Teaching Assistantships

Teaching Assistant Application:

• The application must be completed by the applicant.

Transcripts:

• Unofficial undergraduate transcripts are required; please also include graduate transcripts, if applicable.

Personal Statement:

• The personal statement is a 1-2 page document explaining:
  • Why the applicant is interested in the position.
  • If the applicant has any prior teaching or tutoring experience.
  • How the applicant plans on bringing their skills to the position.
  • Any additional information, not covered in the application, which is appropriate in strengthening the application.
• Applicants should not submit their admissions essay as a personal statement.

Resume/CV

• An updated resume that details the applicant’s professional experience.

Two Recommendations

• At least one recommendation must be completed by an instructor or professor who has taught the applicant in a college-level class and can speak to the applicant’s performance.
• The second recommendation may be from either an instructor/professor or a professional recommendation from a former or current supervisor or colleague who is familiar with the applicant’s work.
• If the applicant has been out of school for more than 3 years, then both recommendations may come from professional references.
• It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the recommendation link to their recommenders and to ensure that recommendations are submitted.
• Recommendation forms may be submitted after the application is submitted. However, applications will not be considered complete until both recommendations are submitted.

TOEFL/IELTS Score Report (non-native English-speaking applicants only)

• All non-native English-speaking applicants are required to submit test scores with their English language proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, and the Cambridge English assessment are acceptable). Document must include Speaking section scores. An unofficial score report is satisfactory.

Teaching Assistants are regularly assigned teaching and related responsibilities under the supervision of a faculty supervisor. Responsibilities vary depending on the course(s) but may include the following:

• Leading weekly discussion sections
• Grading assignments, exams, and papers and providing students with timely feedback
• Maintaining regular office hours to meet with students
• Conferencing with students individually or in small groups
• Responding to students’ emails
• Managing course communications in Canvas
• Proctoring examinations
• Taking attendance or monitoring participation
• Attending the class lecture and assisting the instructor with any course preparation
• Teaching Assistants are responsible for maintaining a high level of professionalism by being timely and reliable and upholding professional interactions with their students and supervisors.

The benefits of employment as a Teaching Assistant (minimum 33% appointment) include:

• Tuition remission
  • What is covered in the tuition remission?
    • UWM Graduate tuition costs will be waived for all Lubar College Teaching Assistants with a 33% appointment or higher.
  • What is not covered in the tuition remission?
    • UWM Segregated Fees – Teaching Assistants are required to pay the UWM segregated fees. More information about these fees can be found here.
    • Business Masters Fee (tuition) – Lubar College Teaching Assistants are required to pay the difference between the UWM graduate tuition and the Business Master’s tuition. The additional tuition amount will depend a teaching assistant’s residency and the number of credits enrolled in. More information about tuition rates can be found here. These rates are subject to change in subsequent terms.
• Salary commensurate with academic level and appointment percentage
• Access to lower-cost health insurance.

• Applicants must be enrolled as a graduate student in Lubar College to be eligible for an assistantship.
• Graduate students (excluding Dissertator status) must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits each semester. Positions do not include the Winterim semester.
• Priority for Teaching Assistantships is given to graduate students admitted to the PhD in Management Science Program
• Students who obtain a TA position cannot receive any additional fellowships or scholarships for the term in which they are a TA.
• It is the policy of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents that all UW System campuses conduct criminal background checks on prospective employees for a University position
• Appointments are contingent upon the UW System Background Check, admission, enrollment, maintenance of minimum credit requirements, and good standing in the Lubar College of Business and Graduate School.
• All non-native English-speaking applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements. Teaching Assistants must earn a 24 or better on the Speaking section of the internet based TOEFL (iBT) or a 7.0 or better on the Speaking section of the IELTS.
• International students – positions are contingent upon maintaining your immigration status. Employment cannot commence until you have the appropriate visa category, your student visa status is certified by the Center for International Education (CIE) and an I-9 form is completed.
• Workload
  • Teaching Assistants’ workloads are measured in percentages of a full-time appointment. Most Lubar College Teaching Assistant positions are 33%, 40%, or 50% appointments. Based on a full-time appointment being 40 hours per week a 50% appointment will require 20 hours per week, a 40% appointment will be 16 hours per week, and a 33% appointment will be 13.5 hours per week. Appointments are made on a semester or academic year basis.
  • The Graduate School policy requires that a student work no more than 30 hours (75%) during the Fall and Spring semesters; this includes work external to the Teaching Assistant position. If you intend to hold additional employment outside of the Teaching Assistant position, this must be disclosed during the interview. Students on F-1 visas cannot exceed a 50% appointment (20 hours) for Fall or Spring semesters.
• Preferred Experience/Background
  • Previous teaching and/or tutoring experience
  • Some professional experience in a business-related field
  • Strong presentation skills
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • High level of professionalism
  • Commitment to student success
  • Willingness to learn and accept constructive feedback