GTA PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVES
The Ohio State University is very pleased to announce several initiatives to provide preparation and ongoing support to Graduate Teaching Associates (GTAs).
Seed Grants for GTA Program Enhancement at Ohio State
Five seed grants of $10,000 each are available to develop or enhance GTA programs within departments, schools, colleges, or consortia of units. Proposals for the 2009–2010 academic year are due Friday, May 1, 2009.
Seed Grant information>>
OSTEP TA Coordinators Program
Currently, administrative supervision for the OSTEP TA Coordinators program has been suspended. In previous academic years, the OSTEP TA Coordinators Program offered faculty and staff a year–long opportunity to focus on their roles as TA coordinators within a community of peers. Although applications are not being solicited at this time, information about the TA Coordinators Program will remain available, for departments and individuals that are interested in promoting the development of and support for Ohio State's GTAs.
More information about Ohio State's TA Coordinator program>>
OSTEP Graduate Teaching Fellows
Units may nominate a senior GTA to the Graduate Teaching Fellows (GTF) program to attend a seminar on teaching support and develop year-long programming for the nominating department. Applications for the 2009–2010 academic year are due Friday, May 1, 2009.
GTF information and application>>
University Departmental Awards For Exemplary GTA Programs
The University Departmental Awards For Exemplary GTA Programs are presented annually to two departments at Ohio State that have demonstrated exemplary achievement in providing outstanding prior preparation and significant ongoing support to their GTAs for their teaching roles. Self–nominations are due Friday, May 1, 2009.
Exemplary Award information and nomination>>
Teaching Orientation@Ohio State: a University–Wide Orientation
on Teaching for New GTAs and Faculty
Faculty & TA Development works with departments to create tracks of required or recommended sessions that are offered at the annual Teaching Orientation@Ohio State, to better fit the needs of new GTAs.
Information about the Teaching Orientation@Ohio State>>
GTA Coordinator Professional Development Grants
Funds are also available to reimburse some professional development expenses for GTA coordinators. This is an ongoing program; there is no application deadline.
Grant information and application procedures>>
In the spring of 2003, Ohio State's Office of Academic Affairs identified Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) preparation programming as a critical target for institutional support due to its important role in improving the quality of the teaching and learning experience of Ohio State students. A baseline for prior preparation and ongoing support was established. Many instructional units are already training and then supporting their GTAs very well, meeting or surpassing the baseline, sometimes with local programming, sometimes through a joint effort between the department and Faculty and TA Development (FTAD).
To allow both unit and central programs to become even better, the Office of Academic Affairs has allocated significant funding from central reserves to enhance GTA programming. FTAD will expand central programming for GTAs, organize sharing of exemplary practices, and sponsor an award for model programs. These funds will allow FTAD to provide better central services and to offer funding to units to develop or enhance their own programs.
Consultation on developing or revising GTA programming is always available on request. For more information, please e–mail us at ftad@osu.edu (type "GTA programming" in the subject line), or phone us at 614–292–3644.