Policy on Undergraduate Teaching Assistants and Undergraduate Teaching Interns (2018)

Rationale

Undergraduate Teaching Assistants (UTAs) – also sometimes known as Undergraduate Teaching interns – have traditionally been integral to the teaching mission of the College. They have been used to support faculty in implementing instruction. Such positions have also provided valuable academic training and experience to high-achieving undergraduate students that can help prepare them for future careers.  Because UTAs have occupied an ill-defined space in the labor practices of the College, the College has revisited its policies in regard to using undergraduate in teaching situations and composed this policy concerning undergraduate teaching activities. This policy supersedes any previous College guidance on UTAs and undergraduate Teaching interns.

Definitions

There are two types of undergraduate teaching assistant positions:

1. UTA: defined as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant. These undergraduate students are paid, and as such serve as employees of the university.
2. UTIN: defined as an Undergraduate Teaching Intern. These undergraduate students are participants in a College course for which they earn credit for their work in the classroom. They are not considered employees of the university.

UTAs and UTINs assist with, and/or provide instruction in, courses offered through the College or its schools, departments, or programs.  Any unit that uses either UTAs or UTINs is considered to have an Undergraduate Teaching Program (UTP).

Policy

1. Each UTP must provide a UTA/UTIN training program that includes both initial training and ongoing training/supervision to each UTA/UTIN.
   1. Initial training must, at a minimum, include the following:
      •  Instruction and completion of certification concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Units must ensure each UTA/UTIN has successfully completed the university-created online training module for FERPA before the UTA/UTIN has any contact with students. See: https://ferpa.iu.edu
      • Instruction and completion of certification concerning Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Misconduct Reporting Requirements and Procedures (Title IX) Units must ensure each UTA/UTIN has successfully completed the university-created online training module for Title IX before the UTA/UTIN has any contact with students. See: https://stopsexualviolence.iu.edu/employee/employee-training.html
      • Expectations regarding time commitments, working conditions and (where appropriate) compensation
      • Expectations of professional behavior and hours to be worked while serving as a UTA/UTIN
      • Review of unit and College policies and procedures related to UTA/UTINs
      • Appropriate safety protocols
   2. Initial and ongoing training should include periodic reminders about (and announcements regarding any changes to the training protocols mentioned above. 
2. UTAs cannot assign grades by themselves, but they can assist in the grading work under the supervision of the course’s instructor of record. UTAs may never be a course’s instructor of record. UTAs must also have demonstrated sufficient expertise in the subject matter being graded, and such grading will only be of an objective – not subjective – nature.
3. UTINs can assist an instructor of record with various teaching, mentoring and tutoring duties, but they may not grade students in the course. UTINs may never be a course’s instructor of record.
4. UTA/UTINs who have direct student interaction through instructional activities – discussion sections, tutoring, exam proctoring, study sessions, etc. – must be regularly observed by the instructor of record for the course to which they are assigned, the coordinator of the unit’s UTP, or an appropriately-trained Associate Instructor.
5. Each UTP will create and maintain appropriate descriptions for the work done by its UTAs and UTIs that indicates the following:
   1. An outline of the initial and ongoing UTP training program
   2. Description of duties for both UTAs and UTINs housed within a given UTP, which may include:
      • Leading small group discussions
      • Serving as peer tutors
      • Conducting review sessions
      • Holding office hours
      • Helping students with experiments and assignments during class
      • Grading activities for UTAs where appropriate
   3. How the training is implemented (training sessions, enrollment in a given course, required meetings, etc.)
   4. Criteria defining the appropriate pay stipend or hourly wage for UTAs
   5. Criteria defining appropriate academic credit for UTINs
6. Units must file their UTP descriptions with the College by August 15 each year. After appropriate review and approval by the College, these descriptions are to be filed each year.
   1. Prior to enacting any UTP changes in procedures, expectations or practices, the unit must file such changes with the Associate Dean of undergraduate studies.
   2. Units currently without a UTP, but wishing to develop one, must submit their UTP description at least one semester prior to the semester in which they intend to initiate the use of UTA/UTINs.
   3. Failure to adhere to this policy on UTA, UTIN will jeopardize a department's ability to continue participating in this program.

History

Responsible office: Undergraduate Academic Affairs in consultation