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Teaching Assistantships

Most math grad students are supported as Teaching Assistants (TAs). If you are a graduate student outside of the Math Department, we accept applications typically spring through summer for positions the next academic year.  There is no guarantee we will have available positions for those outside of Mathematics. The application to be in the TA applicant pool for AUT 2024 will be closing on July 31, 2024. 

Note: Due to TA training schedules, we only hire non-Math TAs for autumn, if any positions are available.  Those hired may be eligible to be rehired for Winter or Spring of that academic year.  We do not hire new TAs (meaning those without Math TA training) for any quarter other than autumn.

Compensation

TA compensation comes from two sources: base TA salaries, and supplementary awards or fellowships.

Beginning TAs receive a base salary; see the University's Graduate Student Service Appointment Salary Schedule for current salaries: click on "Regular (Non-Variable Rate) TA/RA/SA Salary Schedule", and math TAs are paid on "Schedule #1". TAs also receive a waiver of tuition, except for approximately $450 per quarter in required fees. 

Appointment Renewals

Renewals of TA/RA appointments are decided upon by the Graduate Program Committee during May for the following academic year. Renewal decisions are based on a student's satisfactory academic progress towards a degree as well as teaching effectiveness, as evaluated by the Teaching Assistant Supervisory Committee.

Promotions

Initial appointments are generally made at the TA level. Promotions to Predoctoral Teaching Associate I (PDTA I) are granted to students who satisfy the following criteria:

  • complete at least five quarters of core courses.  If core courses are completed in a Spring quarter, the promotion takes effect in Autumn.

Students entering the PhD program with a master's degree from a previous institution, are paid at the PDTA I level.

Students who pass their general exam are promoted to Predoctoral Teaching Associate II (PDTA II).

Promotions take effect at the beginning of the quarter following the date that the requirements are satisfied.

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

Washington state law and University (UW) policy prohibits the UW from hiring candidates for staff and graduate student employment who do not complete and sign a sexual misconduct declaration prior to their start of employment.

TA Job Descriptions

If you recently received your quarterly assignment, please accept the assignment at this form.

To find the schedule details of your TA assignment, you should visit my.uw.edu.  You will find job descriptions below for your assignment.  Please proactively reach out to your faculty supervisor for additional duties and check-in regarding expectations.

All positions are a 50% FTE appointment as a teaching assistant in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Washington. The dates of appointment are:

Autumn: September 16 - December 15
Winter: December 16 - March 15
Spring: March 16 - June 15
Summer (teaching/TA): June 16 - August 15

It is expected that you will work a maximum of 220 hours per quarter, as detailed in Article 35 ‐ Workload of
the collective bargaining agreement.

The University calendar governs the work of all bargaining unit members as described in Article 35, section 7 of the UAW ASE contract.  You are expected to be available for the duration of your appointment and academic quarter of your assignment.  For instructional dates and final exam period, please consult the academic calendar.   If you need to be absent for any portion of the instructional or final exam period (including grading), you must request this time off from your faculty supervisor.  See below for details on absences. 

Math 111/112

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students. Each quiz section will have approximately 40 students. TA duties are described here:

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Assist students with homework and quiz/exam preparation during The Lab (quiz section) and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week (see office hour policy below).
  • Grading: This will include grading exams/quizzes and responding to regrade requests.
  • Administrative Support: Assist in proof-reading worksheets, quizzes, and exams. Proctor exams and quizzes, including the final exam according to the final exam schedule and University academic calendar.
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail and discussion board posts, attend instructor/TA meetings, and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis.
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf).
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Math 120

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students. Each quiz section will have approximately 30-40 students. TA duties are described here:

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Conduct quiz section meetings and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week, at least one of which must be in the Math Study Center (see office hour policy below).
  • Grading: This will include grading exams/quizzes/group worksheets, responding to regrade requests, and maintaining grading records.
  • Administrative Support: Assist in writing and proof-reading worksheets, quizzes, and exams. Proctor exams and quizzes, including the final exam according to the final exam schedule and University academic calendar.
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail and discussion board posts, attend instructor/TA meetings, and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis.
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf).
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Math 124

