Computer Science TA Updates

The last expected appointment letters will go out to students today. Any further hiring would only occur on the late resignation of a TA or unexpected changes in enrollment. Those appointments would likely be very narrow and only in the courses where an opening exists. Course assignments will continue to go out over the next several days. As we get closer to the start of term, more final course assignments will be made.

 The final TA appointments will likely be made in the next 1-2 days (1/7-1/8). Rounds 1 and 2 went out 12/21 and 12/30, respectively. The vast majority of course assignments are going out to TAs and instructors today. Some are being held in reserve (especially those at the 1xxx level) to allow for last-minute enrollment changes. Very few additional TA appointments will be made after the current round is sent.

Nearly all TA positions are tentatively held for PhD students at this time. It is expected that several appointments will be made to MS students once PhD student offers are confirmed. Additional appointments will be made to fill hard-to-fill positions and made to those who have already been a TA.  Being requested by a faculty member as a TA for their own class is the most likely reason to be selected as a first-time TA. Some difficult openings may also lead to first-time positions. The PhD appointment may take through the end of the term. MS students may not receive offers until late December or early January.

Computer Science & Engineering graduate students may now apply for appointments as teaching assistants for the Spring 2021 academic term.  The application is available at the following link:  Spring 2021 Graduate Teaching Assistant Application . ***ANY STUDENT INTERESTED IN A TA POSITION FOR SPRING 2021 MUST FILL OUT A NEW APPLICATION, EVEN IF YOU HAD A TA APPOINTMENT FOR FALL 2020** Applications are due no later than  **November 2nd ** . Late and/or improperly filled out applications will not be considered, or will receive less priority. If you currently have a TA position, but will be graduating this Fall, or for some other reason do NOT intend to apply for a position for next semester, we would appreciate it if you would let us know by emailing < cscourse@umn.edu > - this will allow us to estimate better how many TA offers we can make to new students.

All planned TA positions are now filled. If any further positions are needed, due to significant enrollment changes, applicants will be contacted directly. Nearly 2/3 of TA appointments went to Ph.D. students (73/114). There were 27 2nd-year M.S. students appointed, and 10 1st-year M.S. students appointed. Applications for spring 2021 will begin in early October.

TA offers are being made to Ph.D. students who applied. As more Ph.D. students accept and resign their TA appointments, we will continue to make offers as capacity and budget allow. There are more Ph.D. applicants than positions. There are a number of Ph.D. students who still need TA positions but do not yet have an offer. Offers to M.S. students can only occur once all Ph.D. students with need are appointed. Due to the uncertainty of who will still be a TA when school starts, even small changes to the TA pool can create a domino effect for tentative course assignments. Due to this, assignments to courses will not be made until next week at the earliest. Some appointees will not have an assignment until closer to the start date, to accommodate late changes to enrollment and need.