TA Credentials Database

The Dean of the Graduate School must approve all cases in which TAs are to be employed in graduate-level courses.

1. TAs must not be employed in primary-instructor roles (TA Types 1 or 2) in courses in which graduate students are enrolled. If employed in such courses, TAs must be Type 3 (e.g., lab assistant).
2. TAs employed in a graduate-level course must have post-qualifying exam status or a master's plus 18 graduate hours completed in the discipline. Exceptions may be made in cases of established national practice in this discipline.
3. TAs must not be in the position of assigning final course grades. TAs may assign grades on daily work, quizzes, notebooks, lab participation, but only if such grades and comments are regularly reviewed by the instructor of record.
4. A graduate-level course in which a TA is employed must not enroll students who are within the TA’s programmatic cohort (i.e., same program and year).
5. The DGS in the assigned discipline must see that appropriate faculty oversight of a TA employed in a graduate-level course is in place and maintained throughout the course.

Questions? Contact Chad Gilpin (257-4137) in The Graduate School.

Enter a justification obtained from either the DGS or faculty member supervising the TA. The justification needs to address all points of the Provost's Policy on Employing TAs in Graduate-level Courses (found in above section). 

Confirm the TA's role in the classroom with the DGS or Chair.

• If Type 1, and the TA has a graduate degree from an outside institution, add the degree referencing the transcript.

• If Type 1, and the TA does not have a graduate degree but has 18 graduate credits in the course discipline, those courses can be added as a concentration.
• If Type 2, 3, or 4, then SLCM instructor entry should be adjusted.

* Note that Type 2 courses must be pre-approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. If you are unsure as to whether your course is an approved Type 2 course, contact The Graduate School.)

Confirm the TA's role in the classroom with the DGS or Chair.

• If Type 2, check with the DGS or Chair to see if the enrollment CIP for the TA should be added to the course. If CIP would not be appropriate in all cases, enter a justification.
• If Type 3 or 4, then SLCM instructor entry should be adjusted.

Confirm the TA's role in the classroom with the DGS or Chair.

• If Type 3, first request to Dean of the Graduate School that course CIP be added to related CIPs for the enrollment area. If this request is denied, a justification or override is required.
• If Type 4, then SLCM instructor entry should be adjusted.