Undergraduate Teaching Assistantships

Undergraduate Teaching Assistantships (UTA)

Undergraduate Teaching Assistantships provide qualified students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of a subject, develop leadership and communication skills, and gain valuable teaching experience while supporting faculty and fellow students.

UTA positions are available in select departments and courses. Undergraduate Teaching Assistants may assist with activities such as facilitating discussions, holding office hours, supporting course logistics, leading review sessions, and helping students navigate course material under the supervision of a faculty member.

Guidelines and Eligibility 

  • To be eligible for a UTA position, a student must be a junior or senior (have earned at least 57 credits). 
  • To serve as a UTA, a student must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. 
  • Faculty may request exceptions to these requirements from the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies. 

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants should follow the rules/guidelines established by the faculty instructor of the course. The information and suggestions presented here are intended to supplement the specific instructions you have already received. Make sure you clearly understand your duties and responsibilities. If you have questions, ask for clarification from your faculty instructor.

General Policies 

  • Harpur students may take no more than 8 credits of teaching practica. 
  • UTAs should be selected prior to the semester in which they will teach. 
  • UTAs should have taken and excelled in the course (or its equivalent) that they will be teaching. 
  • UTAs should be in good academic standing. 
  • UTA training will be provided by the supervising department or instructor. 
  • Duties and responsibilities of the UTA should be clearly spelled out by the department or instructor, including the need to keep student records, including grades, confidential. 
  • Evaluations of the UTA should be conducted regularly by the department or instructor. 
  • UTAs should not receive stipends and credit compensation in the same semester. 
  • UTA grading should be limited to objective material; UTAs should not be determining grades.

Interacting with Students 

  • Take the time to learn the names of your students. 
  • If you are expected to hold office hours, make sure students know where and when to find you. Let students know they are welcome and that office hours are open to anyone. 
  • Be as approachable and helpful as possible when helping students, but don't hesitate to admit you can't answer a question. There's nothing wrong with saying you will find out and get back to them. If you can't help them with an academic question, refer them to the faculty instructor. 
  • Remember to keep in mind the diversity of students attending 91社区. Students vary in cultural or national background, level of academic ability, and level of maturity. Be sensitive to these differences in your interactions with students.

Addressing Problems 

  • If you are interacting with a student troubled by a serious academic or personal problem, talk it over with the instructor of the course. Do not attempt to deal with it on your own. Refer the student to the instructor or to Harpur Academic Advising. 
  • If you suspect a student of cheating on a test or plagiarizing a paper, immediately report it to the faculty instructor. 
  • If you feel pressured by a student to reveal the questions on a test, immediately speak with the faculty instructor. 
  • If a student with a non-academic problem approaches you for help, please talk with the faculty instructor to find appropriate resources.