Fellowship Award Basics
Fellowship awardees are designated as a TA (Teaching Assistant) in the first year. Assuming reasonable progress towards the degree, they are renewed for the second year as a TF (Teaching Fellow), with a raise in stipend. Each TA/TF award includes a complete tuition scholarship (33 credits over two years), plus stipend paid over the nine month academic year, plus office space equipped with networked computer (shared with one other TA/TF).
The number of fellowships in each year is fixed and are awarded on a competitive basis. A first year student not holding a fellowship will be considered for one in the second year.
Fellowship Restrictions
Depending upon your intended program, some restrictions on availability of fellowships may apply.
- All M.A. applicants are considered for fellowships.
- All M.S.T. applicants are considered for fellowships as well. Additional tuition credits will be supplied by the Lynch School of Education to complete the education portion of your degree requirements. However, your student-teaching commitment in education can only be completed in your second year, and summer courses may be necessary so as to not seriously reduce your TF availability while student-teaching.
- All M.A./M.B.A. dual degree applicants are considered for fellowships in the first year along with other M.A. applicants. A student who follows the integrated schedule for the M.A./M.B.A. will again be welcomed as a Math TF in the third year. However, summer courses may be necessary to complete the M.B.A. portion of your program so as to not seriously impact your TF availability in your third year. Tuition remission would be available only for those years in which the fellowship is awarded.
- M.Ed. students are not eligible for fellowships.
TA/TF Responsibilities
TAs usually work together with full-time faculty in large lecture classes and conduct recitation sections, problem sessions, and perhaps some tutoring. TFs usually are responsible for teaching one or two sections of a core-level Mathematics course in each semester. These activities require about 15 hours per week, above and beyond your attention to your own coursework. More detail...
TA/TF Scheduling
Generally, TA assignments in the fall semester of the first year are based on incoming students' course schedules. In subsequent semesters, scheduling preferences for the upcoming term are solicited from everyone involved. We try to accommodate everyone as best we can, although some compromises are necessary each semester.
Teaching Excellence Awards
Teaching Fellows who achieve the greatest success as a TF (measured by student and supervisor evaluations) may receive a Donald White Teaching Excellence Award, a cash prize given to outstanding graduate student teachers at Boston College.
Appreciation
As a Teaching Fellow in the Mathematics Department, you will receive total and unequivocal support from the department should any problem arise with your students, their parents, the deans, or whomever. We recognize the tremendous job done by our Teaching Fellows; year after year, they receive high teaching evaluations from students, play an essential role in our undergraduate Core curriculum and bring an exciting energy to the third floor of Carney Hall.
You will work in an environment where your contributions are valued by everyone around you, including other students, faculty, and staff. Regardless of your future career, your experience as a Teaching Fellow will contribute to your mathematical, management, and communication skills, and you will enjoy the experience.