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students.  This is especially important if you are TAing for a hybrid section (where lectures are remote and quiz sections are in-person).  Each quiz section will have approximately 30 students. TA duties are described here: 

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Conduct quiz section meetings and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week, at least one of which must be in the Math Study Center (see office hour policy below).
  • Grading: This will include grading exams/quizzes, responding to regrade requests, and maintaining grading records.
  • Administrative Support: Assist in proof-reading worksheets, quizzes, and exams. Proctor exams and quizzes, including the final exam according to the final exam schedule and University academic calendar.
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail and discussion board posts, attend weekly meetings of all Math 124 TAs scheduled for Mondays from 4:00pm to 5:00pm (Autumn & Winter quarters only), and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis. 
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf). 
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Math 125

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students. This is especially important if you are TAing for a hybrid section (where lectures are remote and quiz sections are in-person).  Each quiz section will have approximately 30 students. TA duties are described here:

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Conduct quiz section meetings and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week, at least one of which must be in the Math Study Center (see office hour policy below).
  • Grading: This will include grading exams/quizzes, responding to regrade requests, and maintaining grading records.
  • Administrative Support: Assist in proof-reading worksheets, quizzes, and exams. Proctor exams and quizzes, including the final exam according to the final exam schedule and University academic calendar. 
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail and discussion board posts, attend weekly meetings of all Math 125 TAs scheduled for Mondays from 4:00pm to 5:00pm (Autumn & Winter quarters only), and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis. 
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf).
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Math 126

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students. This is especially important if you are TAing for a hybrid section (where lectures are remote and quiz sections are in-person).  Each quiz section will have approximately 30-40 students. TA duties are described here:

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Conduct quiz section meetings and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week, at least one of which must be in the Math Study Center (see office hour policy below).
  • Grading: This will include grading exams/quizzes/group worksheets, responding to regrade requests, and maintaining grading records.
  • Administrative Support: Assist in proof-reading worksheets, quizzes, and exams. Proctor exams and quizzes, including the final exam according to the final exam schedule and University academic calendar.
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail and discussion board posts, attend instructor/TA meetings, and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis. 
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf).
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Math 134/334

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students. 

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Conduct one quiz section meeting for no more than 40 students and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week.
  • Grading: This will include grading weekly homework and maintain grading records.
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail, attend instructor/TA meetings, and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis. 
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf).
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Math 200-level (207/208/224) TA

You'll be responsible for knowing the class structure and rules, being familiar with the class website, and understanding how the material is presented to students. You will have approximately 120 students.

  • Quiz Sections & Office Hours: Conduct quiz section meetings, if any, and hold regular office hours for 2 hours per week.
  • Grading: This will include scoring exams and quizzes, responding to regrade requests, and maintaining grading records.  Some 200-level courses require grading weekly homework.
  • Administrative Support: Proctor exams, including the final exam according to the final exam schedule and University academic calendar.
  • Communication: Respond to course related e-mail and discussion board posts, attend instructor/TA meetings, and maintain communication with instructor on a regular basis. 
  • Evaluations: Monitor student evaluations (set up by the department on your behalf).
  • Other: The instructor may occasionally assign other course-related duties as they arise.

Pre-doctoral Instructor

You are assigned to teach your own course this quarter.  Your duties for the quarter include all aspects of teaching. This includes such things as preparing and delivering all lectures, manage and respond to course-related e-mail, holding office hours, writing, proctoring, and grading tests and exams, maintain and assigning course grades, Monitor student evaluations for your course (the Dept. will setup evaluations on your behalf) and attending any instructor coordination meetings.  We anticipate you teaching at most 50 students; overloading your class is up to you if physical space is available, however the department does not recommend or encourage overloads.

