Your GTA Resource Hub

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are vital to the teaching mission at the University of Kansas, serving as instructors who shape the learning experiences of countless students. To ensure you’re fully prepared for this important role, all new GTAs are required to complete the mandatory New GTA Orientation, offered by the Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) or an approved alternative provided by your department.

The CTE-led New GTA Orientation is designed to equip you with the essential tools and knowledge you need to succeed as an instructor at KU. This comprehensive training is divided into three key components:

1. New GTA Policy Tutorial
   
   Familiarizes you with KU's teaching policies and practices.

2. New GTA Conference Modules and Sessions
   
   Provides an introduction to best teaching practices through synchronous sessions and asynchronous modules.

3. New GTA Follow-up Session
   
   Offers an opportunity to reflect on your teaching experiences and further develop your instructional strategies.

New GTAs must complete this training within their first semester of teaching. The CTE Conference, a central part of the orientation, consists of two synchronous sessions held the week before classes start and five asynchronous modules available through Canvas. These modules are designed to provide you with both a broad overview and specialized insights tailored to your specific teaching role.

For those in departments with an approved alternative orientation (e.g., Chemistry; Communication Studies; English; French, Francophone & Italian Studies; and Physics & Astronomy), only the Policy Tutorial and departmental training are required. 

The Spring 2025 New GTA Orientation Conference will take place on Monday, January 13th, and will be conducted fully online. Attendance at the sessions listed below is mandatory for all new GTAs.

Schedule for New GTAs on January 13th (all sessions via Zoom):

• 9:30-11:00 AM: Welcome Session
• 11:30 AM-12:30 PM: Optional Lunch Sessions (informal drop-in for networking and Q&A)
• 1:00-2:30 PM: Discussion Session
• 2:45-3:15 PM: GTAC Info Session

Additional details, including Zoom links and resources, will be sent to your KU email once the New GTA Orientation Canvas course opens on January 3rd. Make sure to check your email regularly and review the Canvas course materials.

Other Deadlines for New GTA Orientation:

• Essential Modules: Must be completed by 1:00 PM CT on January 13th.
• Policy Tutorial and Breakout Modules: Must be completed by the end of the day on January 20th.

Follow-Up Session:

• Registration will open on February 10th and close on February 14th.
• You will receive an email notification with a Qualtrics link to sign up for one of the one-hour follow-up sessions.
• Follow-up sessions will occur between February 17th and March 7th.

The Fall 2025 New GTA Orientation will take place in person on Monday, August 11th, 2025.

New Graduate Teaching Assistants are required to attend all orientation sessions on this date. Attendance is mandatory, as the sessions are designed to prepare GTAs for their teaching responsibilities and provide essential resources for success.

More details, including the full schedule and session information, will be provided as the date approaches. Please check back for updates closer to the event.

As part of the Fall 2024 New GTA Orientation hosted by the Center for Teaching Excellence, we have included materials that address critical topics such as non-discrimination, diversity, equity, inclusion, race, ethnicity, sex, and bias. We provide these materials to comply with Kansas House Bill 2105, which mandates publication requirements for diversity, non-discrimination, and related training materials.

For your convenience, you can access the full training PDF, which covers these essential topics, by clicking the link below:

Download the Fall 2024 New GTA Orientation Materials on Non-Discrimination, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

This document contains valuable information and guidelines that are crucial for creating an inclusive and respectful learning environment at KU. We encourage you to review these materials thoroughly to support your teaching practices and to ensure that your classroom is welcoming and equitable for all students.

This page offers a condensed overview and direct links to essential teaching policies and practices for KU instructors, specifically designed for Graduate Teaching Assistants. Drawing on insights from discussions with new instructors, these resources address common teaching scenarios and provide guidance on policy-compliant responses. We aim to provide a valuable reference for your role as an instructor and community member at the university. For comprehensive policy details, please visit the Teaching-related Policies and Practices page. 

Fridays on Fourth is a collaborative initiative between KU's Libraries, Writing Center, Office of Graduate Studies, and the Center for Teaching Excellence. Every Friday, from 10 AM to 4 PM, join us at Watson Library’s Graduate Student Study Lounge (Room 410) and throughout the fourth floor for research, write-ins, workshops, and Graduate Student Hours. This program offers a dedicated space and time for graduate students to engage in academic and professional activities. Visit the Fridays on Fourth webpage for more information.

Graduate Student Hours

These designated times allow you to:

• Ask specific questions or seek advice from experts in writing, research, and teaching.
• Receive tailored support for your academic and professional needs.
• Network and build connections across campus.

