UCSD | Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry -- Academic Programs

M.S. in CHEMISTRY TA INFORMATION FALL 2008

The academic teaching requirement for completion of the UCSD M.S. in Chemistry is one quarter. Exceptions to the teaching requirement and policies require prior Graduate Affairs approval. Often students TA for additional quarters as a means of support.

Masters students usually TA laboratory courses. For those who wish to TA only one quarter, Fall quarter, with its higher course enrollments, tends to provide better odds for being assigned one of your top TA preferences. Winter quarter is your second best bet.

Select courses you are qualified to TA: You've completed two or more quarters of relevant upper-division work with a grade of A- or higher or completed one or more quarters of relevant graduate courses with a grade of B+ or higher or passed the ACS Written Exam in the relevant area.

Students enroll in Chemistry 500 (4 units) every quarter they TA. The first quarter in which students TA in the Department, they must attend the weekly hour-long Teaching Apprentice Training Seminar affiliated with Chemistry 500 (see Schedule of Classes ). At the seminar, they will receive a Teaching Apprentice Handbook.

Responsibilities for Satisfactory Performance. At the first instructor-TA meeting for the course (attendance mandatory), instructors will outline the actual TA duties for their course. More information about responsibilities are covered during the TA Training Seminar affiliated with Chemistry 500. However, duties typically required of all TAs are:

Attend all instructor-TA meetings.
Attend all lectures of the course they are TAing.
Lead one or more discussion or lab sections as agreed at the time of TA assignment (see Course Descriptions and TA/Reader Section Assignments).
Assist with grading and proctoring.
Hold office hours or cover Helproom (Chem 6ABC).
Other duties as needed for a particular course, such as quizzes, preparation for sections, and lab demonstrations.
Lab TAs must attend MANDATORY safety training and meetings.

Performance Evaluations and Standards. TAs are evaluated by the instructor of the course and by the students they teach. More information on performance standards is provided at the TA Training Seminar affiliated with Chemistry 500.

Workload and Time Frame: A total workload of 184 hours over 12 weeks, or 42%. Most of these hours are accrued in the 10-week quarter and finals week (see Schedule of Classes ). Depending on the needs of a specific course, instructors will inform TAs of the need to work hours in the pre-quarter week.

The Chem/Biochem Business Office (not Student Affairs) will contact you by email if you must attend a MANDATORY employee sign-up session.
Graduate students employed in Teaching Assistant title codes 2310 and 2311 are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between UCSD and the ASE/UAW.
In 2005/2006, the 42% pay rate for Teaching Assistants was $1,407.70/month.
TAs are paid monthly. The payroll period for Fall quarter is October 1-December 31 (first check November 1), for Winter quarter it is January 1-March 31, and for Spring quarter it is April 1-June 30.
Graduate students with academic appointments totalling 25% time or more or entitled to a full Graduate Student Health Insurance Premium Remission, and Educational and Registration Fee Remission, and other applicable benefits as set forth in the Agreement. Please check the Agreement for the specific eligibility requirements and amounts of each remission.
Names and addresses of all ASEs are released to the UAW each quarter.
ASE/UAW membership dues or the agency fee (for those who choose not to become ASE/UAW members) will be deducted each month from the TA paycheck. The amount of dues is 1.15% of gross TA earnings; the agency fee is 0.92%.
See the OGSR website OGSR website for additional information concerning Academic Student Employment (ASE).
Questions about TAships should be directed to Alejandro Vasquez.