All instructors will be required to attend instructor coordination meetings, organized by your faculty supervisor, the undergraduate program director and other faculty members.

Your union contract mandates that your title is ''Predoctoral Instructor'' when you are the primary instructor of record.  Predoctoral Instructors in Mathematics are paid at a level equal to the highest TA rank (PDTA2).  If needed, your salary has already been adjusted to reflect this title.  Questions about your payroll title and salary should be directed to Mike Munz.

The first two times you teach your own sections of courses you have not taught on your own before (even if you've taught before), you must also sign up for the one-credit Teaching Internship: (Math 597), which will
pair you with an experienced faculty advisor. Your faculty advisor will help you organize the course, offer suggestions, and help with any problems that may arise during the quarter.

Grading upper-division course

Your assignment is to grade homework papers for a Math 300-, 400- or 500-level course. You may have approximately 30-120 students. Depending on the instructor's preferences, you might also be asked to hold office hours, run problem sessions, assist with writing and/or grading (and regrading) exams, or perform other duties.  For instructional dates and final exam period, please consult the academic calendar.   If you need to be absent for any portion of the instructional or final exam period (including grading), you must request this time off from your faculty supervisor.  See below for details on absences.  You are also expected to respond to e-mail and discussion board posts from the course instructor and students in a timely manner.

Math Study Center

The Study Center was founded in 1991 to give students one-on-one help with Math 120 through 126. The Study Center is designed to be not so much a tutoring center in the traditional sense as a comfortable place and a supportive atmosphere for students to come together and work on math, in groups or individually.

Full MSC position: Tutor in the MSC as scheduled by MSC Director. You will be required to work your scheduled MSC hours, maintain communication with MSC Director, follow the MSC policies established in the MSC Handbook and attend any meetings held the MSC Director during the quarter.  You are also required to proctor for the common final which will take place on the Saturday immediately following the last day of classes for the quarter.   You may be assigned proctoring for the entire duration of common final exams (typically 12:30pm-8pm) or just one of the exam seatings.  You may proctor for students requiring disability accommodations and will liaison with UW DRS the day of the exam regarding supplies/materials needed by individual students.  You will be notified of your specific proctoring duties by week 8 of the quarter and can contact the Math Student Services office with any questions.

Half MSC position: In addition to your other assignment, you will tutor in the MSC as scheduled by MSC Director. You will be required to work your scheduled MSC hours, maintain communication with the MSC Director, follow the MSC policies established in the MSC Handbook and attend any meetings held by the MSC Director during the quarter.  You are also required to proctor for the common final which will take place on the Saturday immediately following the last day of classes for the quarter.  You may be assigned proctoring for the entire duration of common final exams (typically 12:30pm-8pm) or just one of the exam seatings.  You may proctor for students requiring disability accommodations and will liaison with UW DRS the day of the exam regarding supplies/materials needed by individual students.  You will be notified of your specific proctoring duties by week 8 of the quarter and can contact the Math Student Services office with any questions.

Instructional Center

The OMAD Instructional Center (IC) serves underrepresented students, supporting them in growing their academic skills in a variety of subject areas.  Tutor in the IC as scheduled by IC Director. You will be required to work your scheduled IC hours, maintain communication with IC Director, follow the IC policies and expectations and attend any meetings held the IC Director during the quarter. 

Lead TA & TA Mentors

The Lead TA works closely with the TA Coordinator with a variety of activities related to TA training and mentoring. This includes such things as:

  • helping to organize and run TA Orientation before the start of the quarter
  • coordinate the mentoring of as well as mentoring new TAs
  • consulting with the Center for Teaching and Learning
  • conducting observations of TAs
  • in case of emergencies, serve as the substitute for TAs, including common final
  • serve as the primary exam proctor for the make-up common final exam.  Please consult with Math Student Services office for the day/time/location of the make-up exam.

TA Mentors participate in TA orientation and other mentoring activities, including classroom observations and mentoring of new TAs. 

