Happy New Year, LFS TAs! We wanted to remind you about the LFS Advanced TA Skills Letter of Completion, which recognizes TAs who have gone above and beyond to develop teaching skills.

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.

Good news! The CTLT is hosting a winter TA Institute, which has many workshops that can count toward your Letter of Completion. Here’s some examples below.

Teaching Fundamentals

• Establishing a Positive TA Experience Working with Faculty Members: Dos and Don’ts
• Facilitating Discussions
• Marking, Assessment, and Feedback as a TA

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

• Active Learning and Inclusion: Using Student Gender, English as an Additional Language, and Neurodivergence Case Studies
• Social Class in Our Classrooms

Teaching Theory/Pedagogy

• Designing High Impact Experiential Learning

See all of the sessions here: https://events.ctlt.ubc.ca/event-category/ctlt-institute/

Not sure where a session that you’re interested in fits? Have questions about the Letter of Completion? Email us! (lexisly@mail.ubc.ca & sbristow@student.ubc.ca)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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

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.

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 6th: https://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!

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 6th: https://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!

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!

—————

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

—————

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