All new PhD students are required to participate in our TA Training Program, which will help you understand the details and the importance of your role as a teaching assistant. All new teaching assistants must attend the TA Training, regardless of prior teaching experience or previous attendance at Rensselaer.
Registration
You will register for the course at https://sis.rpi.edu/, there is no cost to register or attend.
Grading
The TA Training will appear on your transcript as a zero-credit required course and receive a Satisfactory (S) or Unsatisfactory (U) grade. To earn an “S” grade you must attend the half-day training and complete the required assignments on the Learning Management System (LMS). All components must be completed by the deadline. If this criterion is not met, you will receive a “U” grade and your appointment may be in jeopardy.
English Language Requirement for International Student TAs. Fall 2024 Semester:
New TAs who are international students may be required to complete COMM 1960: Effective Communication for Class Pedagogy, which is a language skill building course. Screening will be based on the standard testing scores (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) submitted with your application. Students who are required to take the course will be notified via email and asked to register for the course. There is a course fee or approximately $100 for software use.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Education at: graduate@rpi.edu.
Course Outline
In person meeting:
TBD
Online Component:
- Review the TA Handbook
- Watch classroom relevant videos and complete the required assignment
- Complete Graduate Student Diversity and Inclusion Percipio Modules
- Understanding and Overcoming Unconscious Bias
- Acting with Diplomacy and Tact
