Call for applications: LFS Advanced TA Skills Letter of Completion

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Happy end-of-term, LFS TAs! We would appreciate 3 mins of your time to tell us how the term went: https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6EV8yvTDUdvnE34

We are putting out a call for applications for those who have completed the requirements to receive the LFS Advanced TA Skills Letter of Completion!

Eligibility:

  • A TA must be a part of the LFS Faculty to receive a letter.
  • TAs must attend 5 independent advanced TA skills training opportunities to receive a letter. These training opportunities can be offered by the LFS TA Training Program, the LFS Learning Centre, The Centre for Teaching Learning and Technology (CTLT) or another recognized TA training entity at UBC.
  • Three of 5 workshops must be completed within LFS programs.
  • The 5 workshops must consist of the following content:
    • 3 workshops related to content in teaching fundamentals.
    • 1 workshop related to content in equity, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) aspects.
    • 1 workshop related to teaching theory/pedagogy.

If you have met these requirements (i.e., completed all five workshops), please email your LFS TA coordinators (lexisly@mail.ubc.ca and sbristow@student.ubc.ca) by December 13th to receive instructions to apply. It is important that TAs only enroll and submit a package when they are finished all 5 trainings.

Thanks for all your great work this term!

Questions?

Email Lexis (lexisly@mail.ubc.ca) and Steven (sbristow@student.ubc.ca)

Important: Final Grade Submission Tool Training and Support Resources for TAs

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Dear TAs,

As UBC transitions to Workday’s Final Grade Submission Tool (FGST), we encourage you to take advantage of the support and resources designed to help with grade entry.

Here’s what’s available:

  • Q&A Zoom Sessions: Interactive sessions to review processes, troubleshoot, and get real-time answers.
  • Live Troubleshooting Support: Available via email from December 9-23 for one-on-one assistance.

In the attached one-pager (see WorkdayGradeEntrySummary_LFS) you’ll find an overview of key resources, including step-by-step guides and tutorial videos.

Visit the  Resources and Support for UBC faculty and instructors webpage for session dates and times.

We strongly encourage you to participate in these sessions to ensure a smooth experience with grade submissions.

TOMORROW! Grading and Feedback workshop for graduate student

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Preparing to grade 50 essays? Marking with a teaching team? Worried about using a rubric? Gear up for grading season with the LFS TA Training Program!

We (along with the Life Sciences Institute TA Training Program) are inviting all TAs (new and returning) to a workshop Strategies for Final Exams: Grading & Feedback on Tomorrow, December 3rd at 10 am – 12 pm in Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) Room 101.

Snacks will be provided!

Register at: tinyurl.com/gradingszn

 

Questions?

Email Lexis (lexisly@mail.ubc.ca) and Steven (sbristow@student.ubc.ca)

Invitation: Grading & Assessment Workshop for Graduate Students

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Get prepped for grading season!

Life Sciences Institute and Land & Food Systems TA Training Programs are inviting all TAs (new and returning) to a workshop Strategies for Final Exams: Grading & Feedback on Tuesday, December 3rd at 10 am – 12 pm in Michael Smith Laboratories (MSL) Room 101. Treats provided!

Use this link to register for the workshop. We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Questions?

Email Steven (sbristow@student.ubc.ca) and Lexis (lexisly@mail.ubc.ca)

Upcoming make-up union orientations

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Hello CUPE 2278 Members!

CUPE 2278 will be hosting two makeup union orientation sessions for those members who missed their scheduled departmental orientation session. Our collective agreement guarantees your right to a union orientation that should be included in your allocation of hours form; you are entitled to an orientation session EACH YEAR, so even if you have attended an orientation in the past, we strongly urge you to attend one this year as our contract may have changed since your last orientation.

Our makeup sessions are scheduled for:

Tuesday, October 29, 12pm-1pm

Wednesday, October 30, 12pm-1pm

Both of these sessions will have the option for in person attendance at the GSS Loft (food will be provided for attendees)! or on Zoom.

Please RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaPe5Ri9PUnBBfmZeQH9uA-3k5FvKkufTquQp9odVrcG4LAQ/viewform

Zoom link for online sessions: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86097626577?pwd=mZWBSMTDDPzM1bpoeUWrNqnm6qJjn5.1

Orientations are an important time for union members to familiarize ourselves with our contract and ask any questions you might have! We are excited to see you there 🙂

In solidarity,

Drew Hall (they/them)

Vice President, CUPE 2278

Urgent Alert: Active Job Scams Targeting UBC Students and Researchers

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Please help us spread the word about this by posting this web banner where you see fit:

Urgent Alert: Active Job Scams Targeting UBC Students and Researchers

Be Vigilant!

