Teaching Assistants will be assigned to courses with 20 or more students if needed by the instructor, or upon request for a smaller class. The TA can be nominated by the instructor or recruited by the administration. TAs enhance the learning experience of Mishkah students by complementing the activities of the instructor. TAs receive technical training through the learning management system, Canvas and mentorship by the instructor.
Duties
The TA and the instructor share joint responsibility for ensuring that each understands the division of work responsibilities. TA duties include the following:
- Facilitate a discussion post,
- Grade homework,
- Facilitate creation of assignments, exams, or projects,
- Keep track of attendance,
- Record and upload each live session,
- Distribute reading materials if needed.
TAs must not be current students in the class, or students in need of the class. In addition, a TA may not be employed as a substitute instructor, where the effect is to relieve the instructor of his or her teaching responsibilities. In the event that an instructor is absent, they will ask another faculty member to act as a substitute or reschedule the session.
Classes that do meet an enrollment of 20 students do not qualify for a TA – the instructor is responsible for the workload. There is an exception to Arabic language classes, certain Fiqh courses, and first-time taught courses.
Compensation
TAs get financial credit in exchange for their work – they will receive 50% tuition credit for the number of courses they assist. If they assist a 4-credit course, they will receive 2 credits of tuition credit to apply to their own courses. If the TA has already completed his or her degree, monetary compensation will be given. The compensation is calculated by the price of 1 credit hour, ($85) multiplied by half of the credit hours they’ve assisted, as a similar fashion to receiving stored credit.
Quran and Tajweed and 10 Recitation classes require TAs to hold practice sessions which will result in an increase of compensation. Arabic courses also meet more frequently in the week, which results in a different compensation
Work Attendance and Preparation
TA course responsibilities begin in the approaching weeks of the academic quarter and continue until the final grades have been turned in, one week after the end of final exams. TAs are responsible for contacting the instructor for their course prior to the first day of instructions. TAs are also expected to be present during scheduled office hours or sessions.
A full description of the TA role and responsibilities can be found in the Academic Guide.