Effective Spring 2023, all students who are assisting with classes will be appointed as Teaching Assistants (rather than hired as Course Assistants, as has been the case for some in recent years). Faculty will be able to hire one TA per course section.
- PhD students will be appointed in a category the University refers to as “TA.” As noted in the PhD handbook, these students are advised not to take on more than one TAship in their first year, two in their second year, and four in subsequent years. Exceptions to this limit may be granted by the Vice Dean of Research.
- Master’s-level students (whether in MS programs or MBA programs) will be appointed as TA II’s. These students are required to be full-time students, and - in order to allow them to focus on their study - can take on no more than one course each term.
- (There may be limited cases - for example, a student who is assisting with a limited number of hours of grading - where a student may be hired as a casual Course Assistant, but we expect these situations to be rare.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What course support can a TA provide?
Canvas Management and Operational Support
- Upload, organize, and maintain calendar, files, and assignment information in Canvas
- Send announcements about upcoming assignments or classes
- Administer assignments, quizzes, and polls
- Coordinate requests with Divisional/Center administrators, including printing requests
- Handle arrangements for guest speakers
In-Class Assistance
- Track attendance
- Track participation (it is recommended that you provide a rubric so that you and your TA are aligned on what good participation looks like based on quantity and quality)
- Facilitate, support, and assist students in small group or independent work
- Master's-level students may not provide instruction of new material
Student Support
- Conduct review sessions
- Hold office hours (ideally scheduled at a different time than the professor's)
- Collect feedback from students about how the course is going and pass along suggestions to the professor
- Provide feedback to professor about what students seem to understand and not understand
Grading Support (Note: Best practice is use of a transparent rubric created by professor)
- Grade problem sets, assignments, quizzes, exams and polls (Note: TAs should not be enrolled as students in the course, except for rare exceptions as described below. When an exception is granted and a TA is also enrolled as a student in the course, they are strictly prohibited from assisting faculty with any course grading.)
- Provide feedback to students on their submissions
- Communicate grades and feedback to students
- Calculate final grades
- Calculate weighted average student scores based on course grading mix
- Recommend grades based on CBS curve
- Note: Faculty have final decisions on grades and submit grades via SSOL.
How do I identify and select a TA?
TAs should not be enrolled simultaneously in the course for which they are providing assistance. One exception to this rule is Global Immersion Program (GIP) courses, in which a single TA is expected to arrange and take part in global travel. In certain cases, faculty may petition the Senior Vice Dean for Curriculum and Programs to hire a TA who is enrolled as a student in the course. In cases of simultaneous enrollment, TAs are strictly prohibited from assisting faculty with any course grading. Outside of the requirements above, faculty may determine their own criteria to select their TAs (provided the individual is a current Columbia University graduate student). Often, faculty recruit students who have previously done well in the course. Additionally, CBS Human Resources provides all faculty with a list of students who have expressed interest in serving as a TA for the upcoming semester. This list includes contact information (name, degree program, email address, phone number) and areas of interest.
We highly recommend interviewing your prospective TA to explain your expectations of the role and make sure they have the skills, capacity, and commitment to follow through. If your TA will be providing student support and/or grading, it is especially important to make sure they have the requisite subject matter knowledge to do so.
When and how do I hire my TA for the next term?
It is strongly encouraged that you identify your TA as early as possible. Prior to the start of each term, HR notifies faculty of hiring deadlines. Once you have selected the TA for your course, please send the student information to your Division Administrator who will update CourseDog. HR will work directly with the student to complete the necessary hiring paperwork.
Recent legislation from both New York State and New York City mandates all employers in the state to require their employees to complete annual anti-sexual harassment training. TAs are also required to complete this training; as such, it is important that they be identified and their paperwork processed as early as possible. Early identification and hiring will also ensure that they are included in notifications about the online TA training module in Canvas. Again, contact HR with hiring-related questions: [email protected].
Once hired, how should I onboard my TA?
Once formally hired, meet with your TA at least two weeks before your first class session to clearly set expectations and agree on how you will stay aligned. Additionally, you can encourage your TA to complete the online training module in Canvas (offered by the Samberg Institute).
My TA went above and beyond to support the students and ensure their academic success. How can I nominate them for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award?
Who do I contact if I have additional questions?
If you have additional questions email HR: [email protected].