Frequently Asked Questions

Coming and Going

  • When do I have to be back in San Diego at the beginning of the quarter, and when can I leave at the end?
  • I'd like to take off for a while in the middle of the quarter. I can do that, right?
  • I'm feeling sick and won't be able to make my section/office hours today. What should I do?

    Office Stuff
  • How many office hours do I need to have?
  • How do I get a homework drop box?
  • My office is really crowded during office hours. Can I hold them somewhere else?
  • I have huge piles of old tests, quizzes, and assignments that students never picked up. What should I do with them?

    Exam Stuff
  • I'm supposed to proctor an exam during the same time that I have a class of my own. What should I do?
  • What can I do to prevent cheating?
  • What should I do if I suspect cheating?

    Class-specific Issues
  • What's this whole Matlab thing?
  • Last quarter I didn't have to grade homeworks and this quarter I do. What gives?
  • I borrowed a textbook from the front desk for the quarter. So I can just keep it forever, right?
  • A student gave me a gift. Am I allowed to keep it?

    Student Evaluations
  • Are student evaluations mandatory?
  • Where can I get student evaluation forms?

    Assignments and Commitments
  • How much time should I be spending on TA stuff each week?
  • How are the TA assignments made each quarter?


    When do I have to be back in San Diego at the beginning of the quarter, and when can I leave at the end?

    At the very latest you need to be back in time for your first section meeting, though really you should make time to meet with your professor first. As for the end of the quarter, see here.

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    I'd like to take off for a while in the middle of the quarter. I can do that, right?

    No, you can't. See the full policy here.

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    I'm feeling sick and won't be able to make my section(s)/office hours today. What should I do?

    Find someone to cover your section(s). It's best if you can anticipate your sickness the day before so you can ask people in advance. If you're truly in a bind, please email the Head TA. As for office hours, it's okay to postpone or cancel them, but nice if a friend has posted a note to that effect on your office door.

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    How many office hours do I need to have?

    It depends. See here.

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    How do I get a homework drop box?

    Homework drop boxes are plentiful, so all you need to do is claim an unused one for yourself: write your name, class, professor, and section numbers and times on a card and insert it below the slot. You'll need the combination to the lock, of course, which is available from the Head TA.

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    My office is really crowded during office hours. Can I hold them somewhere else?

    Yes, there are specially designated TA Overflow Rooms specifically for this purpose. Currently these room(s) are: . Unlike the other seminar rooms in AP&M, you do not need any sort of reservation to use a TA Overflow Room. You are also welcome to use the Calc Lab for this purpose; if you do, you're not beholden to the normal "equal opportunity" rules and can work exclusively with you own students.

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    I have huge piles of old tests, quizzes, and assignments that students never picked up. What should I do with them?

    See here, under the Old Coursework heading.

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    I'm supposed to proctor an exam during the same time that I have a class of my own. What should I do?

    See here.

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    What can I do to prevent cheating?

    In the math department, cheating is most likely to occur during an exam or when exams get handed back.

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    What should I do if I suspect cheating?

    See here.

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    What's this whole Matlab thing?

    See here.

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    Last quarter I didn't have to grade homeworks and this quarter I do. What gives?

    Undergraduate graders are usually hired for all lower division (<100 level) classes, and will grade homeworks or quizzes (but not Matlab assignments). Oftentimes Math 109 will also receive a grader. But other upper division classes almost never get graders. So, if you're teaching one of them, you will be grading homeworks.

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    I borrowed a textbook from the front desk for the quarter. So I can just keep it forever, right?

    No, that's ridiculous. When the quarter is over, you must return the borrowed texts to the front desk, since a different TA will need them next quarter! If you'll be TAing the same class next quarter, however, you may hold on to those books.

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    A student gave me a gift. Am I allowed to keep it?

    Follow these general guidelines:
  • Make sure that students know gifts are never required or expected for any reason.
  • You should avoid possible perceptions of undue influence, so gifts should not be accepted while the student is enrolled. After you've graded the final it's okay.
  • In general, monetary gifts should be discouraged. A card or food item would be much more appropriate.

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    Are student evaluations mandatory?

    No. But they are highly recommended. See here for more information.

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    Where can I get student evaluation forms?

    Right here.

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    How much time should I be spending on TA stuff each week?

    See here.

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    How are the TA assignments made each quarter?

    This varies a lot depending on a multitude of factors. Most upper-division courses have TAs who made arrangements with the professor, and the others are generally filled based on expertise and availability. Other courses are generally filled based on information provided in the quarterly TA request forms.

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