More information: https://privacymatters.ubc.ca/job-scam

 

If you have questions about a suspicious message, forward any and all messages to  security@ubc.ca.

Thank you!

Virginia S Frankian
Academic Coordinator
Faculty of Land and Food Systems | Dean’s Office
The University of British Columbia | Vancouver Campus
Food, Nutrition and Health Building
230-2205 East Mall | Vancouver BC | V6T 1Z4 Canada

For all TA-related correspondence, please use lfs.ta@ubc.ca.

Last call! RSVP for the TA (Re)Orientation

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Welcome to the new semester! Here’s a reminder to join us for the 2024 LFS TA (Re)Orientation to start your term off right.

Who: New and returning LFS TAs

What: Enjoy lunch, meet other TAs, learn about opportunities in LFS and UBC available to you as a TA, and participate in two teaching workshops (that count toward your LFS Advanced TA Skills Letter of Completion)!

Where: MacMillan (MCML) Room 350

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm

RSVP by Sept 6thhttps://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cOzveeZxKZ7YQM6

Questions about the orientation or being an LFS TA?
Email the LFS TA Coordinators (Lexis lexisly@mail.ubc.ca and Steven sbristow@student.ubc.ca)

See you there!

RSVP: LFS TA (Re)Orientation!

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Calling all TAs, new and old! Want to learn about the ins and outs of TAing in LFS? How about upgrade your teaching skills? Does free lunch sound good? Join us for the 2024 LFS TA (Re)Orientation!

Who: New and returning LFS TAs

What: Enjoy lunch, meet other TAs, learn about opportunities in LFS and UBC available to you as a TA, and participate in two teaching workshops (that count toward your LFS Advanced TA Skills Letter of Completion)!

Where: MacMillan (MCML) Room 350

When: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, from 11:30 am to 4:00 pm

RSVP by Sept 6thhttps://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cOzveeZxKZ7YQM6

 

Questions about the orientation or being an LFS TA? Email the LFS TA Coordinators (Lexis lexisly@mail.ubc.ca and Steven sbristow@student.ubc.ca)

See you there!

Brush off those TA skills for the fall!

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Hello LFS TAs! It’s almost time for the summer term. Time to brush off those TA skills!

We wanted to let you know about some upcoming workshops that can be applied to your LFS Advance TA Skills Letter of Completion. Haven’t heard of the Letter? Scroll to the end of the email for a brief description or see the full requirements in the LFS TA Portal: https://blogs.ubc.ca/lfsta/resources/#training

The CTLT Summer Institute (August 19 – 22) has a number of workshops that are great to gear you up for the fall term. Some sessions may also be used toward the Letter. Some examples:

Teaching Fundamentals:

Building Authentic Assessment for Learning

Written Assessment in the Era of Generative AI

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:

Accessibility is Not a Feature: Simple Steps to Support Students’ Access to Course Materials

Designing Inclusive and Engaging Collaborative (Writing) Assignments

Introduction to the Indigenous Learning Pathways Training Program

Teaching Theory and Pedagogy:

Engaging Activities for Learners: Active Learning Techniques in the Classroom

Is there a workshop you’re interested applying toward the Letter in that isn’t on this list? Email us (Lexis lexis.ly@ubc.ca and Steven sbristow@student.ubc.ca) and we’ll let you know which category it falls under!

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In order to receive the LFS Advanced TA Skills Letter of Completion, you must:

Be a (graduate/undergraduate) student in LFS.

Complete at least 5 professional development trainings (workshops, etc.) offered by the LFS TA Training Program or CTLT.

The five trainings must fall under the following categories:

– Teaching Fundamentals (3 trainings)

– Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (1 training)

– Teaching Theory and Pedagogy (1 training)

Three out of the five trainings must be completed within the LFS TA Training Program. At least one of which must have occurred after the approval of the Letter program (i.e., later than September 1st, 2023). Applications for the Letter will be open at the end of each term (November and April) For more information about applying, see the LFS TA Portal: https://blogs.ubc.ca/lfsta/resources/#training

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Questions? Let us know! LFS TA Coordinators Lexis (lexis.ly@ubc.ca) and Steven (sbristow@student.ubc.ca)

TA Opportunity: Winter Term 2 LFS 450 – Land, Food & Community III: Leadership in Campus Food System Sustainability

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*** NOTE: This recruitment is still active as of July 30, 2024. Contact Instructor directly. ***

Hello!

