Office.

5 Graduate Assistants Graduate assistants (GA s) engage in a number of different tasks including serving as receptionists, working as child care workers, working in the teaching materials center, and serving as records clerks. While their duties are varied, a common expectation is that they will perform their tasks in a competent and professional manner and will receive ethical and professional treatment from their supervisors. Supervision The supervisor is to meet with the GA and review her/his duties before the semester begins or before any changes in assigned duties. The supervisor will meet with the GA periodically to ensure that assignments are being completed in a satisfactory manner. Every effort should be made to make the GA s activities effective and productive for the department awarding the assistantship but also, where possible, educational for the GA. Evaluation GA s will be evaluated on the following questionnaire:

6 GRADUATE ASSISTANT SUPERVISOR RATING FORM Name of Graduate Assistant Term Year Instructions: Evaluate the Graduate Assistant s (GA) job performance by circling a number from 1-5 on the scale below. 1 represents Poor while 5 stands for Excellent. No Inf stands for No Information. Part I 8. Completes assigned duties satisfactorily No Inf 9. Works well independently No Inf 10. Is ethical and professional in behavior No Inf 11. Shows initiative No Inf 12. Communicates effectively No Inf 13. Is an effective assistant as evaluated by her/his No Inf supervisor (attach written evaluation) 14. Overall rating of job performance No Inf Please give any additional feedback here: Supervisor Graduate Assistant Date evaluation given to graduate assistant: Please provide the GA with a copy of this form, keep one for your records, and send one to Ms. Dianne Smith of the Graduate Office.