Campus-Wide New TA Orientation
This mandatory Campus-Wide New Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation is hosted by the Center for the Advancement of Teaching Excellence (CATE) in partnership with the Graduate College. This orientation is held each August, consists of asynchronous videos and resources and in-person workshops, and is designed to supplement departmental-based orientations and training for new graduate student teaching assistants.
2023 UIC Campus-Wide TA Orientation Heading link
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- Learn about being a TA at UIC and the resources available to support you in your role
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- Increase your knowledge of pedagogy and develop practical teaching skills you can use as a TA
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- Meet with other new and experienced TAs at UIC
Registration N Resources Heading link
Frequently Asked Questions Heading link
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Who should attend?
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All graduate students who will be TAs at UIC for the first time during the upcoming Fall, Spring, or Summer semesters are required to attend.
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When and where is TA Orientation held?
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The in-person component of the 2023 Campus-Wide New TA Orientation is being held on campus on Thursday, August 17 from 1:30 pm – 4:45 pm CT in Lincoln Hall, 707 S. Morgan St (UIC campus map).
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Check-in for the orientation will begin at 12:30 pm in the lobby of Lincoln Hall, and the entrance is on the north side of the building. The Asynchronous video and resources component of the orientation will be distributed at least a week prior to the in-person orientation.
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What if I don’t know my TA assignment?
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Graduate students expecting to be first-time TAs in the fall, spring, or summer semester of the current academic year are encouraged to attend the TA Orientation.
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Your department is the best source of information for details about your TA assignment.
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What if I have an access question?
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This event will take place in-person primarily in Lincoln Hall, 707 S. Morgan St (UIC campus map). Registration and some workshops will take place on the first floor. There is an elevator in Grant Hall with skybridge access to the second and third floors of Lincoln Hall via Douglas Hall. A couple of larger capacity workshops will be help in Lecture Center C.
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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. To find additional all-gender restrooms visit this all-gender restroom campus map.
For more access info or access requests, please email teaching@uic.edu.
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How can I get to the orientation (via mass transit, driving, or bike)?
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Learn more about options for getting to campus including information about campus parking from the UIC Visit & Directions page.
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The CTA Blue Line construction project will be impacting the Blue Line ‘L’ stops near UIC’s campus and the CTA is encouraging travelers to plan for heavily extended travel times and to make use of alternate routes.
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How can I access digital workshop materials during the orientation?
UIC-Wifi
You are encouraged to bring a laptop or tablet with you to the orientation, as many workshops will have digital materials available or provide opportunities for you to engage in some hands-on practice.
Once you are on campus you can connect to UIC-Wifi. UIC-Wifi is available in most classroom spaces across campus as well as some outdoor locations.
Google Workspace and Box
During the orientation, many materials will be shared via Google Workspace or Box, which are file storage and collaboration tools used at UIC. Prior to the orientation you are encouraged to:
- Create a UIC Google Workspace account.
- Create a UIC Box account (netID login required).
If you have questions or need help with accessing any of these services, please reach out to Technology Solutions.
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What If I am unable to attend the TA Orientation?
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Please fill out the registration using the link above, and for the workshop registration questions, please select “I am unable to attend an in-person workshop during this time”. This will ensure that you receive the asynchronous videos and resources that will be distributed the week prior to the in-person orientation and receive information as additional workshop opportunities are added during the semester.
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There will not be a make-up orientation, and it is recommended that Graduate students who miss the TA Orientation discuss next steps with their respective departments, and review the Teaching Assistant Resources Webpage.
You might also be interested in reviewing session recordings from past orientations from any sessions that sound like they might be of interest to you or relevant to your TA duties.
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Who should I contact if I have questions or need more information about TA Orientation?
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For more information, please contact us.
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Is there a separate orientation for International TAs?
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No, there is not a separate required orientation for international TAs. However, there will be optional sessions offered by the International Teaching Assistant Program during the New TA Orientation.
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New TA Orientation is on the same day as the Office of International Studies New International Studies Summit. New TAs will attend the New International Student Summit in the morning and then the TA Orientation in the afternoon and need to register for both events. UIC International TA Program staff will assist students in transitioning between programs.