Observation Templates
Templates for formative teaching observation of TAs, either by peers or a Lead Instructor.
File: Observation-Templates.pdfTA Training & Support
TA Expectations Template
A template for establishing and communicating expectations between Lead Instructors and TAs.
File: TA-Expectations-Template.docxDowling, B
Photos from the 2023 Campus-Wide TA Awards Ceremony
L&S is pleased to collaborate with the Graduate School and the Morgridge Center to celebrate outstanding performances by Teaching Assistants (TAs) across campus. The Campus-Wide TA Awards recognize excellence in a variety of categories. 2023 winners received a certificate of accomplishment, a $1000 award, and recognition at the annual Campus-Wide TA Awards Ceremony.
Resources for Graduate Student Mental Health (Spring 2023)
The following list of mental health resources was compiled specifically for graduate students by the Graduate School in Spring 2023.
Graduate and Professional Student Assistance Specialist:
The Graduate School and the Dean of Students Office jointly support a staff position focused on graduate student needs. Elaine Goetz-Berman serves in this role, which includes support, advocacy, and resource referral for graduate students. Elaine’s approach to working with graduate students centers on her specialized knowledge about the unique academic and personal challenges they face.
University Health Services – Mental Health Services:
UHS offers a safe and confidential environment with a variety of support services available free of charge and open to all graduate students living in Wisconsin. These include individual, couple/partner, and group counseling, as well as stress management and psychiatry services. Those living out of state may access specific workshops, crisis support, Let’s Talk services, and care management for connection with care and resources in local communities or at UHS. Mental Health Services offers both Telehealth (via phone or zoom) and in person appointments and services.
An Access Appointment is the entry point to services at Mental Health Services and is done over the phone. To schedule an Access Appointment, students should call Mental Health Services at 608-265-5600 (option 2) or log on to MyUHS for 24-hour appointment booking. This appointment will last about 20 minutes.
If there is a risk of suicide or concern about the wellbeing of a student, call UHS 24-hour crisis service* to speak with an on-call counselor at 608-265-5600, option 9. If a situation is immediately life threatening, call 911.
In addition, UHS hosts a variety of group counseling opportunities. Here are a few of relevance to graduate students:
Graduate Students Support Group (Mondays 1:00-2:30) This group will examine the sources of stress, ways of coping, and the value of peer support in adjusting to the challenges of being a graduate student. Topics may include time management, financial stress, relationship concerns, burnout, isolation, and maintaining balance.
Dissertators’ Group (Mondays 3:00- 4:30pm) A supportive group environment focused on the emotional, behavioral, and organizational challenges associated with the dissertation process.
Graduate Students of Color Group (Fridays 3:00-4:30pm) For graduate students who identify as people of color, who may experience unique challenges, microaggressions, and lack of supports compared to their White peers and undergraduate counterparts.
International Students Support Group (Fridays 3:00-4:30pm) For international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies. This group strives to provide a space for international students to share their experiences, as well as build connections, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
The groups listed above are just a few examples. Additional groups address LGBTQ support, relationships, depression, anxiety, and other topics. Groups typically meet one to two hours weekly and may run from four to 12 weeks per semester. These groups fill up very quickly, so students should enroll in these groups at the beginning of the semester.
Additional UHS Resources Include:
Grad Resilience* (Thursdays 12:00-1:00pm) – This is a series of rotating 1-hour virtual lunch discussions for current graduate students. Each section presents strategies to navigate a feature of graduate culture with the opportunity for participants to share experiences and ask questions.
Let’s Talk* – These confidential and informal 20-minute consultations with a mental health provider are available every weekday. For in-person sections, students can just stop by the location. For virtual sections, sign-up is available.
Wellness Initiatives – UHS’s interdisciplinary program is designed to assist students’ pursuit of healthy mind, body, and spirit. Programs address healthy living, nutritional counseling, mindfulness, exercise consultation, yoga, massage, stress management, and more.
Sexual Violence Prevention Program – UHS provides an online sexual violence and misconduct prevention program, which all incoming graduate students at UW-Madison are required to complete.
Survivor Services – Survivor Services provides confidential support for students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and/or stalking. Services include information and referral, individual and group counseling, and advocacy and accompaniments.
