H1.6 GSI Preparation for Teaching
Updated: May 18th, 2012
The Graduate Council Policy on Appointments and Mentoring of GSIs describes the responsibilities of GSIs, faculty, and departments in ensuring that GSIs are prepared for teaching. All first-time GSIs are required to attend the Teaching Conference for GSIs on the Friday before classes begin; complete an online course, Professional Standards and Ethics for GSIs, before the end of the third week of teaching; and enroll in a semester-long, 300-level course on teaching in the discipline either prior to or concurrent with the first teaching assignment. Faculty members who teach with GSIs are required to meet with them at the outset of the semester to clarify responsibilities and expectations and to review the course syllabus. Faculty are also required to meet regularly with their GSIs throughout the semester to discuss course logistics and pedagogy and conduct classroom observations of first-time GSIs.
Departments are required to offer a 300-level course on teaching in the discipline. Guidelines for the course are included in the Graduate Council Policy. Departments should provide all GSIs and faculty who are teaching with GSIs a copy of the Graduate Council Policy or the document’s URL each semester. Departments should also review end-of-semester evaluations of GSIs by their students and, in those cases where improvement is needed, outline the steps a GSI should take to improve. Departments should contact the GSI Teaching and Resource Center if they need assistance in developing their 300-level seminar on teaching. Suggested procedures for conducting classroom observations, materials for faculty on guiding the work of GSIs, and resources for developing a 300-level course on teaching can be found on the GSI Teaching and Resource Center website.
See All Topics in the Category: Guide to Graduate Policy, H. Academic Appointments
