Effective TA Drop-In (Office) Hours: Essential Dos and Don’ts
CATE TA Workshops
August 19, 2026
3:15 PM - 4:45 PM
Location
Lincoln Hall Room 300
Address
707 South Morgan Street, Chicago, IL
Calendar
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Overview
Not sure how to handle TA drop-in hours? They can be intimidating, but this workshop offers TAs practical guidance on effective strategies, including fostering an inclusive environment, setting clear boundaries and expectations, and using effective communication techniques. Participants will engage in interactive activities such as brainstorming, role-playing, and peer feedback to enhance their skills in these areas. By the end, TAs will possess a robust toolkit to facilitate successful and enriching TA drop-in sessions.
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Describe the purpose of TA drop-in hours and explain how they support student learning, academic success, and connection outside of class time
- Use inclusive communication strategies and set clear expectations to create a welcoming environment
- Apply practical techniques to confidently handle common challenges in drop-in hours
WORKSHOP FORMAT: This workshop will be held in Lincoln Hall room 300 (707 S. Morgan Street)
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR: Emily Potratz, epotra2@uic.edu
WORKSHOP CONTACT: teaching@uic.edu
Inclusivity & Accessibility Information: CATE is committed to making events accessible. In-person events typically involve a combination of presentation and discussion-based activities. We welcome ASL interpreters, note-takers, and accompanying assistants to in-person CATE events.
TA workshops will take place in-person primarily in Lincoln Hall, 707 S. Morgan St with larger capacity workshops being held in Lecture Center C, 802 S. Morgan St. To access the second floor of Lincoln Hall there is an elevator in Grant Hall with skybridge access to the second and third floors of Lincoln Hall via Douglas Hall (UIC campus map).
Accessible restrooms are available on the first and second floors of Lincoln Hall and Douglas Hall, and an accessible all gender restroom is available on the first floor of Douglas Hall next to the women's restroom. There are 20 fully separated all gender bathroom stalls in Lecture Center E (806 S. Halsted St.) located on the West side of the building. To find additional all-gender restrooms visit the all-gender restroom campus map on the gender and sexuality center website.
For more access info or access requests, please email teaching@uic.edu.
Date posted
Jul 10, 2026
Date updated
Jul 10, 2026