Students living out of state may access specific UHS workshops, crisis support, Let’s Talk services, and care management to connect with resources and care in local communities or at UHS. Mental Health Services offers both Telehealth (via phone or Zoom) and in person appointments and services.
If you would like to have UHS give a virtual presentation to faculty and/or graduate students regarding graduate student mental health and resources on campus, please fill out this form to request a training. You can find all their outreach programs listed online, as well as information about their suicide prevention training for faculty and staff, which is a self-guided training that can be completed at any time.
Additional support and resources on campus include:
UWell – This is a comprehensive wellness initiative aiming to advance the health and wellbeing of the entire campus community by promoting existing resources.
Dean of Students Office – This office is a primary resource for connecting students who are navigating personal, academic, or health issues, to supportive campus and community resources. They are committed to fostering a caring environment for all students. Drop-in hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am – 4:00pm, Room 70 Bascom Hall. You can also call at 608-263-5700 or email doso@studentaffairs.wisc.edu. Dean of Students Office responsibilities include student of concern report; bias reporting process; sexual assault, dating, domestic violence; and other issues affecting student wellbeing.
University Veterans Services – Student veterans transitioning to civilian life face unique challenges. The mission of University Veterans Services is to support military-connected students by fostering personal transitions and pursuit of academic success.
Ombuds Office – University employees, including graduate students, can seek guidance regarding workplace concerns without fear of reprisal and at no cost to them.
Employee Assistance Office – Graduate students who hold assistantships are eligible to utilize the Employee Assistance Office. This is a confidential resource that provides counseling and consultation at no cost.
In addition to utilizing UHS’s services, graduate students who hold assistantship appointments may seek mental health services covered by their health insurance plan*.
*These options remain available to students in non-pooled, distance programs that do not have access to other segregated fee-funded services.
Spring 2023 TA Training Photos
Teaching assistants from across the College of Letters and Science participated in the annual L&S Spring TA Training this January. They completed training in two parts: an asynchronous Canvas course and an in-person day of panels and workshops on Monday, January 23.
Self-enroll in the New TA Canvas course—available all semester—to learn about pedagogy, Canvas basics, and key policies and resources.
New this year, a separate Canvas course delivers a streamlined review for returning TAs.
** Stay tuned for details on Fall 2023 TA Training & Orientation: https://teachlearn.ls.wisc.edu/ta-training/.
Building Inclusive Communities
During a recent workshop, TAs learned foundational knowledge and skills for building toward socially-just classroom communities. Keep reading for a learning activity you can do on your own and strategies you can start implementing right now.
For a deep dive into social justice education opportunities at UW–Madison, visit Inclusion Education, a part of Student Affairs.
Learning Activity: Exploring the Self
Consider 3 social identities you hold. Then, open up a blank page and reflect.
- How do these identities show up or influence how you navigate your role as a TA?
- How do your identities influence your relationship building and decision making in your department?
- What makes you feel welcomed, included and validated within these identities?
Strategies for Action
- Do the Self Work. Interrogate your identities, your positionality, and how you exist within these systems.
- Acknowledge and Embrace Differences. Who do you center in your communities? What stories are celebrated? What experiences validated?
- Challenge your Assumptions and Beliefs. What must you unlearn? What bias do you hold? What stereotypes are you leaning on?
- Normalize Being Wrong and Asking for Help. Share times that you struggled or needed support. Provide space for questions.
- Build Authentic Relationships. Practice vulnerability, participate in cultural exchange, invest in the group by intentionally engaging.
- Develop the Skill of Being Accountable. Acknowledge, apologize, and act. When harm is done, do something about it.
- Utilize your Network. Reach out to fellow instructors; find support to amplify your impact.
Resources
- Multicultural Student Center (https://msc.wisc.edu)
- Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (https://lgbt.wisc.edu)
- McBurney Disability Resource Center (https://mcburney.wisc.edu)
- International Student Services (https://iss.wisc.edu)
- Division of Diversity, Equity, and Educational Achievement (https://diversity.wisc.edu)
Microcourses
- Reflecting on Social Justice Foundational Concepts https://lo.library.wisc.edu/DEI_foundations/
- Including & Navigating Race in the Classroom https://lo.library.wisc.edu/DEI_inclusiveclassroom/
The mission of Social Justice Education Programs is to cultivate learning opportunities that develop and support self-exploration, critical dialogue, and the capacity to build just and inclusive communities.
