Student - Graduate Teaching Assistant

Summary Of Responsibilities

• Evaluate papers, assignments, presentations, quizzes, and other student work using faculty-approved rubrics, standards, and answer guides.
• Provide timely, constructive, and consistent feedback that helps students understand both the quality of their work and how they can improve.
• Maintain accurate grading records and promptly bring unclear, unusual, or disputed work to the faculty supervisor.
• Aid in preparing rubrics, assignment instructions, sample solutions, and assessment materials.
• Protect student privacy and follow all applicable university policies regarding grades, records, and confidential information.

Student Mentoring and Tutoring

• Meet individually or in small groups with students who need additional help understanding course concepts, assignments, or expectations.
• Mentor students in developing sound study habits, professional judgment, analytical skills, and personal accountability.
• Hold scheduled office or tutoring hours and respond to student questions within expectations established by the faculty supervisor.
• Identify students who may be struggling and coordinate appropriate follow-up with the faculty supervisor.
• Refer students to appropriate university resources when their needs extend beyond the assistant's role or expertise.

Instructional and Classroom Support

• Assist the professor with class preparation, learning activities, case discussions, review sessions, demonstrations, and other instructional needs.
• Attend class sessions as assigned and help facilitate student participation, group work, and applied learning activities.
• Lead review sessions, discussion groups, or limited portions of class only when specifically assigned and supervised by the professor.
• Support the administration or proctoring of examinations and other assessments as assigned.

Course Design and Continuous Improvement

• Assist in developing or revising assignments, cases, examples, presentations, learning modules, grading rubrics, and course materials.
• Review course materials for clarity, accuracy, organization, accessibility, and alignment with stated learning outcomes.
• Help gather and summarize student performance data or feedback to identify areas where instruction or course design may be improved.
• Research teaching practices, current examples, industry developments, and instructional resources relevant to the course.
• Participate in regular planning and debrief meetings with the faculty supervisor.

Course Administration and Professional Responsibilities

• Assist with maintaining the learning management system, posting approved materials, organizing files, and tracking assignment completion.
• Complete assigned work accurately, reliably, and within established deadlines.
• Communicate professionally with students, faculty, and staff.
• Disclose potential conflicts of interest and avoid grading or mentoring situations that could compromise objectivity.
• Perform other course-related duties consistent with the purpose and scope of the assistantship.

Scope of Authority and Faculty Responsibility

The Graduate Teaching Assistant works under the active direction of the faculty supervisor. The faculty member retains final responsibility for course content, instructional standards, student grades, grade appeals, accommodations, academic-integrity determinations, and all other matters requiring faculty judgment or institutional authority. The assistant should not independently change course policies, make final grading decisions, or represent personal guidance as an official decision of the professor or university.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be a current UVU student.
• Admission to and good standing in an appropriate graduate program at Utah Valley University or another status approved by the university.
• Demonstrated academic competence in the subject area of the assigned course.
• Strong written, oral, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Ability to explain difficult concepts clearly and work effectively with students from varied backgrounds and levels of preparation.
• Sound judgment, reliability, attention to detail, and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and apply grading standards consistently and impartially.
• Working proficiency with Microsoft Office, learning management systems, and other course technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in tutoring, mentoring, teaching, grading, coaching, or academic support.
• Successful completion of the assigned course or equivalent advanced coursework.
• Experience with rubric-based assessment, data analysis, course design, or instructional technology.
• Professional or industry experience relevant to the course.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Grading and feedback are accurate, consistent, constructive, and completed on schedule.
• Students receive useful academic support while remaining responsible for their own work and learning.
• The professor receives dependable assistance that improves the quality, organization, and responsiveness of the course.
• Course materials and learning activities are clear, well organized, and aligned with learning objectives.
• The assistant demonstrates professionalism, confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.

Supervision and Working Relationship

The assistant and faculty supervisor will establish a regular meeting schedule, clarify weekly priorities, review grading standards before substantial grading begins, and discuss student concerns as they arise. The assistant is expected to seek guidance when an assignment is unclear or when a matter could materially affect a student. This role is intended to provide meaningful professional development in teaching, mentoring, assessment, and course design.