9 – TA Rights and Responsibilities

Please see the WSU/UAW Local 4591 website for details of the collectively bargained contract between academic student employees (ASEs) and the administration.

Holding a Teaching Assistantship is simultaneously an invaluable and challenging dimension of your graduate education. As you enter the profession, this opportunity develops and refines both your pedagogical philosophy and practice. The Teaching Assistantship allows you to understand how leadership, negotiation, and guidance function in the classroom and in the many hours spent in conferences with your students. The Teaching Assistantship can, however, place demands on your time and energy.

A new set of responsibilities accompany the role of teacher. Outlined below are the major issues you should consider as you develop your syllabi and teaching strategies. Further, the rewarding energy spent in the classroom as a teacher must also be balanced with your role as a graduate student in your own coursework. This balancing is central to your development as a university, college or community college professor, an important introduction to the expectations of the profession.

Syllabus

Copies of a syllabus should be given to all students and to the Director of Composition or the Director of Undergraduate Studies (for classes other than undergraduate composition courses). The syllabus should be a coherent plan which maps out reading and writing assignments for the entire semester. Supplemental handouts may be needed, and minor modifications may be made as the semester progresses, but teachers must give something in writing to students that will guide them through the semester and help them plan their work schedule. During the first week of the course, teachers should cover course policies and procedures, and they should begin building a community of writers, readers, and speakers with introductions or other ice-breaking activities.

Office Hours

Office hours are valuable for providing students with informal opportunities to discuss issues relating to their writing or class activities. Instructors should establish one hour weekly for each section of assigned teaching within which to confer individually with students. 

Office hours should be announced in the beginning of the semester, appear on the syllabus, and be kept consistently. Scheduling office hours immediately after class or on the same days as class is especially effective and advisable.

While this scheduling might not always be possible, instructors should recognize the strategic advantages and disadvantages of setting hours at particular times of the day and week. Because some students will be unable to consult during posted office hours, teachers should also be willing to schedule appointments at other times, as needed and within reason. Students should feel encouraged to visit the teacher and should not have to plead to speak with a teacher outside of class.

Record Keeping

Class lists

Official class lists can be downloaded from my.wsu.edu in a traditional grade book format or as an Excel spreadsheet. Class lists contain students’ ID numbers (and emails) which are often needed for various administrative purposes and for the AML. Use these lists to keep track of attendance and significant student activity–especially during the initial weeks of the semester. Instructors should also abide by the department’s “No-Show” policy.

Grade Books

Maintain a detailed grade book. Grade books must be submitted to the department at the end of each semester. Because questions about grades may arise long after you have left the university, leaving administrators and staff to make determinations based on existing records, grades must be documented fully and legibly.

Submitting Grades

Post grades on my.wsu.edu by the announced deadline. Remember that grades must be submitted at mid-term for first-year students.  If you have graded individual papers, you may wish to use letter grades (A, B, C, D, F). 

If you use a portfolio system or do not have enough grades at this point in the semester to calculate a representative grade, you may wish to use the following:

• S (indicating strongly satisfactory work from students who would likely receive a B+ or better if they continue their current performance in the course);
• X (indicating satisfactory work from students in the undifferentiated middle of your class);
• F (indicating that the student is performing poorly–work is missing, participation is poor, absences are numerous, and/or writing is less than proficient on the writing assignments which have been turned in). 

Alternative midterm grading systems must be explained to students in class prior to their receiving grade reports. All English 101, 201, and 301 classes use the portfolio system, but a grade is only submitted if the student is doing poorly. Please consult the specific policies for English 101, 201, and 301 for more detailed information.

Incompletes 

The practice of giving grades of “I” (Incomplete) is generally discouraged both by the English Department and the University.  Students must have completed 75% of their work and provide substantiation of extenuating circumstances.  Students who have not completed their work should be advised to withdraw from the course. 

English 101 and 201 teachers must first consult with the Director or Assistant Director of Composition before agreeing to give an incomplete. The incomplete grade is then submitted in my.wsu.edu. 

In addition, the English Department has a special form for the submission of an incomplete grade, and this form must also be completed for record-keeping purposes.  The teacher will need to provide sufficient information concerning the work that needs to be finished before the end of the following full semester.  If such work is not completed satisfactorily and in a timely manner, the Incomplete grade will automatically be converted to an “F.”

Student Attendance

Because English courses tend to depend heavily on student participation – and thus significant pedagogical moments cannot be “made up” later — consistent student attendance is vital. Take attendance daily; first-year students especially tend to need this kind of structure. Include an attendance policy on the syllabus and follow it. Don’t make rules you don’t intend to enforce or rules so rigid that they are bound to create problems and affect morale.

Many teachers simply follow the general policy of the English Department, which is that students who miss more than two weeks of class (i.e., 6 periods for a course that meets M-W-F, or 4 periods for a class that meets T-TH) may be failed if the instructor deems it appropriate. See the handout on English 101 Policies and Procedures for more detailed information.

Recent communications from the WSU Administration advise instructors to be flexible in their attendance policies in case of bad weather that may make it difficult for students to return home after a break or to come to campus. Also, the Health Center will not provide a doctor’s note for students who are ill, so if you are making a distinction between excused and unexcused absences, you cannot ask for this documentation.

Class Cancellation

Class meetings must be canceled through the Department so that an official notice of class cancellation might be posted by the staff. Confine absences to illness or professional responsibilities. Finding a substitute to teach or proctor a missed class is always appreciated by students, but consistency should guide the decision for a substitute.

