Teaching Assistants
General Information
Teaching assistant (TA) duties include, but are not limited to, duties primarily in support of instruction and educational services such as: leading discussion sections; leading class discussions; designing course materials; exam and homework preparation, proctoring and grading; holding office hours; meeting special needs of students with disabilities; and/or any other educational activity or service provided.
The TA schedule, stipend, fee waiver, and other benefits are outlined on the Graduate College Assistantships website.
Information regarding your assistantship appointment, such as the length of employment and your stipend, can be found in your offer letter. This letter also identifies the date that you need to arrive on campus to attend the MSCS Department TA Orientation and MSCS Department Area Meetings.
International Teaching Assistants
UIC requires certification of oral English proficiency for all international teaching assistants (ITAs). UIC has established minimum Speaking and Listening sub-scores for either the internet-based TOEFL (ibT) or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). ITAs who do not have minimum scores will be given comparable duties until English proficiency meets minimum standards. For more information about language proficiency, refer to the Oral English Proficiency Testing website.
All New International Teaching Assistants should schedule your Oral Certification Interview at the International Teaching Assistant Program Office as soon as possible. Interviews will be held on Zoom and can be scheduled here: Oral Certification Interview.
Completing Your Employment Paperwork
If you received a Teaching Assistantship from MSCS, please read this information thoroughly as there are some important steps that must be completed to ensure timely processing and receipt of your first stipend check:
- You will receive a formal offer letter from MSCS and must decline/accept the offer by the deadline stated in the offer letter.
- After you accept and return the formal offer letter for the assistantship Joyce Tucker (jltucker@uic.edu), the MSCS Human Resources Associate, will reach out to you regarding your next steps to becoming a UIC employee. Please read and respond to these emails in a timely manner to avoid processing delays.
- The Form I-9 is the first step in the process, and is completed in-person. Please schedule your appointment with Joyce no later than Friday, July 12th, 2024.
NOTE: If the employee enrollment meeting with Joyce is delayed, there is a possibility of missing your first monthly stipend check. Although you will receive an adjusted payment a month later (assuming the beginning date is properly processed and assuming you worked for that period), not having the first check can cause unanticipated financial issues.
Teaching Assistantship FAQs
When do I begin work?
The TA contract outlines your official dates of employment. Academic year teaching assistant contracts run from August 16-May 15.
Your appointment becomes official after your signed TA contract is returned to MSCS and your HR paperwork is submitted. It is also at this point that your Tuition and Service Fee Waiver, often referred to as a "TFW", can be applied toward your account, assuming you have registered for the required number of credit hours (minimum 8 hours for 50% teaching assistants).
When do I get paid?
You will receive a monthly stipend on the 16th of each month.
Do I receive other benefits?
Dental and vision insurance coverage is provided by the University for all assistantship recipients who hold at least a 25% appointment. See your TA contract and the UIC HR website for full details about eligibility and enrollment in these plans. All registered students are automatically enrolled in the student health benefit program provided through Campus Care: https://campuscare.uic.edu/.
When do I receive my teaching assignment?
New TAs will be notified the week before the start of the semester directing them to the UIC Schedule of Classes to view their teaching schedule. In addition to teaching discussion sections, duties typically include 2 hours of tutoring in the Math & Sciences Learning Center, proctoring exams, and assisting with grading.
TAs usually hold discussions on Tuesdays and Thursdays but must also be available to attend the course lecture once a week during the term to help proctor exams. Per the hiring contract, all TAs must be available until final exams are graded and all course administration is completed.
Can I choose the course I want to teach?
TAs have the opportunity to request courses for each subsequent semester. A complete list of courses with TA-led discussion sections is found on pages 5-8 in the MSCS Teaching Assistant Handbook.
What if I have questions about my TA Contract?
The rights and responsibilities of Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants at UIC are detailed in the agreement established between the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois and the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO).