iSchool Academic Affairs Policy on Teaching Support

The iSchool has a teaching support policy centrally managed by iSchool Academic Programs (ischoolfacquery@umd.edu). It is based on a set of four roles:

  • Academic Peer Mentor

    • Provides 5 weekly hours of teaching support

    • Focus is on facilitation of hands-on activities 

    • Can support grading in cases of objective assignments (e.g. test bank quizzes) but should participate in subjective (e.g. essay) grading

    • Will not have access to Gradebook in ELMS

    • 3 academic credits, no pay

  • Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

    • Provides 10 weekly hours of teaching support

    • Must have been an Academic Peer Mentor in the course before being hired as as Undergraduate Teaching Assistant

    • Focus is on facilitation of hands-on activities during class sessions and out-of-classroom office hours/tutoring

    • Can grade objective assignments but should not be final authority in subjective assignment grading

    • 3 credits, $11/hour

  • Grader

    • Provide 20 weekly hours of grading-only support

    • Does not attend class sessions or work directly with students

    • Grades assignments in ELMS or other format, as directed by the instructor

    • $14/hour

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    • Provide 20 weekly hours of teaching support

    • Duties can include grading, leading class sessions, holding office hours, assisting in development of course materials, providing oversight of Undergraduate Teaching Assistants

    • Attends all class sessions

    • Full graduate assistantship (tuition and stipend)

 

If a class qualifies for a graduate student teaching assistant, iSchool Academic Programs will tentatively assign one, then allow the instructor an opportunity to speak briefly with the student to ensure they have the necessary skills. The Academic Programs team will also request instructor input on undergraduate students, but may simply assign them based on the image below.

Graphic depicting iSchool teaching support policy. If you need this information relayed to you in a different manner, please submit a ticket via the iSchool Academic Programs