Student Employee Resources
- Teaching Assistant (TA)
- Assistant Instructor (AI)
- Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
- Tab Option 4
- Tab Option 5
A TA assists a professor with tasks related to a large lecture class. Duties may include holding discussions sections, grading exams and papers, holding regular office hours, and handling questions and problems. Students are limited to, but not guaranteed, four semesters as a TA.
Handbook of Operating Procedures policies for Teaching Assistants
An AI is responsible for organizing and teaching a course of his/her own devising, usually on a topic related to the student’s dissertation research. An AI must have a master’s degree, experience as a teaching assistant (or equivalent experience), and must have taken a 398T (Supervised Teaching in American Studies) course. Except in very exceptional circumstances, a student must have passed the PhD qualifying oral exam before becoming an assistant instructor.
During the fall semester, the Department sends out a call for course proposals, which should be formulated in some detail with the advice of relevant faculty advisers. Early in the spring semester, the faculty meets to examine proposals and select AIs for the following academic year. Decisions are based on such considerations as seniority, a student’s performance, the design of the course, and the relevance of the proposed course to the needs of the undergraduate program. Appointments are generally for half time (20 hours) to teach three sections of thirty students each spread over the two semesters of an academic year (two sections one semester, and one section in the other). Again, each assistant instructor is limited to, but not guaranteed, four semesters of funding.
A course may be proposed after completing the master’s degree and passing or scheduling the oral qualifying exam.
Handbook of Operating Procedures policies for Assistant Instructors
A GRA assists a professor with research projects.
Handbook of Operating Procedures Policies for Graduate Research Assistants
Applications, Pay, and Enrollment
During the fall semester, the Graduate Coordinator will send out the application form to apply for positions during the next academic year. All positions are awarded by the American Studies faculty on the basis of availability of positions, merit, and seniority. Should a student decide not to accept a position during a particular semester, this will not necessarily disqualify him or her for subsequent semesters. However, be advised that there are other qualified students coming up behind you and that an offer one year does not automatically entitled you to the following year.
Teaching Assistants, Assistant Instructors, and Graduate Research Assistants are employees of The University of Texas and are required to meet certain conditions and complete a number of administrative forms and tasks in order to be paid and receive employee and TA, AI and GRA benefits. The pay scale for TA, AI, and GRA positions is determined by the Liberal Arts Dean’s Office. Exact figures are available upon request.
All TAs and AIs must be enrolled for at least nine hours each semester they are employed (except during summer, when three hours are required for each session of employment). A student must enroll in 398T (“Supervised Teaching”) the semester before he or she begins teaching as an AI. For TAs, 398T is recommended, but not required.
Outside Employment
Owing to the limited number of positions in our department, we encourage students to apply to other UT departments and programs for employment. In the past, American Studies graduate students have obtained teaching assistantships, graderships, and research assistantships in places such as the Texas State Historical Association, the Athletic Department, the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University Writing Center, the Nursing School, and various Engineering programs. Remember, there is an employment limit of 14 long semesters for graduate students appointed in student titles.
If you are interested in seeking employment outside of AMS, contact the Graduate Coordinator of the department you wish to work for, or reach out to the AMS Graduate Coordinator for a list of contacts. You may also subscribe to the Graduate Student Campus Jobs listserv.
- TA Agreement
COLA Teaching Assistant Agreement
AMS requires all TAs and faculty supervisors to turn in the Department's TA Agreement by the 4th class day. This document, a contract of sorts, is to be reviewed, completed and signed by student employees and faculty prior to the start of each semester. Once signed, please make a copy for each party and place the original in the Graduate Coordinator inbox in the main office to be kept on file. Current students can also access the TA agreement form and other teaching resources in the AMS Digital Library on Box (login required).TA Agreement Background
The Teaching Assistant Job Duties document originated from conversations that took place within the College of Liberal Arts TA Taskforce during the 2014-2015 academic year. It is meant to improve communication between TAs and instructors and enhance the success of our TAs and students by generating conversation and clarifying expectations. Graduate students, graduate coordinators, and graduate advisors in the College had input into the content. As expectations and practices may vary across units, departments may modify the agreement as necessary. - Benefits & Training
Student employees have a number of benefits and required trainings. For new employees, please use this checklist from UT Human Resource Services to help guide you through the process. The list shows what you need to do on the first day of your employment (such as orientations, getting an EID, and payroll information), within the first week (insurance coverage, timesheets, getting office keys, etc.), and within the first month (insurance and compliance training).
New employees are also invited to attend the New Employee Welcome and Orientation to learn about their benefits options.
The Benefits Enrollment Checklist provides information about making benefits elections. Insurance elections must be made no later than 31 days from the employment start date. All new employees must have final approved assignments and a completed onboarding in Workday before enrollment may occur.
Health Insurance
Graduate students in academic graduate student jobs (including TA/AI/GRA positions) who are scheduled to work for at least 20 hours per week, for 135 continuous days or more, may participate in the university’s insurance plans and receive employer contributions towards the cost of their insurance premiums. For information about insurance for Academic Graduate Student employee insurance, please visit the Academic Graduate Student Employee Insurance Options webpage. For more information about insurance for Graduate Student Fellows, click here. - Teaching Support for Graduate Students
Current AMS graduate students can access and share teaching support resources in the AMS Digital Library on Box (login required).
The Center for Teaching and Learning Graduate Student Development (GSD) office offers programs and services to help graduate students develop skills for their teaching responsibilities at UT, as well as their future careers. In the fall, GSD offers a semester-long, zero-credit hour, professional development seminar aimed to support first-time Teaching Assistants (TAs) in their instructional duties. They have several onilne resources for new and continuing TAs.
GSD staff are also available to support and coach you on all aspects of teaching such as syllabus and instructional activity design, effective classroom management, and motivating your students to learn.
Assistant Instructors may request a one-time teaching observation from AMS faculty, who will observe an AI's class meeting and provide constructive feedback about their instruction from a mentoring perspective. To request an observation, reach out to the AMS Graduate Coordinator.
- Tuition Benefits
The Tuition Reduction Benefit (TRB) refers to resident (in-state) tuition coverage that is provided to students as a benefit of their employment as teaching assistants (TAs) and assistant instructors (AIs). The TRB does not pay out directly to the student, but instead is applied to the student’s tuition bills.
A graduate student who seeks a resident tuition entitlement by reason of employment in a qualifying job title must submit the request online.
The information provided on the request form will be audited. If the audit reveals that the employment does not qualify a student for the resident tuition entitlement, the additional non-resident tuition must be paid within 10 days of the billing date. Nonpayment will result in cancellation of registration.
- Summer Employment Resources
Summer employment positions with the department are extremely limited, so students often find summer internship or fellowship opportunities elsewhere, both on and off campus. Below are some resources to help with discovery of summer opportunities:
