GTFs in Graduate-Level Courses

It is a fundamental assumption that graduate education, which includes instruction, supervision, and evaluation, is to be delivered by regular instructional faculty at the University of Oregon. A policy statement approved by the Graduate Council (1/15/1997) articulates this principle as follows:

"Graduate courses (those numbered 500-599, 600-699, and 700-799) at the University of Oregon represent teaching and research at the highest level, and are taught by faculty of the institution. Under normal circumstances, "faculty" means individuals with regular, adjunct, and courtesy faculty appointments and others with the Ph.D. or equivalent research credential. Exceptions to this policy may be sought from the Dean of the Graduate School."

It is also a fundamental assumption that graduate students should not be involved in the evaluation of other graduate students.

However, there may be some circumstances under which a graduate student with a GTF appointment could be assigned to assist a faculty member with a graduate-level course.

This policy is designed to articulate conditions governing GTF assignments to assist with graduate-level (500, 600, or 700) courses.

GTFs may not be involved in any aspect of the evaluation of graduate students. More specifically, they are prohibited from:

• Evaluating graduate student work.
• Teaching classes to graduate students.
• Organizing and facilitating discussion sections in which other graduate students participate.
• Entering grades for graduate students.

GTFs assigned to graduate-level courses are permitted to:

• Answer questions that clarify the structure of class assignments.
• Organize assigning students to project work groups.
• Provide an initial review of email messages, forwarding any questions about the academic content of the course to the instructor. They may answer administrative questions.
• Handle and monitor paper submission and return (as long as grades are not visible).
• Be the first source of information for students about deadlines, format requirements, and any non-content issues.
• Monitor, but not participate in, Blackboard discussions in a manner that does not involve evaluating academic content of conversations.
• Monitor attendance.
• Participate in other classroom management duties that do not involve the academic content of the course or evaluations of student mastery of that content.

When a GTF has been assigned to assist a faculty member with a graduate-level course, the syllabus for the course should explicitly acknowledge that a GTF will be assisting the faculty member in charge of the course and it should also outline the specific responsibilities of the GTF. This will allow instructor, GTF, and students enrolled in the course to share a common understanding of the GTF's duties.

Finally, if at least three of the conditions listed below are met, a department can petition the Graduate School to allow a GTF to participate more fully in the delivery of a graduate-level course:

• The GTF is no longer taking any classes and is registered only for thesis or dissertation credits.
• The content of the GTF's own research or prior experience is directly related to the course content.
• The GTF already holds the degree being sought by the students in the course, or if the GTF and the students are at the same level (Master's or Doctoral), they are from a department/program other than the one in which the GTF is enrolled.
• The GTF and the students enrolled in the course will not have any other courses in common during the term of the appointment.

Petitioning the Graduate School

The department should send an email to Kassy Fisher (kmfisher@uoregon.edu), that identifies the student (GTF) by name and ID number, the course in question and faculty member responsible for the course. The petition should also outline the proposed duties as well as the three or more conditions that serve as the basis for the request. The petition should be made in advance of the GTF hire. Please allow one week to obtain a response to your request.