Mindset
Teaching Assistantships are jobs, not bursaries, and demand substantial levels of responsibility, accountability, and professionalism. But for many TAs teaching may be more an economic necessity than vocational calling, and the research prospectus can easily become a higher priority than the quality of their instruction. Most PhDs are produced at research institutions and we all know that UBC is among the very best of these schools. Like a growing number of institutions and departments, however, UBC and its department of political science prizes and seeks to achieve high quality instruction, and it is at teaching-oriented institutions that today’s TAs are most likely to apply for tomorrow’s professorial jobs. Academic culture is changing and teaching excellence is emerging as a core value. Becoming a reflective and high quality teacher is both enriching and good for your future prospects; the best time to start building your dossier is now.
You should also begin by recognizing that, as a TA, you are in a somewhat anomalous position being simultaneously a student and teacher—simultaneously a unionized contract employee and teaching professional. The best way to start to negotiate these potential tensions is to be aware they exist. It is important to separate and manage the rigorous workloads of student and teacher, and to maintain a professional distance from your students while cultivating an ability to communicate with them in a kind, equitable, and respectful manner. If you are able to manage your workloads effectively you are less likely to come to regard your TA duties as something that interferes with your “own” work. Recognize that teaching is also “your work,” and undertaken in partnership with your faculty supervisor and fellow TAs.
Best Practices, Contractual Considerations
As a TA you are a teaching professional and need to establish open and efficient communication with your course teacher. While the instructor is ultimately responsible for grading, marking hours, and other aspects of the course, you should build a supportive partnership together, have agreed upon standards, a clear division of labour, and adhere to the Collective Agreement between UBC and CUPE Local 2278.
Whether or not teaching is a “labour of love,” it is labour, and neither you or your instructor should ignore contractual language that is there to protect TAs from unintentional exploitation. Adhere to the job as described by the Department of Political Science as required in Article 12.01 of the Collective Agreement, and meet with the instructor as early as possible to create a clear, written division of labour and accounting of hours using the Department’s worksheet template (available under Resources tab and here TA Anticipated Workload Sample Form). Please note that while it may be best practice to meet with your instructor prior to the start of term, you are not obliged to attend any course related meetings until your contract start date.
Maintain regular, amicable, and professional communication with your instructor, cc-ing them on communications with your students, and reporting any serious issues you do not feel equipped to handle. It is also important that you know your rights, and understand that you can discuss contract language, hours, and other issues with your Union representative where necessary.
Be fair, rigorous, transparent, and accountable in your grading and make an effort to properly estimate how long it will take to grade an assignment. Discuss this with your instructor, and keep in mind that new TAs often underestimate how long it takes to read and evaluate an essay. It is also an excellent idea to run some sample grading past your instructor, and even better practice to do a bit of grading together. Do not be unrealistic in budgeting your time, and try hard to avoid a conflict between grading deadlines and your own research deadlines.