 TA Office Hours Policy

All 100-level TAs are expected to hold at least two scheduled office hours per week, and make appointments as necessary to meet students who have schedule conflicts with your scheduled hours. According to the Center for Teaching and Learning, "At the University of Washington, it is typical for instructors to offer two to three office hours a week." Including appointments and a few extra office hours and/or review sessions before exams, your average over the quarter should be about three hours a week.

If you are TAing for a course that is served by the Math Study Center (MSC) – 120, 124/5/6,  – you are required to schedule one office hour a week in the MSC, and strongly encouraged to schedule two there. At the MSC, you are welcome to give top priority to your own students, give next priority to other students in your lecture section, and, if you wish, help students in other sections of the same course. If no students from your course need help, you may, if you wish, help students from other courses, but only if you are acquainted with the material (e.g., if you've taught that course before). You may reserve one of the cubicles at the MSC for your office hours, or move into one if working with a group of your students or if a private conversation requires it. (Note that the cubicles have white boards.)

There are many advantages to having office hours at the MSC. Students have many sources of help there: not just you, but other students in the same course and other TAs and undergrad tutors working at the MSC. Some students use the MSC as a study hall, doing homework and getting help when they're stuck; this is more productive than working alone at home and piling up questions to ask the next day. When your office hour is over, the MSC usually is still open, so you can leave in good conscience even if some of your students still have questions. If your students need help when you don't have office hours, they'll probably go to the MSC instead of coming to your office asking "May I have an appointment right now?"

If you hold all scheduled office hours in the MSC, be especially careful that your students know they can make appointments to see you privately or in small groups in your office. (At the MSC, you can use the cubicles and sometimes the room next to the MSC director's office for more private consultations, also.) Remind the students several times throughout the quarter that it's easy to make appointments to see you outside of scheduled office hours (especially if they have conflicts with all your office hours). For instance, after midterms is a particularly good time to do so, when many students may need some individual, possibly confidential, attention.

If you find that the MSC doesn't work well for office hours for you and your students, an exception to policy may be made if the following steps are taken.

  • You've tried office hours in the MSC, and have specific reasons why you think holding all your office hours in your office would serve your students better.
  • You've talked with Matt Conroy, the director of the MSC, about possible changes in the way you use the Center to solve the problems you experience working there. (For instance, would you do better in a reserved cubicle or at a central table? With a larger/smaller cubicle? At a different time?)
  • If no adjustment can make office hours in the MSC serve your students well, ask your lecturer for permission to hold all your office hours in your office. If they agree, tell your students, the rest of your teaching team, and the MSC that you will be in your office instead of the MSC.

Sick Leave Policy

If a grad student TA is unwell and unable to teach their in-person course, they should first attempt to find a substitute. We recommend you designate 1-3 colleagues at the beginning of each quarter who you can easily/quickly contact and they are generally available during your section/course time.  If these people are not available, you should reach out to broader list serves (course TA email lists, grad student email list).  You should include your faculty supervisor on all of your communications so they are aware of the situation and may have some advice/suggestions.

For 100-level courses, in Autumn and Winter, you may contact the Lead TA as a possible substitute if you cannot find someone. You can include the Lead TA in your initial emails so as to give them as much advance notice as possible that they may be needed.

If the TA is well enough and wish to hold class on zoom, that is acceptable.  If neither of these options work, the TA should cancel the class meeting. In the event of a canceled meeting, the ASE needs to let their faculty supervisor know, and ask Mike Munz for details on how to request sick leave in Workday.

Vacation Leave Policy

Please refer to the UAW ASE Contract Article 32 - vacation for policies and procedures around taking vacation time.  The contract specifically mentions "Vacation time off shall be taken during academic quarter breaks, except when used as a Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) supplemental benefit, or as otherwise mutually agreed to by the ASE and a supervisor."  The Math Department requires any vacation time taken during the instructional or final exam period of a quarter be approved by your faculty supervisor in advance of the absence. 

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