University Teaching Assistantships

Prize Amount: $27,000 plus tuition benefit – if eligible subsidized health insurance

For: full-time graduate teaching assistants (continuing students only, incoming graduate students not eligible)

Due: December 2024 (2025-2026 application to open in October)

Since 1995, University Teaching Assistantships (UTA) have been available to departments on a competitive basis. The purpose of the University Teaching Assistantship program is to improve graduate education programs and training at the University of Utah in the service of undergraduate education through the creative use of graduate teaching assistants. Mentoring of graduate students to assist them in preparing for teaching careers is an integral part of the program.

Each University Teaching Assistantship will provide a student salary of $27,000 and may qualify the student for the university’s tuition benefit program, provided all other tuition benefit program criteria are met.

The awards are for one year, but departments may submit a similar proposal for a second year. The UTA program is meant to be a mechanism for departments to try out new ideas in undergraduate teaching. Follow-up proposals should indicate the impact the original UTA award has had on the department. Departments may use the University Teaching Assistants in a variety of ways to enhance undergraduate teaching and graduate student development. Demonstration of creative and novel TA assignments will play an important role in the evaluation process. First-year graduate students are not eligible for the University Teaching Assistant positions.

The number of awards will be determined by funds available and the nature of proposals received. An assessment plan is required as part of the proposal and will be considered in the overall evaluation. In order to retain funding, the program will need to be able to provide ongoing information about its impact on teaching and learning at the University.

These assessments will be used to provide that information. The UTA proposals will be evaluated based on anticipated impact on undergraduate teaching, on the graduate student’s future career, and the impact of the positions on program improvement and development at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Each department may submit up to two proposals.

Selection Process

A selection committee appointed by the Graduate School will meet to make the awards based on the criteria stated below.

Selection Criteria

The proposals will be considered based on the following areas:

creative and/or new roles for TAs,
the impact of the proposed University Teaching Assistantship on University of Utah programs in general, and undergraduate education in particular,
the role of mentors in training and professional development of the TA,
the quality of the assessment plan and commitment to using that plan to improve the effectiveness of the UTA program.

Each University Teaching Assistant will work with an assigned mentor with demonstrated superior teaching ability, performance, and commitment. The teaching mentor need not necessarily be the student’s supervisory committee chair, because the mentor will be primarily responsible for working with the student as she or he develops as a teacher. The colleges and departments should draw on faculty with demonstrated teaching expertise for a pool of mentors. This pool could include past recipients of university, department, and college teaching awards or persons otherwise recognized for teaching contributions.

Applications

The nominated student-teacher should submit the electronic application and include their own personal information requested on the application, in addition to the items listed below. No department may submit more than two proposals.

To assist in our attempt to provide a fair evaluation, all proposals should follow the outline given below. Proposals that do not follow this outline will not be considered.

Section A. Summary

Name of department (or program and associated department)
TA assignment(s)
Name and email of teaching mentor(s)
Name, UNID and email address of UTA nominee

Section B. Proposal Narrative

Title
UTA Assignment. Include a detailed description of the proposed UTA assignment. Specifically address the novel aspects of the proposal and how the proposed UTA assignment will impact the quality of the undergraduate experience at the University of Utah. Explain how the UTA assignment will represent a departure from traditional uses of TAs in your program.
Interaction with Undergraduates. Specifically address the nature of the interaction between the UTA and the undergraduate students.
Mentor. Include the credentials and recognition of the mentor(s) for excellent teaching and the detailed responsibilities of the faculty mentor(s) with respect to the UTA program.
The UTA. Describe the qualifications of the UTA being nominated for this award. In addition, the proposal must contain a statement of purpose prepared by the student who is being nominated for the UTA award. (See section C below.)
Prior support. For those departments having received prior University TA support in the last three years, include an evaluation of the success of your UTA program. Describe the methods used for this evaluation.
Assessment Plan. Include an assessment plan which articulates the purpose and goals of the assistantship(s) as well as the means by which their achievement will be assessed. If you are applying for renewal, please include an assessment of your first year based on this plan.

Upload Sections A&B to AcademicWorks, each as a single PDF file. The letters required for the UTA application should be requested electronically via the AcademicWorks application.

Letters of Recommendation & Statement of Purpose

(a) Letter of support from the mentor endorsed/signed by the chair. The letter of support from the mentor and chair must clearly indicate that resources necessary for a successful UTA assignment (computer support, general supplies, etc.) will be made available. This is not a traditional letter of recommendation.

(b) Traditional letter of recommendation from the mentor. Please comment on the student's unique ability to carry out the proposed project.
Statement of Purpose from the nominated UTA. A statement of purpose prepared by the student who is being nominated for the UTA award must be included. This statement of purpose should include, but is not limited to, a discussion of longterm teaching goals and motivation to improve undergraduate education. The statement of purpose is limited to one page.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 2024
(2025-2026 application to open in October)

Submit applications through the Utah AcademicWorks website

Applications are open.

Galina Diveeva

School of Music - Piano

Galina Diveeva is a current third year DMA student in Piano Performance at the University of Utah, School of Music. She was born and grew up in Saint–Petersburg, Russian, where she has received her previous degrees in Arts.

Graham Goodman

Biology

My name is Graham. I used to study wolves but now I study how pigeons defend themselves from lice. I consider it an upgrade. I love teaching and, after I graduate, I hope to teach at a small liberal arts college.

Halleh Hashtpari

Educational Psychology

Halleh is a third year student in the Counseling Psychology PhD program at the U. They are originally from California and enjoy teaching group fitness and playing basketball in their free time.

Eduardo Ayres Soares

Film

Eduardo studied film production at two American universities Allegheny College and New York University – Tisch and Visual Arts in Brazil.

The Graduate School

Office of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs