University of Wisconsin–Madison

Teaching Assistant Guide

Welcome, Teaching Assistants!

Teaching assistants in 3 different campus settings: a teaching assistant working with a student in the Writing Center, a group of teaching assistants talking during a training session, and a teaching assistant instructing two students during a chemistry lab.

This guide is intended for graduate students employed as Teaching Assistants (TAs). Undergraduate students employed as TAs and graduate students employed as Lecturers might also find it useful.

Start here: Essential trainings

Explore professional development

Get support with difficult situations

The TA landscape at UW-Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison employs over 2,300 teaching assistants (TAs) each semester. TAs teach more than 3,300 discussion sections and labs, reaching over 30,000 undergraduate students. As a TA, your work is essential to the success of UW-Madison’s educational mission and to the success of every student here – thank you!

This guide aims to help you navigate the many trainings, resources, and professional development opportunities across campus. Some are required, some are recommended for specific groups of TAs, and some are optional for those interested in a deeper dive. Our goal is to help you find what fits your needs.

 

“Being a TA can be a deeply personal and impactful experience for both the TA and their students. Entering grad school, that made me both excited and nervous. TA training, resources, and support staff from both my Department and College have helped me feel more confident every step of the way, from handling my very first section to the wide variety of responsibilities and situations in the years since.”
Cameron Jones, Statistics TA
Cameron Jones

TAs at UW-Madison can perform different functions. You might lead a discussion section or lab, host office hours, grade, supervise field work, and/or do many other things! Clarity about your role and duties should come from the lead instructor of your assigned course.

As a TA, you are a university employee. Take a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures (GAPP), which are the HR policies that govern TA appointments.

One of the most important connections you can make is the connection to local TA support systems. TA trainings and resources are often organized by the hiring department or school/college. Reach out to your lead instructor, your department’s Director of Graduate Studies, or another department support person to find out more.

Campus teaching & learning events

June

July

More events

About this guide

This guide is a collaboration between the CTLM and UW-Madison’s two largest TA-employing colleges, Engineering and Letters & Science.

Contributing units include:

If you are a campus partner with an offering that you would like to see added to this site, please submit the information to the CTLM contact form.

Questions?

This contact form is monitored by CTLM. Questions and requests will be routed to the appropriate campus office, meaning you may receive a response from CTLM, from the school/college in which you are teaching, or from another unit.

Do not enter any personal information about a student into this form.