Effective TA Drop-In (Office) Hours: Essential Dos and Don’ts
CATE TA Workshops
January 21, 2026
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Location
Virtual event
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 online on Zoom
WORKSHOP FACILITATOR: Raguez Taha, rtaha2@uic.edu
WORKSHOP CONTACT: Emily Potratz, epotra2@uic.edu
Inclusivity & Accessibility Information: CATE is committed to making events accessible. CATE’s online events are delivered through Zoom, will use Zoom auto-captions, and may include breakout rooms and group discussion. If you have any accessibility questions, requests, or to coordinate accommodations, please contact the CATE team at teaching@uic.edu.
Date posted
Dec 12, 2025
Date updated
Dec 12, 2025