Getting Started as a GA/TA
This chapter covers important information to consider once you have accepted a GA/TA appointment at UWindsor and provides helpful tips to get started in your new role.
What is the difference between a GA and TA?
A graduate assistant (GA) is a full-time graduate student who is employed to assist with teaching or related duties and a teaching Assistant (TA) is normally an undergraduate student employed for a specific course to assist with teaching or related duties. Notices of available positions are posted on departmental websites before the beginning of the semester. Interested applicants should contact their department/program for guidance regarding available GA or TA positions.
I have been offered a GA/TA appointment, what do I do next?
- Review and sign the Notice of Appointment prepared by your department. The Notice of Appointment includes information on assistantship level, start/end dates, hourly rate, hours, and total value of the contract.
- Obtain a copy of the signed Notice of Appointment from your departmental secretary after it has been approved.
- New GA/TAs who have not been previously employed by the University of Windsor, will be provided an employee number by email once their completed New Hire Documentation, and their approved Notice of Appointment has been received by Human Resources.
- All new employees at the University of Windsor, including new GA/TAs must complete mandatory training for new employees. Contact the department where you are holding a GA/TA appointment for guidance.
- Contact the course instructor (i.e., let them know you will be their GA/TA) within 10 days of beginning the appointment and schedule a meeting.
- Upon the commencement of your GA/TA appointment, the course instructor for your GA/TA appointment will share with you a copy of the Form 1, which includes a description of duties and allocation of hours. You will have an opportunity to review this form and accept the conditions.
Note: GAs and TAs are not permitted to begin work duties until their Notice of Appointment has been approved by Graduate Studies and all required documentation has been submitted and reviewed by Human Resources to determine that all legal requirements have been met. GA/TAs are to not commence work until they have received an email “RE: Authorization to commence GA/TA duties” (Article 12:07 of the CUPE 4580 Collective Agreement).
GA/TA Checklist
In your first meeting with the course instructor, discuss your role and responsibilities, along with key deadlines. We have compiled a checklist of common questions that you may want to ask.
Working with Other GA/TAs
In your role as a GA/TA, there are times when you may need to work with other GA/TAs. If you are teaching or working with others, it is important to follow these general guidelines:
- Meet early in the term and introduce yourself to the other GA/TAs.
- Ensure you are respectful of everyone’s needs.
- If a conflict does arise, try to handle it between yourselves. If it cannot be settled, seek out your instructor’s advice.
Importance of Communication
One of the most important skills in any workplace is proper communication. As a GA/TA, it is vital that you have an agreed upon line of communication with the instructor and/or other GA/TAs. While this can be challenging at times, it is important to establish communication channels to have an enjoyable and successful experience. To help with this, be sure to track your hours each week and discuss any major concerns with the instructor when/if they occur.