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--- teaching_assistant_allocation [2015/01/27 16:20] – judi
+++ teaching_assistant_allocation [2015/01/27 16:46] (current) – judi
@@ Line 4: / Line 4: @@
 == In the past ==
-. estimate enrollments based on:
+  -  estimate enrollments based on:
-	a. Past enrollments,
+       * Past enrollments
-	b. Emerging trends, and
+       * Emerging trends
-	c. Advice from Academic Counsellor.
+       * Advice from Academic Counsellor.
+  - Apply the SoCS allocation formula to enrollment estimate to get base numbers
+     * < 30 = 0 TAs
+     * 30-49 = 0.5 TA
+     * 50-99 = 1 TA
+     * 100-199 = 2 TAs
+     * 200-249 = 3 TAs
+     * 250-399 = 4 TAs
+     * > 400 = 5 TAs
+  - adjust as needed taking into consideration:
+     * Brand new course
+     * Instructor teaching the course for the first time,
+     * Novice instructor
+     * Late assignment of course to instructor
+     * Heavy lab component / 0.75 credit course
+     * Other extraordinary requirements
+     * Service course (fewer TAs)
+ Allocation of TAs based solely on the number of students and scheduled lab time results in some courses being over-resourced (those that have fewer graded item or that do not use all tutorials/labs for example) and some being under-resourced (i.e. those with more graded items and heavy lab components).
-. Apply the SoCS allocation formula to enrollment estimate to get base numbers
-·      < 30 = 0 TAs
-·      30-49 = 0.5 TA
-·      50-99 = 1 TA
-·      100-199 = 2 TAs
-·      200-249 = 3 TAs
-·      250-399 = 4 TAs
-·      > 400 = 5 TAs.
+== The Future ==
-. adjust the number based on following considerations:
-	Brand new course,
+The School of Computer Science TA allocation guidelines are designed to provide adequate TA support and to ensure that the support is greatest where it is most needed, as well as to ensure job similarity for students employed as Teaching Assistants by SOCS. The focus is on providing TA support for grading and labs/tutorials (virtual or real).
-	Instructor teaching the course for the first time,
-    Novice instructor,
-    Late assignment of course to instructor,
-    Heavy lab component / 0.75 credit course,
-    Other extraordinary requirements, and
-    Service course (fewer TAs).
-The guidelines used at the School of Computer Science are designed to provide adequate TA support and to ensure that the support is greatest where it is most needed, as well as ensure job equity for SOCS TA positions.
-Given that the SOCS TA budget is tightly stretched,  the focus is on providing TA support for grading and labs/tutorials.  Allocation of TAs based solely on the number of students in a course results in some courses being over-resourced (those that have fewer graded item or no tutorials/labs for example) and some being under-resourced (i.e. those with more graded items and heavy lab components).
+== SOCS TA Allocation Guidelines ==
+  - TA estimates are calculated based on:
-The guidelines used are outlined here:
+       * the number of students enrolled in the course after the add period
-  * TA estimates are calculated based on the number of students enrolled in the course after the add period in conjunction with the course description document that is created by the course instructor (See [[https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-grds-proc.shtml|Grading Procedures, Resolution 4, Part A ]] of the undergraduate calendar)
+       * the course description document that is created by the course instructor (See [[https://www.uoguelph.ca/registrar/calendars/undergraduate/current/c08/c08-grds-proc.shtml|Grading Procedures, Resolution 4, Part A ]] of the undergraduate calendar)
-  * As stated in the calendar, **instructors must provide the course description by the start of the course selection period**. The course selection period for Winter semester is usually the **beginning of August**.  The course selection period for Fall semester is usually the **beginning of March**.
+  - TA time requirements are based on the following (from the course description document)
-  * In the case of courses that are taught by sessional lecturers, the most recent course outline for the course will be used to create the course description. TAs may not be allocated for courses unless the course description is provided on time.
-  * TA estimates are based on the following
       * The number of graded assignments
       * The number of graded labs
@@ Line 47: / Line 44: @@
       * Student projects
       * Weekly meetings and consultation time
-  * The estimates for grading times are based on reports from TAs for different courses and estimates provided by faculty members.   Instructors whose evaluated items are more difficult to grade can provide alternate time estimates.  Our working estimates are:
+  - Our working estimates are:
       * Assignments take 10 minutes  to grade for first and second year course, 15 minutes for 3rd and 4th
       * Midterms take 10 minutes/student of TA time to grade
       * Final exams take 15 minutes/student of TA time to grade
-  * Consideration is given to the following
+      * The estimates for grading times are based on reports from TAs for different courses and estimates provided by faculty members.
-      * First and Second  year courses may need more TA support than upper year courses. Upper year students are usually more self sufficient.
+      * Instructors are encouraged to provide details about the marking of labs, assignments and exams when the course description is submitted.  Those details can be used to improve the estimates for the course.
+  - Consideration is given to the following
+      * First and second  year courses may need more TA support than upper year courses. Upper year students are usually more self sufficient.
       * Sessional instructors, especially new ones, may need additional TA support.
       * Instructors who are teaching a course for the first time may need additional TA support.
-  * Instructors are encouraged to provide details about the marking of labs, assignments and exams when the course description is submitted.  Those details can be used to improve the estimates for the course.
+      * Service courses require fewer TAs
+      * Courses with enrollment lower than 30 are unlikely to require TA support
+  - As stated in the calendar, **instructors must provide the course description by the start of the course selection period**. The course selection period for Winter semester is usually the **beginning of August**.  The course selection period for Fall semester is usually the **beginning of March**.  TAs may not be allocated for courses unless the course description is provided on time.  In the case of courses that are taught by sessional lecturers, or that are assigned late to an instructor, the most recent course outline for the course will be used to create the course description.