It's Time to Arrange Fall 2017 TA and RA Appointments!

7/9/2017 7:00:49 AM

Lance Cooper

It's time to start making appointments for Fall 2017!

Please do the following by Monday, August 7:

1. First, talk with your research advisor (if you have one) about the source of your support for Fall 2017.

2. Make sure you have completed your 2017 Self-Evaluation, if you haven't done so already.  The grad office will not process your Fall 2017 appointments or TA assignments until your self-evaluation is complete.  To complete your self-evaluation, log into MyPhysics, look under Grad Student Toolbox (left side of the page), and click on the link "Ph.D. Self-Evaluation Student Input Screen (Physics)" under Evaluations.  This will take you to the on-line self-evaluation form.  Don't forget to click on Complete and Submit Evaluation at the bottom of the page when you've completed your self evaluation.

3. Next, use the following link to get to the TA/RA preference form for Fall 2017, https://my.physics.illinois.edu/grad/taprefs/, and indicate (i) whether you will be a TA or an RA and (ii) the appointment percentage you're requesting for Fall 2017. Note that a full TA or RA appointment is 50%. If you want a partial TA/RA appointment (e.g., 25% TA and 25% RA) or a 17% TA appointment in addition to a 50% RA appointment (to cover an additional course section), please indicate this at the top left of the form.

4. If you need to be a TA (i.e., you will not be supported by your advisor on an RA appointment), please indicate your course preferences, and fill out your available times during the Fall 2017 semester. Please select as many two-hour blocks of time as possible, as this makes the difficult TA scheduling process easier. To the extent possible, I will make TA assignments on a first-come-first-served basis (only after you've completed your annual self-evaluation), so the earlier you complete your self-evaluation and get your preferences in, the more likely it will be that you'll get one of your top choices.

Please complete the TA/RA preference form as soon as possible, as I will start making TA appointments starting in late July or early August. Again, if you're not sure if you need to be supported partially or fully by a TA position, please consult with your advisor as soon as possible.

We need your Fall 2017 support information no later than Monday, August 7, 2017. Please let me know (slcooper@illinois.edu) if you have any questions about your TA preferences.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!