As you are about to begin the semester as a TA at the University of Minnesota, you might have some of the following questions on your mind:

How can I learn the details of my job requirements?

When you meet with your supervising faculty member for the first time, bring along a copy of the TA Responsibilities Checklist (pdf) in order to ensure that you find answers to important questions.

What needs to be included on a syllabus?

• If you are teaching your own class, see #9 of University Senate's Classroom Expectations Guidelines to learn what the U of MN requires you to include on your syllabus.
• The University of Minnesota's Syllabus Tutorial provides examples of each of the required sections for a syllabus.
• If you are teaching a Section of a class, talk with the instructor of records and the other TAs leading sections about whether it would be appropriate and helpful for each section to have a syllabus supplement.

What should I do before I meet the class for the first time?

• visit the room you'll be teaching in
• consider your technology needs
• access your class list and student pictures to get a jump start on learning student names

What needs to be accomplished on the first day of class?

The TA liaison group at the University of Minnesota has created a web site with advice and examples you'll find very useful in planning for your first day of class .

Other Questions

Contact Connie Tzenis at tzeni001@umn.edu .