Teaching Assistants shall be offered appointments and re-appointments in the following ways:

• New graduate students: The Director of Graduate Studies, upon recommendation by the Graduate Admissions and Recruiting Committee, shall offer teaching assistant positions to students in this category for a one-year term, renewable for the second year subject to satisfactory performance of duties and satisfactory progress toward a degree in physics.

• Re-appointments: Offers of re-appointment shall be made by the Director of Undergraduate Studies after consultation with, and on the recommendation of a student’s graduate advisor, and the Director of Graduate Studies. The term of the appointment offered shall be established in consultation with the student and his/her advisor, and is contingent upon the availability of funds.

• Preference for junior students: A student in his/her second or later year of graduate study may request an appointment as a teaching assistant for a specified length of time. Depending on the availability of funds, preference will generally be given to more junior students in our program, or to those in need of bridging funds in their RA appointment.

• Students enrolled in other graduate programs: Students enrolled in graduate programs outside of the School of Physics and Astronomy may be employed as teaching assistants in Physics or Astronomy under the terms of this policy statement but with the following modifications:
  • Appointments and re-appointments normally will not be offered to such students when qualified Physics and Astronomy graduates are available to fill the positions. The duration of such appointments and re-appointments shall be arranged for one or two semesters to match the teaching needs of the School of Physics and Astronomy. Such appointments and re-appointments will be contingent upon written certification by the department or program in which the student is enrolled that he/she is making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree. It shall be the responsibility of the prospective teaching assistant to insure that this written certification is provided to the School of Physics and Astronomy.