TA Employment Guidelines for the Department of Physics and Astronomy
1. Purpose
These guidelines are rooted in university policy S00-7 [pdf] and govern eligibility, selection, employment expectations, and evaluation of Teaching Assistants. They are in addition to any other university policies or rules regarding TA appointment.
2. Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for appointment as a Teaching Assistant, a student must:
Be enrolled as a masters student in Physics or Quantum Technology
Hold classified graduate standing. Students admitted conditionally who have not yet satisfied the conditions of admission
are not eligible.
Have completed upper-division coursework in Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism.
Maintain a minimum graduate GPA of 3.0. Students in their first semester without an SJSU GPA are eligible to TA.
Demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of their degree.
Degree Progress Expectations
In addition to GPA requirements, students must be making satisfactory progress toward
their degree to remain eligible for TA appointments. Input from the Graduate Program
Coordinator and the student's faculty research advisor will be considered when evaluating
progress.
Students are expected to:
Identify a culminating experience project by the end of their first year in the program;
and
Make steady progress on that project in subsequent semesters to be reasonably expected
to complete their degree within 2.5 years - exceptions will be made for students who
are keeping up with a longer plan that has been approved by the graduate advisor.
3. Application Process
Students interested in becoming Teaching Assistants must complete the department's
TA Application Form.
Incoming and continuing master's students will be invited via email to apply and will be informed of applicable deadlines. Typical deadlines are:
First week of June for Fall semester appointments.
First week of October for Spring semester appointments.
Current Teaching Assistants will be contacted during the middle of each semester and
invited to indicate whether they wish to be considered for a TA appointment in the
following semester.
4. Selection and Appointment
The Department seeks to provide equitable access to Teaching Assistant opportunities
among qualified students.
When the number of qualified applicants exceeds the number of available assignments, priority will be given in the following order:
Students who have never served as a Teaching Assistant.
Students who have served as a Teaching Assistant for one semester.
Students who have served as a Teaching Assistant for two semesters.
Students who have served as a Teaching Assistant for three semesters.
Students who have served as a Teaching Assistant for four semesters are no longer
eligible for appointment as a TA in the Department.
5. Duties and Responsibilities
Teaching Assistants typically teach laboratory sections associated with introductory
physics courses. TAs are expected to:
Instruction and Preparation
Attend the laboratory instructor orientation meeting held prior to the start of classes.
Become familiar with the course syllabus, laboratory manual, and laboratory equipment.
Deliver instruction consistent with guidelines established by the laboratory coordinator.
Adhere to grading standards and policies specified in the syllabus and communicated
by the laboratory coordinator.
Participate fully in training activities provided by the laboratory coordinator, including
meetings, training videos, and classroom observations as required.
Classroom and Laboratory Management
Maintain laboratory safety standards and complete all required university safety training.
Begin class on time and remain available for the full scheduled class period.
Conduct instruction in the assigned location and modality (in-person or online) unless
otherwise directed by the Department, College, or University.
Refrain from attending to personal matters during scheduled instructional time.
Follow departmental, college, and university guidance regarding changes to class location
or instructional modality.
Student Support
Maintain regular weekly office hours or participate in designated overflow laboratory
support as assigned.
Treat all students equitably and professionally regardless of race, ethnicity, national
origin, citizenship or documentation status, gender, gender identity or expression,
sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, or skill level.
Course Administration and Grading
Maintain a Canvas course site containing or linking to all course materials and the
course gradebook.
Grade assignments promptly, typically before the next assignment is due. All assignments
must be graded and recorded in the canvas gradebook no later than one week after the
last lab.
Maintain an accurate and up-to-date Canvas gradebook, including proper implementation
of grading policies described in the syllabus.
Provide requested course information to the Department, including timely submission
of final grades and other required materials.
6. Evaluation and Retention
Teaching Assistants are typically evaluated through peer observations, student surveys,
or both.
Failure to meet the expectations outlined in these guidelines, repeated or exceptional performance deficiencies, or consistently or exceptionally poor evaluations may result in a Teaching Assistant not being reappointed for future semesters.
7. Removal Due to Unsatisfactory Performance
Teaching Assistants who fail to fulfill their assigned duties, violate departmental
or university policies, fail to maintain eligibility requirements, or otherwise perform
unsatisfactorily may be removed from their appointment or may be denied reappointment.
Before removal, the Department will normally communicate performance concerns to
the Teaching Assistant and provide an opportunity for improvement when circumstances
permit.
8. Compensation and Workload
Teaching Assistant appointments are made according to the applicable university pay
scale and collective bargaining agreement.
A typical appointment consists of 4 Weighted Teaching Units (WTU), usually corresponding to two laboratory sections per semester.
Because 15 WTU is considered full-time employment, a 4 WTU appointment represents approximately 10.7 hours of work per week, including preparation, instruction, office hours, grading, training, and related duties.
Teaching Assistants appointed at 4 WTU are generally eligible for:
A tuition waiver covering the cost of in-state tuition; and
Salary compensation as established by the university pay scale (approximately $5k
per semester in 2026)
Teaching assistant appointed to fewer WTU receive a prorated portion of the compensation
described above.
Students should be aware that tuition waivers are typically processed after the beginning of the semester. As a result, students are generally required to pay tuition charges initially and receive reimbursement once the tuition waiver has been applied. The timing of this process is determined by university procedures and is not controlled by the Department.
9. Professional Development and Training
Teaching Assistants are encouraged to enroll in PHYS 201: Pedagogy for Teaching Assistants, which is offered during the Fall semester. They are not expected to re-enroll in
the course in future semesters.
All new Teaching Assistants are also required to complete the university's Canvas training course. This is a one-time requirement, but the time required has been prorated across the semester and included in the 10.7 hour workload associated with a 4 WTU assignment. Additionally TAs are required to complete the various workplace periodic training modules required for all employees of the university.
10. Rights and Obligations
Teaching Assistants are entitled to the rights and protections afforded by university
policies, collective bargaining agreements, and applicable laws.
In accepting a Teaching Assistant appointment, students agree to fulfill the responsibilities described in these guidelines, comply with departmental and university policies, maintain eligibility requirements, and perform assigned duties in a professional and ethical manner.
