Effective TA Drop-In (Office) Hours: Essential Dos and Don’ts
CATE TA Workshops
September 2, 2026
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location
Teaching Excellence Building (TEB), Room 201
Address
924 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 the Teaching Excellence Building Room 201 (924 S. Morgan St)
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR: Emily Potratz, epotra2@uic.edu
WORKSHOP CONTACT: teaching@uic.edu
Inclusivity & Accessibility Information: CATE is committed to making events as accessible as possible. CATE’s in-person events typically involve a combination of presentation and discussion-based activities. We welcome ASL interpreters, note-takers, and accompanying assistants to all CATE events. The TEB is wheelchair accessible with an elevator to the second floor space. The TEB space is equipped with fixed-height tables that are moveable and can be reconfigured. There are single-occupancy, all-gender, accessible bathrooms on the second and basement levels of TEB. If you have any accessibility questions, requests, or to coordinate accommodations, please contact the CATE team at teaching@uic.edu.
Date posted
Aug 3, 2026
Date updated
Aug 4, 2026