Mental Health Resources for Graduate Students
The following list of mental health resources was compiled specifically for graduate students by the Graduate School in Fall 2022.
Graduate and Professional Student Assistance Specialist:
The Graduate School and the Dean of Students Office jointly support a staff position focused on graduate student needs. Elaine Goetz-Berman serves in this role, which includes support, advocacy, and resource referral for graduate students. Elaine’s approach to working with graduate students centers on her specialized knowledge about the unique academic and personal challenges they face.
University Health Services – Mental Health Services:
UHS offers a safe and confidential environment with a variety of support services available free of charge and open to all graduate students living in Wisconsin. These include individual, couple/partner, and group counseling, as well as stress management and psychiatry services. Those living out of state may access specific workshops, crisis support, Let’s Talk services, and care management for connection with care and resources in local communities or at UHS. Mental Health Services offers both Telehealth (via phone or zoom) and in person appointments and services.
An Access Appointment is the entry point to services at Mental Health Services and is done over the phone. To schedule an Access Appointment, students should call Mental Health Services at 608-265-5600 (option 2) or log on to MyUHS for 24-hour appointment booking. This appointment will last about 20 minutes.
If there is a risk of suicide or concern about the wellbeing of a student, call UHS 24-hour crisis service* to speak with an on-call counselor at 608-265-5600, option 9. If a situation is immediately life threatening, call 911.
In addition, UHS hosts a variety of group counseling opportunities. Here are a few of relevance to graduate students:
Graduate Students Support Group (Mondays 1:00-2:30) This group will examine the sources of stress, ways of coping, and the value of peer support in adjusting to the challenges of being a graduate student. Topics may include time management, financial stress, relationship concerns, burnout, isolation, and maintaining balance.
Dissertators’ Group (Mondays 3:00- 4:30pm) A supportive group environment focused on the emotional, behavioral, and organizational challenges associated with the dissertation process.
Graduate Students of Color Group (Fridays 3:00-4:30pm) For graduate students who identify as people of color, who may experience unique challenges, microaggressions, and lack of supports compared to their White peers and undergraduate counterparts.
International Students Support Group (Fridays 3:00-4:30pm) For international students enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies. This group strives to provide a space for international students to share their experiences, as well as build connections, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
The groups listed above are just a few examples. Additional groups address LGBTQ support, relationships, depression, anxiety, and other topics. Groups typically meet one to two hours weekly and may run from four to 12 weeks per semester. These groups fill up very quickly, so students should enroll in these groups at the beginning of the semester.
Additional UHS Resources Include:
Grad Resilience* (Thursdays 12:00-1:00pm) – This is a series of rotating 1-hour virtual lunch discussions for current graduate students. Each section presents strategies to navigate a feature of graduate culture with the opportunity for participants to share experiences and ask questions.
Let’s Talk* – These confidential and informal 20-minute consultations with a mental health provider are available every weekday. For in-person sections, students can just stop by the location. For virtual sections, sign-up is available.
SilverCloud* – This online, self-guided, interactive mental health resource provides students with accessible cognitive behavioral interventions 24 hours a day. SilverCloud is not designed to replace in-person mental health treatment for many complex concerns but may be an effective option for students with mild to moderate symptoms to help manage day-to-day stresses and anxiety; improve resilience; learn skills to understand thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Wellness Initiatives – UHS’s interdisciplinary program is designed to assist students’ pursuit of healthy mind, body, and spirit. Programs address healthy living, nutritional counseling, mindfulness, exercise consultation, yoga, massage, stress management, and more.
Sexual Violence Prevention Program – UHS provides an online sexual violence and misconduct prevention program, which all incoming graduate students at UW-Madison are required to complete.
Survivor Services – Survivor Services provides confidential support for students who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and/or stalking. Services include information and referral, individual and group counseling, and advocacy and accompaniments.
If you would like to have UHS give a virtual presentation to faculty and/or graduate students regarding graduate student mental health and resources on campus, please fill out this form to request a training. You can find all their outreach programs listed online, as well as information about their suicide prevention training for faculty and staff, which is a self-guided training that can be completed at any time.
