2. The Department has established a system, which helps to ensure that Teaching Assistants are adequately competent in German prior to beginning the assistantship. We provide both constant supervision and instruction in pedagogical theory so that Teaching Assistants may have a solid groundwork before they begin their teaching. At the same time, this supervision ensures that the Department will maintain high quality of instruction for its undergraduates. In the 1997/98 TA Training and Advisory Committee Review prepared at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Department of Germanic Languages was one of only six programs whose Teaching Assistant program was designated as exemplary.

3. The "Guide to Graduate Studies" provided by the Department explains the role of assistantships as the primary financial support of its graduate students. Please study that document carefully. A few general observations should be made here:

a) Appointments of assistants are normally made for a two-semester period (one-semester appointments are rare exceptions). Teaching assistants are not automatically continued for further appointments but must reapply for each new academic year.

b) The Faculty Code of University Government (Appendix C) requires that each department issue annual letters of appointment to its graduate teaching assistants "clearly stating that such appointments are contingent on satisfactory academic work as graduate students, and reserving the assignment of duties, including reassignment and termination to the judgment of the department." The rare cases of termination of a contract in mid-year or mid-semester have involved unwillingness to adhere to the syllabus, disregard for the supervisor's instructions, or other unprofessional conduct.

c) Proof of adequate language ability in German is a prerequisite for appointment as a Teaching Assistant.

d) Concurrent with the first semester or first year of teaching in the program, the Teaching Assistant takes Teaching Methods and Materials (German 205 A/B). The course serves 1) as preparation for teaching, 2) as week-by-week guidance and instruction in the presentation of the textbook's material, and 3) as a general forum for discussion of pedagogical issues. Continuation as a Teaching Assistant is contingent upon satisfactory completion of German 205 A/B.

e) Invariably, each level of German instruction (German 1, 2, 3, 4) involves multiple sections and thus a strong need for close coordination and cooperation among the various instructors of these sections. To ensure orderly progress through the semester, at each level one Coordinator is charged with the responsibility for coordinating the course and presiding over periodic meetings of section instructors. In order to maintain the quality of our program, all instructors are expected to adhere closely to the Coordinator's instructions; deviations from the syllabus or methodology require prior approval of the Coordinator.

f) The Coordinator and all Teaching Assistants are responsible to the Assistant Chair of the Department, who is the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction for the Department. The Supervisor determines the syllabus for German 1, 2, 3, and 4 and sets policies for all sections. The Teaching Assistant contract implies that the TA will act in accordance with these policies and will support the program and its methodology both in spirit and in letter. Teaching Assistants are encouraged to discuss their problems, suggestions, and new ideas with the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction, as well as with the faculty member who serves as "Reading Coordinator" for German 3 and 4.

g) To ensure quality instruction, the Department provides that each Teaching Assistant will be visited during each semester of instruction by the Supervisor or her Assistant, as well as by other graduate students. Normally such visits take place with little or no advanced notice to the TA. The purpose of the evaluation is to take note of good qualities demonstrated in classroom teaching and to identify problems or areas that need improvement. During the first year of teaching, each Teaching Assistant will also be videotaped during at least one class period, so that both the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction and the TA will be able to discuss such issues. Each TA will also be asked to visit the classes of other TAs, discuss his/her observations with them, and hand in written reports.

h) The Graduate School has affirmed that each department has full discretion as to appointment or non-appointment of Teaching Assistants. In making such decisions, the Department Chair and Assistant Chair, in consultation with other faculty, weigh such factors as undergraduate enrollments, allocation of funds for salaries, limitations on tuition awards, and past evaluation of Teaching Assistants. Special attention is also paid to the progress (or lack of progress) shown by each graduate student in his or her work toward the degree.

II. Specific Obligations of Teaching Assistants

1. Teaching Assistants should take particular care to read and heed memoranda from the course coordinator, the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction, or the office staff regarding instructional matters, and to reply promptly if a reply is in order. All TA's are required to attend meetings called by the course coordinator or by the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction. This is important!

2. Teaching Assistants must teach the full fifty minutes of each class. University rules require that you not switch rooms or times of meeting for your class. (In cases where special technology needs require temporary classroom changes, arrangements can be made with the assistance of the Department Manager). The Department does not allow its TA's to teach their classes out of doors.

3. Failure to meet all your classes is a very serious matter; we ask that you be diligent both in attendance and punctuality. You must not cancel any class, even before a holiday. If for any valid reason you cannot meet your class, you must find a substitute and also notify the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction immediately. If you anticipate difficulties resulting from adverse weather, you should devise a contingency plan well in advance.

4. All Teaching Assistants must participate in the construction, proctoring, and group grading of examinations. Material requested in connection with the preparation of an examination must be turned in by the specified deadline in its final form in order to ensure the timely duplication of the exam. Teaching Assistants are expected to remain in the room with their classes during quizzes and hourly examinations.

5. Teaching Assistants are required to schedule two non-consecutive office hours each week and to be available for appointments. On the first day of the semester, the TA should inform his/her class of these office hours. The Department Manager and Course Director should be notified as well.

6. Teaching Assistants are required to take attendance in each class meeting. Your students should be advised that class participation is an important part of any language course and must therefore figure prominently in the course grade, so that excessive absences will have a detrimental effect on the student's grade. When you see that a student has accumulated more than three consecutive unexcused absences, you should confer promptly with the Supervisor.

7. Grade books should be kept in an orderly fashion; at times there may be cases where a grade appeals committee will have to examine your grade book. Upon request, and especially when you leave the university, you must turn in the following materials to the main office:

a) Grade book, including attendance records
b) All desk copies of textbooks

8. Final examinations are given and graded on the same day. After a group grading session, Teaching Assistants are expected to immediately calculate and turn in their final grades, and all final examinations, to the Department Secretary. No make-ups are given without the approval of the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction, and only in exceptional cases.

9. Files of all lesson materials, quizzes and tests are kept in the office of the Supervisor of Undergraduate Instruction.