TA Guide: Essential Trainings

New TA Training – required/recommended for first-time TAs (check with your department)

Returning TA Workshop  – recommended for TAs with prior UW–Madison teaching experience

These trainings are run by the L&S TA Training & Support Team. The main contact is Lynne Prost: lprost@wisc.edu

New TA Training by L&S is offered the Thursday before each fall semester, and again in January (check our website for exact dates). Participants will leave motivated and equipped to be effective and inclusive teachers.

Returning TA Workshop is offered every August. TAs will have an opportunity to connect with peers, discuss common teaching challenges in a supportive environment, and advance their teaching practice.

For more information and to register: TA Training by L&S

Many TAs employed in CALS attend TA Training provided by the College of Engineering – please contact your department to determine if you are required to attend. Please refer to the Engineering section of this me.

New TAs in full-time MBA programs and PhD students with teaching responsibilities will complete a four-module online course during the first week of TA contracts to help them succeed in their role. (TAs in the Master of Accountancy program receive separate training.) You are automatically enrolled in this Canvas course and will receive a welcome email with all the necessary details to get started.

For more information, please contact the Teaching & Learning at WSB team

All new School of Education TAs are strongly encouraged to attend:

• School of Education Graduate Assistant Orientation
• The Letters & Science New TA Training
• Any additional training or teaching seminar required or recommended by your department or program

For more information, please contact your grad coordinator or program manager

These trainings are conducted by CEETE, the Collaboratory for Engineering Education and Teaching Excellence. For more information, please contact CEETE: ceete@engr.wisc.edu

Undergraduate TAs, called Student Assistants (SAs), must attend one half day training the Friday before classes start. There is also a Canvas course associated with that training.

To register: (LINK)

New TAs attend New Educators Orientation (NEO)  for 1.5 days the Tuesday and Wednesday before the semester starts. This is required for all new TAs in the College of Engineering and for many TAs in CALS. If you are in CALS, please contact your department to determine if you must attend.

To register: TA Training.

Returning TAs have required continuing education. You must complete a short Canvas quiz and also choose one of the following:

1. Attend a workshop offered by CEETE once during the semester
2. Observe another TA and write a short reflection on the experience
3. Be observed by another TA and write a short reflection on the experience

More information: TA Training.

As part of the School of Human Ecology Graduate Student Orientation Week, all new SoHE TAs are required, and continuing TAs are encouraged, to attend:

• Letters & Science TA Training
• SoHE TA Community Building

For more information, please contact Michelle Holland and Chelsea Martinez

All Nursing TAs, PAs, and RAs attend an in-person orientation during the first contract week. TAs who support specific courses will also complete an asynchronous online training focused on Canvas functionality. You will receive the complete schedule with dates and times from the School of Nursing (SoN) Academic Affairs Office.

For more information, please contact the SoN Academic Affairs Office

All Pharmacy TAs from the HSRP and Pharm Sci graduate programs are required to complete the Letters & Science New TA Training prior to their first TA appointment.

• Pharmacy TAs (new and returning)  supporting the Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation (PPI) program or the Applied Drug Development (ADD) program are required to participate in an additional customized training prior to each semester they are appointed in these programs. These trainings are coordinated and led by PPI/ADD staff.
• Other Pharmacy TAs should complete the training that is recommended by their course coordinator.  Depending on your program and/or teaching assignment, you may be asked to complete an additional training or review teaching support information within Canvas.

For more information, please contact Lindy Stoll and Kate Rotzenberg