Indispensable contacts
These departments on campus can help you in your role as a TA:
Your instructor and department contacts
These are your first point of contact as they may have specific department-related knowledge and resources to guide you to. Your department may have additional training and handbooks such as safety training for laboratories, or how to lead a critique for studio arts.
When you first meet with your instructor, you should establish the best form of communication (method & frequency) to check-in about challenges or questions related to your role.
Centre for Teaching and Learning and GradProSkills
The Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL) collaborates with GradProSkills (GPS) to provide training directly related to your job duties. GPS offers professional development workshops and resources to optimize your graduate school experience and help you achieve your professional, personal and academic goals. Their offerings on teaching, career development, and communication can support you as a TA. Sessions include:
TA Orientation
This 2-hour TA Orientation, typically scheduled in the first few weeks of the semester, is designed to orient you as you start your new role as TA. The orientation is hosted by GPS and the CTL, and is open to all disciplines.
Breakout session topics include:
- Inclusive classroom environment
- Decolonizing the academy
- Grading and feedback
TA training sessions
Throughout the semester, the CTL also offers longer sessions on specific topics such as navigating challenges in the classroom, preparing to teach, and grading & feedback. These sessions range from 60 to 90 minutes long.
Graduate seminar on university teaching
This intensive seminar on university teaching prepares graduate students for an academic teaching career. The estimated time commitment is 35 hours of instruction plus 15 to 20 hours for readings and assignments. An online section is also offered with synchronous contact hours and asynchronous activities on Moodle. Visit this webpage for more information on the GSUT.
See the GradProSkills Teaching page for the latest calendar of upcoming training.
CREW Union
CREW is the labour union for all Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Research Assistants (RAs) at Concordia. To learn more about CREW and to get in touch, visit their website.
Library Services
For support related to your TA duties, you might be interested in the Ask a Librarian service.
You may access this live chat service online or stop by the Ask Us! Desk (Webster) or the Reference desk (Vanier) for in-person help.
The library also has Subject guides available – the subject librarians create and maintain discipline-specific guides where you can find recommended databases, article search tools, how-to guides, websites, and more.
Human Resources
For any questions related to your contract that your department cannot address, contact Human Resources by email.
IITS
Instructional and Information Technology Services (IITS) provides technical support in-person, online, and over the phone to students, staff, and faculty at Concordia. You can receive help by submitting a ticket online.
If you will be leading a tutorial or lab and need a key to access the classroom console, your instructor will need to fill out a request form on your behalf. It’s important that they do this as soon as possible so you can pick up your key before the first scheduled class.
IITS also provides training on how to use Teams, Moodle, and the Student Information System (SIS), also known as My Faculty Centre. Consult their training page for upcoming workshops.
Office of Rights and Responsibilities
If you feel that a member of the Concordia community has engaged in harassment, discrimination, physical violence or threats, contact the Office of Rights & Responsibilities to discuss a situation you have encountered or witnessed.
For sexual violence or misconduct complaints, please contact the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) as a first step.
Test your knowledge
Read the example scenarios in the H5P activity below and select the most appropriate department to contact in each case.