Additional support and resources on campus include:
UWell – This is a comprehensive wellness initiative aiming to advance the health and wellbeing of the entire campus community by promoting existing resources.
Dean of Students Office – This office is a primary resource for connecting students who are navigating personal, academic, or health issues, to supportive campus and community resources. They are committed to fostering a caring environment for all students. Responsibilities include the Student of Concern Report, the Bias Reporting Process, addressing Sexual Assault, Dating, and Domestic Violence, as well as many other issues affecting student wellbeing. Drop-in hours are Monday through Friday 8:30am-4:00pm, room 70 Bascom Hall. You can also call at 608-263-5700 or email doso@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.
University Veterans Services – Student veterans transitioning to civilian life face unique challenges. The mission of University Veterans Services is to support military-connected students by fostering personal transitions and pursuit of academic success.
Ombuds Office – University employees, including graduate students, can seek guidance regarding workplace concerns without fear of reprisal and at no cost to them.
Employee Assistance Office – Graduate students who hold assistantships are eligible to utilize the Employee Assistance Office. This is a confidential resource that provides counseling and consultation at no cost.
In addition to utilizing UHS’s services, graduate students who hold assistantship appointments may seek mental health services covered by their health insurance plan*.
*These options remain available to students in non-pooled, distance programs that do not have access to other segregated fee-funded services.
Supporting LGBTQ+ Students in the Classroom
Recently, Katherine Charek Briggs, Assistant Director of the Gender and Sexuality Campus Center, led an interactive Zoom workshop for L&S TAs to hear about inclusive practices, prepare to make space for conversation within their work teams, and practice scenarios. Read below for some workshop takeaways.
Key Ideas
- Individuals have a big impact. Using welcoming body language, checking your assumptions, and normalizing apology and correction can help create supportive environments.
- When someone discloses an identity to you, thank them for sharing and offer support.
- Practice someone’s pronouns for homework. The Minus18 Pronouns app is a simple matching game for practicing.
Scenarios for Practice
Shea, a non-binary student, has told your whole class they use they/them pronouns. Two classmates continue to misgender them in class and on Canvas. What do you do?
What if the students are non-native English speakers?
What if it is your lead professor, not students, who is misgendering them?
A student shares that a classmate implied she should be using the all-gender restroom in your building. She wants help submitting a bias report. What do you do?
What if you don’t know much about restroom and/or bias policies at UW?
What else might you offer her in terms of support?
Resources
- Locate gender-inclusive restrooms on the UW Campus Map. In the left-hand menu, check the box for gender-inclusive restrooms.
- GSCC Info Sheets:
- Trans Allyship Workbook: Building Skills to Support Trans People in Our Lives (find at UW–Madison Libraries)
Learning About Disability & Ableism
In a recent L&S workshop, TAs learned from Ruben Mota, ADA Coordinator in the Office of Compliance, about disability, ableism, and how they can support their students. Ruben led the group through activities exploring accessible introductions and apparent/non-apparent identities, shared actionable ways to avoid ableism, highlighted Universal Design principles, and offered resources for further learning. Read below for some workshop takeaways:
Activities
- Visual Description Introduction: In small groups, individuals introduce themselves with their name, pronouns (if comfortable), and a brief visual description of features others can readily observe.
- Identity Iceberg: Draw a horizontal line. Above it, list traits other people can observe. Non-observable or non-apparent identity features go below the line. Draw the identity iceberg on your own, and then share in small groups if desired.
Some Key Ideas
- Disability is one facet of diversity, intersecting with other visible and invisible parts of a person’s identity.
- Some prefer to be described with people-first language (a person with a disability). Identity first is best for others (a disabled person). When unsure, Ruben suggests asking a person their preference or using people-first language.
- Universal Design principles guide classrooms toward accessibility for all students.
Resources
- Disability and Ableism Awareness Training (self-enroll in the Canvas Course)
- Make it Accessible! Digital Resouce Guide: https://it.wisc.edu/learn/accessible-content-tech/
- Physical Event Planning Guide: https://compliance.wisc.edu/documents/guide-to-planning-an-accessible-event/
- Accessibility@UW-Madison