Requesting a teaching assistant
A graduate teaching assistant (TA) may be identified if class enrollment is expected to reach the required minimum. Typically, classes with enrollments of 15 or more are eligible for a TA, except in the cases of asynchronous online courses, for which enrollments of 30 or more are eligible for a TA.
The TA’s compensation will be based on university stipend rates and the guidelines established in the provost-approved Faculty Policy and Salary Schedule. In cases where a class is not eligible for a TA, based on enrollment, departments may seek approval for the college to cover the cost from other funding sources.
When a graduate TA is not available, an undergraduate student may be assigned as a Student Services Course Assistants to support teaching staff. Undergraduates are hired under hourly appointments. We expect course assistants to work 20-30 hours per week as the work demands. Students may only submit hours for when they are actually engaged in working. SCE will monitor and approve their time submission based on the agreed number of hours the student will work. SCE will contact the class instructor regarding discrepancies.
Contact your department’s course budget administrator to request a TA. SCE will provide the budget administrator with the link to submit the proposed TA information. Departments must confirm that TAs and course assistants will be working either in person or remotely from within the U.S. during the duration of their appointment. Cornell is a U.S.-based employer and SCE is unable to support remote work outside the U.S. SCE will process these hires in Workday.
Teaching assistant resources
The Center for Teaching Innovation offers a central place where teaching assistants can go for insight and assistance with their teaching responsibilities. All graduate students are encouraged to explore the resources on the CTI website. For support, email CTI at cornellcti@cornell.edu, or join their online drop-in hours.
Health coverage extensions for summer TAs
Health coverage generally expires at the end of June. August graduates with no summer enrollment credits, who are teaching in July or August and do not plan to continue at Cornell in the fall or the following spring, are eligible for a credit to cover all or part of the SHP extension fee, provided you have not received other funding.
For information about the extension credit, contact Ruby D. Brown at rdb6@cornell.edu.