What Teaching Fellows Do
department of mathematics
Basic Details
TA/TF stipends for Ph.D. students are based on the work loads indicated below, which average about 15 hours per week.
| Teaching Assistant Responsibilities | Teaching Fellow Responsibilities |
| Teaching Assistant for Calculus I or II; conduct four discussion sections per week. Attend three Calculus lectures per week, given by the lecturer for your sections. Meetings as needed with your supervisor (that is, the lecturer for your sections). Exam grading shared with the lecturer; other possible grading duties. Three or four scheduled office hours per week. Attendance at the Mathematics Workshop for New TAs just before the Fall semester begins. Attendance in the Graduate Teaching Seminar I |
Teach one (three-hour per week) section of MT004 Finite Probability, MT100 Calculus I, or MT235 Mathematics for Management. In some (rare) cases, a TF may be assigned to teach a different course. Course supervisor (faculty member) chooses textbook, writes the course schedule, meets with course TF's before and during the semester, and approves exams. TF writes syllabus, exams, homework assignments, and is responsible for all grading, including final course grade. Four office hours per week, plus preparation and grading papers. Attendance in the Graduate Teaching Seminar II |
Because student enrollments and the number of fellowships varies in each year, we may make adjustments in certain cases, perhaps substituting some tutoring or grading responsibilities for those listed above. Fellowship awards will not be reduced in these cases, however.
Teaching MT235 (Math for Management)
A special arrangement is made for students who teach MT235 Math for Management, which is a computer-based course covering various optimization methods. Since it is quite different in content and format from other math courses, TFs train for this course by sitting in a section in the spring of a prior year, doing all the work and receiving a reduced TA load without extra grading or tutoring.
For graduate students who are looking for useful practical skills in addition to mathematical knowledge, teaching MT235 is a golden opportunity to acquire (or hone) expertise in advanced aspects of Microsoft Excel while getting paid for it.