Faculty responsibilities to service-learning teaching assistants

In order to assist you with managing the extra demands of a service-learning course, the Division of Community Engagement has partnered with the VCU Honors College to create the Service-Learning Teaching Assistant Program. If you have 20 or more students in your service-learning course, you can request an undergraduate SLTA to assist with the logistics of your course. To request a TA, contact the service-learning coordinator at (804) 827-8215. Teaching assistants are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

To help you cultivate a constructive relationship with your service-learning teaching assistant, you should consider these guidelines:

1. Establish clear job responsibilities for your teaching assistant before the beginning of the semester (e.g., class attendance, grading journals, site visits, regular contact with service sites, monitoring student service hours and facilitating reflection activities).
2. Have weekly meetings with your teaching assistant.
3. Introduce your teaching assistant to the class and explain the TA’s role at the first class meeting.
4. Act as a mentor to your teaching assistant.
5. Empower the position of teaching assistant.

To continue building a pool of strong teaching assistants, you are encouraged to recommend students for participation in the program.