Student-Teacher Relations

The first year in college can be a stressful time for students.  Many of our students are experiencing situations never encountered before: living away from home, getting along with roommates, and balancing multiple responsibilities with newfound freedoms. Because most students’ classes are large, you may be perceived as the most approachable teacher they have. Periodically, students will want to share frustrations or personal problems. Please be aware that you can always refer students to the WSU Counseling Center if you think it appropriate.

Conflicts with Students

Conflict with students is most effectively treated through preventive measures. Teachers who act in a consistent manner with their students and work to establish trust from the first day of the semester may be able to deter disputes later. Remember that you are accountable for having class procedures stated in writing, for implementing those procedures equitably, and for approaching conflicts in a reasonable way. You are responsible for demonstrating that you are actively disposed to settle conflicts in a fair and forthright manner. If you follow this standard, you have the right to expect students to show respect both to you and their peers. When these expectations are not met, you can count on the support of your administration. 

It is best to discuss any potential conflicts early in the semester. Because most student complaints about teachers concern grades, a clear-cut grading strategy explained in the syllabus and consistently applied throughout the semester prevents difficulty, at least to some extent. Remind students from time to time about policies that affect them–don’t assume that they have memorized (or even that they still possess) your syllabus.

When conflict occurs, tell the student what the problem is, as you perceive it. Listen, and expect the students to do the same. Show the student where in the course materials the relevant procedures are documented and tell the student that to be fair to the class as a group you must follow the procedures you’ve set out. If the atmosphere becomes so charged with emotion that you feel nothing will be resolved, reschedule for another time.  Once you’ve exhausted your diplomatic resources, hold your ground. Suggest that the student schedule an appointment with the Director or Assistant Director of Composition or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, as appropriate. In many cases, students will respond positively to a hearing of their grievances by a third party. The Assistant DOC, DOC, or Director of Undergraduate Studies will direct the student to the Department Chair if the matter remains unsettled.

Common sense indicates that there may be situations where teachers should leave their doors open during a student office visit. You do not have to put up with abuse or threats of abuse, whether verbal or physical. When you feel you are being treated unfairly, refer the student to the Director of Composition. Consult with the Director early. Ask for advice when you feel you need to have intervention.

Plagiarism

Teachers are responsible for teaching the use of citation, including quotation, summary, and paraphrase. Unfortunately, research paper assignments sometimes elicit plagiarism of “file” papers.  To mitigate the chances of plagiarism, the teacher should first review with students the Student Handbook’s policy on plagiarism.  Be aware that dated or familiar assignments can cause greater chances of plagiarism.  A teacher might consider requiring students to photocopy all research and submit this research with the assignment.  In cases of suspected plagiarism, contact the Director or Assistant Director of Composition or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, as appropriate.

Course Evaluations

Course evaluations are a departmental requirement and are administered online through WSU Blue. Assure your students that you will not see the evaluations until after grades are turned in.  The evaluations are for your use as you plan your course text time, and also for the Director of Composition to review.  No one else except the Chair of the Department may look at your evaluations without your permission. Evaluations are kept by the Department for two years and are then destroyed or given to you. They belong to you and may be taken when you leave the department.

Retention and Probation of Graduate Teachers (Academic Standards)

It is essential to remember that you are a graduate student first.  In order to retain your funding, you must remain in good standing academically with both the Department and the Graduate School.  The Graduate School requires that a student remain in good standing by maintaining a “B” average.  The graduate faculty of the Department of English takes the matter a step further, judging an in-class grade (rather than GPA) of C+ as unsatisfactory to graduate work.  Further, as a TA you are required to resolve “Incompletes” in your graduate course work within one semester or summer session.  Failing to comply with these academic standards can be immediate grounds for termination of your appointment.

Unprofessional Conduct

All teachers can be placed on probation for unprofessional conduct.  Unprofessional conduct includes breaches of the University’s code of professional ethics, allowing for free expression; breaches of the University’s policies on racial and other kinds of discrimination, which include its policies on sexual harassment; and failure to adjust teaching practices that do not serve the interests of students.

Violations of university policies will be immediately directed to the Chair of the English Department, who will take necessary action in accordance with the Disciplinary Regulations of Washington State University. Questionable teaching practices (e.g., frequent cancellation of classes, consistently awarding grades far above or below general tendencies, decidedly high student complaints) will result in the following procedures:

1. The Director or Assistant Director of Composition will call for a meeting with the instructor to discuss the concern and suggest possible teaching strategies or other means whereby the concern can be rectified.
2. The Director or the Assistant Director of Composition will attend no fewer than two class sessions without prior notice, meeting with the instructor at the first available time subsequent to the class visitations to discuss the results of the observations, and to make further suggestions if appropriate.
3. If deemed appropriate by the Director of Composition, the instructor will be placed on a probationary status with terms for the removal of probation stipulated in writing.
4. The Director or the Assistant Director of Composition will again attend no fewer than two class sessions without prior notice, assuring compliance with the terms of the probation, meeting with the instructor at the first available time to discuss the finding. 
5. If the Director of Composition finds that the instructor has not made a bona fide effort to meet the terms of probation, the file containing the procedure will be forwarded to the English Department’s Executive Committee for its recommendation on further action. Considering all the evidence, the Chair of the English Department will then decide on whether to require further probation or terminate the appointment.

All procedures will be kept in a file separate from the instructor’s official file.  Should the conditions of the probation be satisfied, the probationary file will be destroyed within one year.