Join CTE's Kaila Colyott for Graduate Student Hours on Teaching

• September 13: 1-3 PM
• October 4: 1-3 PM
• October 18: 1-3 PM

I’d be happy to discuss your teaching challenges and successes, academic job market preparation, career options beyond academia, navigating graduate school as a first-gen student, and more.

I look forward to meeting you!

Are you preparing to enter the academic job market and want to sharpen your teaching materials? Join us for Crafting Your Teaching Identity: A Workshop Series, designed to help you reflect on and refine your teaching documents to stand out in a competitive market. Whether you're just beginning or looking to enhance your existing materials, this series offers practical support for building a strong teaching portfolio. Each session is 1.5 hours long and offered twice—once in person and once via Zoom—to fit your schedule and preferences.

Format & Registration

Choose between in-person sessions for face-to-face discussions, group activities, and immediate feedback, or Zoom sessions for flexibility, including breakout discussions and reflection time. You can register for individual sessions or attend the full series—whatever works best for you! No preparation is required, and all you need to bring are your ideas.

• In-Person Capacity: 20 participants
• Deadlines: 24 hours before Zoom sessions, 48 hours before in-person sessions

**Click here to register for one or more of the workshops in this series

Session 1: Considerations for Your Search – Reflective Chat & Planning

• Zoom: Wednesday, October 2nd, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
• In-Person: Thursday, October 3rd, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM at CTE (Budig 135)

This open and reflective discussion will help you create a personalized plan for tackling the academic job market. We'll cover strategies for finding and interpreting job ads, crafting a preparation plan, and getting mentally ready for the process ahead.

Session 2: Writing Your Teaching Statement

• Zoom: Wednesday, October 9th, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
• In-Person: Thursday, October 10th, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM at CTE (Budig 135)

Learn how to clearly articulate your teaching philosophy and practices in a compelling teaching statement. This session will help you define your core teaching values and effectively communicate the impact you have in the classroom.

Session 3: Creating Other Teaching Documents for the Job Market

• Zoom: Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM
• In-Person: Thursday, October 24th, 10:30 AM–12:00 PM at CTE (Budig 135)

This session will guide you through preparing essential teaching documents, such as sample syllabi, assignments, evaluations, and evidence of teaching effectiveness. You'll walk away with a clear framework for presenting your teaching experience.

One-on-One Consultations

Need personalized advice? Sign up for a 30-minute, one-on-one consultation to discuss your teaching materials in depth. Whether you need help developing your teaching statement or refining your teaching portfolio, I’m available to provide feedback and guidance tailored to your academic job search.

**Click here to schedule a consultation

Getting Your Students to Talk (Strategies for Sparking Meaningful Discussions)

• Date: Thursday, October 3rd, 2024
• Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
• Location: CTE (Budig 135)

In this workshop, GTAs will gain practical strategies for fostering engaging and productive classroom discussions. Participants will explore techniques that align with their disciplinary approaches, discovering methods that resonate with their teaching styles. By the end of the session, attendees will be equipped with tools to encourage meaningful dialogue and promote active student participation across diverse classroom settings.

Session Leaders:

• Sean Gullickson (Associate Professor, Spanish and Portuguese)
• Sarah Browne (Associate Teaching Professor, Mathematics)

**Click here to register for the Getting Your Students to Talk Workshop

AI, academic integrity, and the intrinsic value of learning

• Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
• Time: 2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
• Location: CTE (Budig 135)

With AI tools on the rise, how can we ensure students engage with learning instead of relying on shortcuts? This workshop will explore strategies for maintaining academic integrity while encouraging students to engage deeply with course material.

Session Leaders:

• Sara Wilson (Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering)
• Doug Ward (Associate Director, CTE; Associate Professor, Journalism)

**Click here to register for the AI in the Classroom Workshop

CTE staff members are available to consult with graduate students on any topics related to teaching and learning.

Classroom practice. We are happy to meet with you about specific situations that arise in your class, whether you would like to learn more about lesson planning, discussion leading, classroom dynamics, or to discuss particular challenges.

Teaching and the job market. If you are preparing for the academic job market and would like resources for or feedback on your teaching statement, diversity statement, teaching portfolio or teaching demonstration, we encourage you to reach out. 

Email Kaila Colyott at KColyott@KU.edu to schedule an appointment to discuss classroom practice, to review your teaching related job market materials, or to chat about teaching in general.