Graduate Teaching Policies and Positions

Graduate teaching appointments in the Department of Classics are normally granted on a competitive basis, and the number of appointments is based on the level of Department funding. The following types of appointments have been made in the Department.

Graduate Assistants
Graduate students holding appointments as GAs serve as assistants in large lecture courses such as Greek Mythology, Roman Civilization, Alexander and the Hellenistic World. They attend class sessions, hold office hours to meet with students or conduct review sessions, and grade exams. Some GAs assist with audiovisual material.

Appointments have been for 40% time, requiring 16 hours per week, with a stipend and a waiver of eight tuition credit hours at the resident rate.

Teaching Assistants
Graduate students holding appointments as TAs serve as instructors in the Latin Program, teaching sections of first or second year Latin, i.e. CLAS 1014, 1024, 2114. TAs typically meet their classes on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday schedule. TAs meet regularly with the Director of the Latin Program, hold office hours to meet with students, and are responsible for grading.

Teaching Assistants may also be assigned to large courses, such as Greek Mythology or Trash and Treasure. In these instances, TAs will attend lectures, hold office hours, and conduct weekly recitatin sections as well as grade exams and other assignments. Typically, a TA will be responsible for two recitations, each of 30 students.

Appointments for TAs have been for 45% of time requiring 18 hours of time per week, and a waiver of nine tuition credit hours at the resident rate.

Graduate Part-Time Instructors
Graduate students holding appointments as GPTIs serve as instructors in undergraduate classes. The M.A. is required for graduate students appointed at this rank. GPTIs generally are given full responsibility for the class, including preparing the course syllabus, instructing the class, holding office hours, determining grades, etc.

The Department is not currently appointing GPTIs.

How to Apply
Applications for graduate appointments from continuing graduate students are due on February 1. Incoming graduate students are automatically considered for available positions. Applicants for TA positions should be highly motivated and have a strong interest in teaching. Appointments are usually made on an annual basis.

Eligibility for Appointment
Applicants for graduate appointments must be full-time, regularly enrolled, degree-seeking graduate students in good standing. Applicants who are continuing graduate students must demonstrate that they are making adequate progress toward a degree according to the standards of the Graduate School. Additionally, the Department expects the student to demonstrate that he/she can complete the degree within the normal expectations of the Department's requirements. It is the policy of the Department to make every effort to renew the appointments of graduate students who meet these standards to provide support for a maximum of two years of support for candidates for the M.A. and four years for candidates for the Ph.D. who have received the M.A. Applications may be submitted for graduate appointments beyond these limits up to the maximum permitted by the Graduate School and will be considered by the Department.

Criteria for Appointment
In evaluating applications for graduate appointments the Department takes into consideration the following criteria:

• Academic qualifications and experience or potential relevant to the Department's teaching needs
• Financial need
• Performance as a teacher

Training, Supervision and Evaluation
Evaluations of Graduate Assistants are performed by the faculty member in charge of the course, who is also responsible for supervision of graduate teachers assigned to the course. These evaluations are informal and are used to assist the Department in assigning GAs in subsequent semesters. Formal evaluations of Teaching Assistants are done by the Faculty Course Questionnaire which is distributed to students at the end of the semester. These evaluations can be extremely helpful in assessing your strengths and weaknesses as a teacher, and are often useful in building a dossier for placement purposes. Please consult the Director of Graduate Studies (peter.hunt@colorado.edu) for further information about incorporating teaching evaluations into your record. The Department also participates in the Graduate Teacher Program. Information about the program can be obtained from the Graduate Secretary or from the GTP at 303-492-4902. As part of this program every year a graduate teacher in the Department is eligible for appointment as the Lead Graduate Teacher, who acts as a liaison between the faculty and graduate students in matters concerning teaching.

Termination of Appointments
Graduate appointments are usually terminated only at the end of a designated period of appointment. However, the appointment may be terminated at any time in the event that a graduate appointee becomes ineligible for continued appointment through unsatisfactory progress toward the completion of a degree, failure to maintain or complete the minimum required hours each semester, and/or failure to maintain enrollment as a full time student. In the event that, in the opinion of the Department Chair or other faculty or staff supervisor, the student is performing unsatisfactorily in the appointment the student may be terminated for cause as outlined in the Graduate School Handbook.

Office Space
There are two offices in Eaton Humanities and/or Woodbury Hall for use by graduate students with assistantships. Please contact the Graduate Secretary (nancy.arnt@colorado.edu) about obtaining a key and scheduling office hours.

Placement

Colorado Certification
For information about teacher certification in Colorado you should consult the School of Education.

CAAS
The Latin Placement Service of the Classical Association of the Atlantic States accepts registrations from candidates who seek full or part-time employment teaching Latin or Latin in combination with another subject. Candidates do not need to be members of CAAS. For information, request a registration form from: Professor John C. Traupman, Department of Classics, St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA 19131

ACL
The American Classical League operates a Teacher Placement Service for teachers of Latin, Greek and humanities who are members of the ACL. For information, write ACL Placement Service, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056.

CANE
The Classical Association of New England sponsors a Latin Placement Service for secondary school teachers. For a registration form, write to Prof. Gilbert Lawall, 71 Sand Hill Road, Amherst, MA 01002.

APA
The American Philological Association Placement Service publishes a monthly listing of positions in Classics and Archaeology and provides a number of other services for candidates and institutions. For information, write to American Philological Association, Placement Service, Department of Classics, College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA 01610-2395.