Performance in this category will be assessed by he Director of Undergraduate Studies with input from the corresponding instructor of record. See also Appendix

The task of teaching large numbers of students is one which requires the coordinated efforts of many people; the lecturer, the laboratory and discussion instructors, technicians, the students, and several others. As members of this group, the Teaching Assistants should cooperate with the others in the teaching process and in its evaluation, review and improvement. By doing so, they will contribute to their own development as well as to the effective functioning of the Physics program and the University of Minnesota.

As a member of the teaching staff, the Teaching Assistant’s primary responsibility is in helping the School of Physics and Astronomy provide its students with as rewarding and challenging an exposure to physics as possible. This means responsibilities both to the undergraduate enrolled in the TA’s classes and to the other members of the staff with whom he/she works. An important obligation is the need for the Teaching Assistant to meet his/her laboratory sessions, recitations sections, office hours, proctoring assignments, and instructional team meetings promptly and reliably.

To make the interactions with his/her students as effective as possible, the TA is expected to familiarize himself/herself thoroughly with the subject being studied, the laboratory equipment and procedure, and/or the problems assigned for recitation sections. This includes attendance at all meetings of the course team of which the TA is a member. The TA is also expected to participate in all training sessions offered by the School, either before the beginning of classes or while classes are in session. Mentor TAs are here to help you become a better TA. See the mentor TAs if you have questions or concerns.

To help students improve their performance, it is important that material handed in be evaluated carefully and returned promptly. Grades should be determined with care and recorded accurately and by the deadline established by the faculty for the course.

Each laboratory instructor should see that his/her students take reasonable care of the equipment they use, and he/she should endeavor to leave the laboratory facilities in good condition for use by the following class. He/she should report to the laboratory technician equipment which does not function properly. Equipment problem requests can be emailed directly to labhelp@physics.umn.edu

The preferred method for submitting introductory lab problems/questions is through the labhelp system on every lab computer. There is an icon/link on each desktop that allows problems to be submitted by students and TAs when logged in with their x.500. The lab instructor also can mail directly to labhelp@physics.umn.edu

Since the general development and improvement of our courses is influenced by the response of the students, the Teaching Assistants are encouraged to be aware of the reaction of the students to the teaching of the course and to share this information with the supervising faculty members and colleagues. To facilitate this exchange of information, Teaching Assistants must attend the periodic meetings of those concerned with each course.

• Satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree Once annually (typically in May) the student must submit an “Annual Review of Progress” online. The report needs to be approved by the adviser of record, and by the Director of Graduate Studies. With their concurrence, the student will be deemed to be “making satisfactory progress toward the degree”. See also Requirements for satisfactory progress in the graduate program.

School policy also requires that students beyond one year from the Oral exam that request TA support need to convene their oral committee at least once a year, and make a presentation about their research progress (Requirements for satisfactory progress in the graduate program ).