I am seeking a Teaching Assistant (TA) for LFS 450 – Land, Food and Community III: Leadership in Campus Food System Sustainability. LFS 450 is offered in the 2024/25 Winter Term 2: January to April, 2025 from 2-5pm. The position if for 190 hours.

The course uses an applied learning, team-based approach with students to gain knowledge and skills to critically examine and actively advance food system sustainability challenges, spanning climate change, biodiversity, circular economies, food security to ecological and human health, and more. The position is for 190 hours and involves assisting with course preparation, class and group facilitation, evaluating individual and team based assignments, and consulting with students as needed to support them in achieving course learning objectives. More details about the course and job position can be found on the TA Portal https://blogs.ubc.ca/lfsta/ or below

Interested in applying for this position? Please send me an email at liska.richer@ubc.ca letting me know you are interested along with your resume as soon as possible. If helpful, we can also set up a time to chat about the opportunity first prior to submitting a resume.

Cheers,
Liska

Liska Richer (she/her)
Sessional Instructor, Faculty of Land and Food Systems
Email: Liska.richer@ubc.ca

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MORE DETAILS BELOW:
Teaching Assistantship for LFS 450 – Land, Food and Community III: Leadership in Campus Food System Sustainability
Instructor: Liska Richer

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
LFS 450 (Land, Food, and Community III) uses an applied learning, team-based approach with students to gain knowledge and skills to critically examine and actively advance food system sustainability challenges. It offers students the opportunity to apply skills and concepts derived from earlier coursework, experience, and areas of specialization to address contemporary challenges in an integrative, interdisciplinary setting. The central theme of this course is the envisioning, planning, implementation and evaluation of projects aimed at enhancing the ecological, economic and social sustainability of the campus food system. Opportunities will be provided throughout the course for students to critically examine food-related academic literature and food system issues experienced in the UBC-Vancouver Campus and broader regional and global contexts.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of LFC III, students will be able to:
 Identify personal values, strengths, weaknesses, and leadership attributes
 Gain and apply knowledge that can contribute to professional development building
 Identify and critically evaluate food system sustainability issues
 Develop substantive knowledge in one or more areas of campus operational sustainability and wellbeing, including the practical institutional constraints and opportunities that can contribute to positive change
 Plan, critically evaluate and initiate activities that can alleviate issues posed by the interconnected global climate, nature, human health and wellbeing crises and affect concrete positive changes towards food system sustainability at a local scale
 Learn and apply principles of Community-Based Action Research methodological approaches
 Demonstrate proficiency in conducting secondary and primary research
 Learn and apply principles of whole systems approaches to practical local issues
 Demonstrate competence in project management skills and applications
 Learn to co-develop and implement a realistic project plan to address issues that are of practical importance to the university
 Learn and apply skills to work effectively with a client from an organization and members of a group towards shared interests
 Communicate effectively and professionally in written and verbal form with various audiences, ranging from non-academic to academic food system practitioners and affiliated community members

WORK PERFORMED:
The position is for 190 hours and involves assisting with course preparation, class and group facilitation, evaluating individual and team based assignments, and consulting with students as needed to support them in achieving course learning objectives. Specific duties below:
• Participate in regular teaching team meetings with course instructor
• Read all required reading materials in preparation for class discussions
• Consult with students as needed to support individual and group assignments and learning needs (including meetings, email communication and responding to Canvas discussions)
• Evaluate assignments: Practitioner literature review, UBC Food System Project community-based action research proposals, report and presentations.
• Review various individual assignments for participation marks
• Prepare and tabulate individual and group marks, including entering on Canvas and Faculty Service Centre
• Take attendance
• Other duties as required

MINIMUM EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS
EDUCATION:
-Preference for student enrolled in a Masters or PhD Program in an area related to food systems, biodiversity, climate change/justice, planning/policy, sustainability, food security, ecological-human health.
-Preferred Degrees/Disciplines: Land and Food Systems, IRES, Geography, Public Policy, Planning

EXPERIENCE:
– Experience in local food system analysis, community-based action research, student mentorship and evaluation.
-Preference for candidates with TA training and experience.

SKILLS:
– Familiarity with a broad range of food system issues (biodiversity, climate, food security, food system sustainability, food justice) and other intersectional issues
– Ability to evaluate written and verbal communication for logic, structure, grammar and argument construction.
– Excellent organizational and time management skills and strong attention to detail is required
– Experience with community-based action/applied research
– Experience in working with students and/or professionals with diverse skillsets and specializations