News & Announcements

Department of Political Science Outstanding TA Award

November 6, 2013

The Department of Political Science is pleased to request nominations for our first annual Outstanding TA Award. The award seeks to recognize outstanding work performed by a teaching assistant employed by the department in the previous academic year.

 

Evaluation Criteria

  • Performance in the previous academic year (2012-13)
  • Organizational skills (in relation to organizing, structuring and preparing tutorials)
  • Comprehensive knowledge of the subject area
  • Effective communication skills (including clarity of examples and explanations, effective communication of expectations, relation of current issues/research to student experiences and concrete applications)
  • Enthusiasm for the subject area
  • Ability to provide effective feedback to students
  • Ability to encourage student participation

 

Nomination Procedure

Nominations must be received by December 6, 2013. A nomination form is attached to this email and will be available on the TA page of our departmental website,

  • Undergraduate Students: Students in a particular course may nominate a teaching assistant for the award. They will be encouraged to provide supporting documentation, such as comments from a number of students on the qualities and excellent work of their TA.
  • Course instructors: course instructors may nominate a teaching assistant based on comments received from students, evidence of excellent work, or direct observation of the TA’s performance. Nominations should include details of performance, preferably with supporting documentation (i.e. notes from students).

 

Selection process

The selection committee is comprised of the TA coordinator, Director of Graduate Studies and one additional faculty member from the Department of Political Science. The committee will base its decision on the following evidence:

  • Information provided in the nomination package;
  • Teaching evaluations for at least two consecutive years;
  • Consultation with faculty in other courses in which the TA has taught, as needed. In the event of a large number of nominations, the committee will create a shortlist of three candidates and may seek additional supporting documentation.

 

Timeline and value of the award

  • Deadline for nominations: December 6, 2013.
  • Award announcement: January/February 2014.

Value of the award: $500.00

 

Download the award form here:Outstanding TA Award nomination form nov 2013-sfb