Phase one: Proposing a Course. During the Spring Semester of their first year graduate students may ask for a teaching opportunity or may be selected by their department head or graduate program director to teach an introductory course from an existing syllabus in their second year of study.
OR
A graduate student may want to develop a new elective course on their own or with a fellow graduate student. Academic Affairs will support assistantships for original student developed courses which are approved by the Wintersession Committee. Students who are developing new electives must prepare a Course Proposal Form, Course Cost Worksheet (if relevant) and syllabus for review and approval by their Graduate Program Director, department head, dean and the Wintersession Committee on the deadlines announced and distributed in the Spring. The workflow for the Course Proposal Form and standards for syllabi are discussed in detail in the in the Graduate Student Handbook of Collegiate Teaching.
Phase two: Teacher Preparation. If the student's course is approved, they will be offered the choice of enrolling in the Teaching Practicum course offered during Wintersession or working with a Faculty Mentor to get feedback during the course of teaching. They will be asked to provide the name of their Faculty Mentor.
Graduate students who are slated to teach may want to take the TLAD course “COLLEGIATE TEACHING: PREPARATION + REFLECTION” offered in the fall and spring to gain valuable instruction in preparing for the classroom. Read more about the Collegiate Teaching Certificate Program in the Graduate Student Handbook of Collegiate Teaching.
Academic Affairs will send the student an assistantship contract for the teaching assignment which will be paid for by Academic Affairs.
Phase three: Teach! If the student is enrolled in the Practicum or has a Faculty Mentor, they will be observed teaching and will receive written observation notes. The student is encouraged to also discuss qualitative and pedagogical matters with their graduate program director, department head, and peer instructors. They may find additional helpful information on the Teaching & Advising Resources page of the Academic Affairs website.
The student will be paid in monthly installments each month when they are teaching on the 20th of the month.
Phase four: Reflecting on Teaching. The student should be encouraged to download and read their Student Evaluations, reflect on the experience, and reach out to their Graduate Program Director or Faculty Mentor to discuss student feedback.