The University of Toronto employs thousands of graduate students (PhD and MA-level students), and some undergraduate students, to support teaching staff with undergraduate level courses. Teaching Assistants (TAs) conduct tutorials and labs, grade course work, and may assist with the teaching of a particular course. Some graduate students are also hired to prepare and deliver entire courses as sole-responsibility Course Instructors. TAs and Course Instructors are unionized under the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) (416-593-7057).
For information on Training Options for teaching assistants and graduate student Course Instructors, visit the Teaching Assistants’ Training Program (TATP) CI and TA Job Training.
The TATP is a peer-based peer-based network that offers workshops, online resources and professional development opportunities, including two certificate programs and teaching excellence awards, for U of T graduate students and TAs.
The University of Toronto’s School of Graduate Studies has resources for instructors and supervisors:
At UTSC: the Centre for Teaching and Learning, UTSC, offers TA support, workshops and resources.
At UTM: Teaching assistants on the UTM campus can visit the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre for support and resources.
Resources:
- Seven Key Areas for TA Development
- Considerations and Questions for Your Pre-Course Meeting
- Developing and Managing an Effective Teaching Team
- How to Enhance Teaching Competencies of Your TAs
- Active Verbs for Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy
- Developing Tutorial Learning Outcomes (examples) (pdf)
- Developing Tutorial Learning Outcomes (worksheet) (pdf)
- Overall Tutorial Planner (worksheet) (pdf)
- Specific Tutorial Planner (worksheet) (pdf)
Questions regarding the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement should be directed to the Designated Authority in your department or to Labour Relations.