The Teaching Assistant Consultant (TAC) is an experienced TA who has been selected to co-facilitate the development and training of new TAs in their department. As a member of the 495 teaching team and near-peer mentor, the TAC’s job is to help new TAs learn the fundamentals of evidence-based and inclusive teaching practices, how to apply these fundamentals in their discipline in order to be effective instructors, and how to effectively manage the responsibilities and conflicts that arise as a TA. As part of their work, TACs are encouraged to be active educators, to spend time thinking about what can be done to improve teaching in their department as well as their own classroom, and to find new ways to help new TAs be more productive and effective in their roles.
Specific responsibilities for TACs vary by department/division but typically include a combination of the following:
- Co-facilitating 495 class meetings under the guidance of the Faculty Advisor
- Preparing materials for class meetings and/or departmental teaching orientations for TAs
- 495 course grading
- Course recordkeeping and grade entry
- Office hours / consultations for TAs
- Facilitation of microteaching workshops and/or peer feedback on assignments during 495 class meetings
- Observations of TAs teaching in their own classrooms
- Meetings with the Instructor of Record
- Attending the TAC Educational Development Academy
- Providing periodic feedback to the TLC to monitor and improve the TAC program
A sample workload breakdown with detailed job duties is available in this Box folder.
Training for TACs
All TACs are required to attend a TAC Educational Development Academy developed and facilitated by the Teaching & Learning Center (TLC), the Center for Education Innovation and Learning in the Sciences (CEILS), and Excellence in Pedagogy and Innovative Classrooms (EPIC). This advanced teaching and learning bootcamp guides TACs in thinking about the goals and objectives of being a departmental consultant for new TAs. The modules center around inclusive classroom practices and the difference between thinking about one’s own teaching versus guiding new TAs to become effective instructors. The TAC Educational Development Academy is one of the few opportunities that TACs from all across campus have to meet with the collective objective of raising the pedagogical standards of instruction for undergraduates at UCLA.
The TAC Educational Development Academy takes place in Week 0, 1, and 2 of Fall quarter (with alternative timing available for TACs appointed in Winter/Spring). Specific dates will be determined prior to the launch of the TAC nomination period. Please note that the TAC Educational Development Academy is included as a part of the TAC appointment hours, and TAC appointments should not exceed the contractual hours set by UAW 2865. The TAC academy totals a maximum of 18 hours, meaning TACs with a 25% appointment have 92 remaining contractual hours, and TACs with a 50% appointment have 202 remaining hours for a given quarter. TACs should track their hours worked and notify the 495 Faculty Advisor and/or department if they are nearing their maximum contractual hours for the quarter.
In addition to the training provided by the TAC Academy, TACs also receive mentorship from the Instructor of Record for their 495 course, and have access to ongoing support from TLC staff for the duration of their appointments.
Limitations of the TAC Role
The TAC position is an Academic Student Employee TA appointment. As such, the primary duty of TACs is to assist in all aspects of instruction, including tutoring, grading, advising, and limited seminar lecturing. These duties are performed under the supervision of a faculty “Instructor of Record,” who holds the sole and final responsibility for course content, work assignments, performance evaluations, and grading in the assigned course. TACs should not serve as lecturers nor should they be solely responsible for the development of course content. Observations or evaluations of a TA made by a TAC should not be part of the TA’s official teaching record and should not be used in the process of hiring or assigning TAs to their job positions. Employment evaluation responsibilities are subject to the terms of the UAW contract for Academic Student Employees and typically rest with faculty/supervisors.
Additionally, TACs should not be involved in activities that are not related to TA training, whether for their department or in any other capacity. For example, TACs should not be involved in administrative tasks, such as hiring TAs or assigning them to positions. The TAC should not be involved in creating course materials for undergraduate classes or other course development activities, including writing tests or organizing course content.