PUBH Teaching Assistant Appointment Guidelines

PUBH Teaching Assistant (TA) Application Procedures Heading link

  1. The Undergraduate Public Health Programs offer undergraduate courses under the PUBH rubric. These courses range from 100-level General Education offerings to advanced 400-level major courses. The Undergraduate Public Health Programs do not enroll students at the graduate level, so new TAs are identified from School of Public Health (SPH) graduate students (i.e., MPH, MS, MHA, or PhD students) via the application process outlined below.
  2. The typical PUBH course offerings and their associated TA appointments are listed in the following document: Typical PUBH TA Appointments.
  3. To apply for a TA appointment, applicants must upload the following documents in one file labeled with the applicant’s name (Last Name_First Name) at the link below. PDF format is preferred. We anticipate limited openings for Spring 2025 and applications will be considered on a rolling basis. To express interest, please upload the materials below in one file at the following link: Spring 2025 TA Candidate Submissions. Please make sure all materials uploaded are labeled with the applicant’s name.
    1. Resume or CV
    2. Academic Writing Sample (e.g., a previous paper written for a course)
    3. Brief paragraph addressing the following appointment preferences and availability:
      1. Preferred percentage of appointment;
      2. Day and time ranges available each week to attend scheduled class sessions (Note: The majority of PUBH classes are offered in an on-campus/in-person format and these classes are held on the east side of UIC’s campus);
      3. Up to three courses applicant would prefer to assist (if applicable). If no preference, please indicate that as well.
  4. TAs in PUBH courses provide additional educational/instructional support resources to enrolled students. TAs in PUBH courses do not serve as instructors of record and are not responsible for syllabi development. The typical TA duties for PUBH courses involve: attending class sessions; maintaining office hours; assisting students with questions; grading assignments; assisting in maintaining and monitoring the course Blackboard site; and other related duties as assigned. It is recommended that all TAs and course instructors meet before the start of the semester to discuss specific TA expectations for their particular courses. All TAs should have the expectation that their role involves contact with students, which may be in-person and/or virtual. Please note that the majority of PUBH classes are offered in an on-campus/in-person format and these classes are held on the east side of UIC’s campus.
  5. The Undergraduate Public Health Programs do not typically offer Graduate Assistant (GA) appointments. However, if a GA appointment were to be offered, the program would communicate in writing expectations and/or flexibility regarding scheduling and work site(s) (e.g., on-campus/onsite vs. off-campus/remote), including considerations for accessibility, if any.
  6. Summer PUBH TA appointments are very limited and are dependent upon PUBH courses meeting minimum enrollment requirements. For summer TA appointments, the Undergraduate Public Health Programs will communicate in writing the tentative nature of the appointment if minimum enrollment has not yet been met.

PUBH Teaching Assistant (TA) Eligibility and Resources Heading link

The following factors are considered in Teaching Assistant appointments within the Undergraduate Public Health Programs. Please note that these factors are listed in no particular order.

Applicant’s preferences: As part of the application process, applicants will indicate their preferred percentage of appointment.

Scheduling availability/timeframes: As part of the application process, applicants will indicate their weekly availability. Students will not be scheduled to TA courses that conflict with their own class and/or fieldwork schedule.

Academic record: Students not in good academic standing will have lowest priority for receiving a TA appointment.

Master’s vs. PhD students: MPH, MS, MHA, or PhD students in the School of Public Health are prioritized over students from other colleges. Further priority for appointments will be given to students with an undergraduate background in public health (i.e., earned BA or BS in Public Health).

Initial year vs. continuing students: Depending on the nature of the course and current TA composition, instructors may prioritize first-year students or continuing students.

Previous teaching assistant experience for a specific course vs. need for professional development: In evaluating TA applicants, previous experience is considered. Students who successfully served as TAs for PUBH courses in the past are prioritized for appointments.

Previous general teaching and professional experience, within or outside the university: In evaluating TA applicants, previous experience is considered. Students who successfully served as TAs in the past or have other relevant experience are prioritized for appointments.

Weight and relevance of previous job performance as a TA: Students who fail to complete their TA responsibilities (e.g., incomplete grading, lack of expected attendance, lack of communication with students/instructor, unprofessional behavior, etc.), will have lowest priority for future TA appointments.

Letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation are not considered when making TA appointments.

The academic mission of the program: All TAs are expected to support the carefully planned curriculum infrastructure and provide an inclusive and affirming environment for undergraduate learning.

For additional resources, please visit the following:

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The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees.  Request an Accommodation