Teaching Affiliate

The primary responsibility for Teaching Affiliates is to lead a cohort of incoming TAs through a day-long workshop at August’s TA Orientation. These workshops familiarize new TAs with the challenges and opportunities of working as TAs at Vanderbilt and help prepare TAs for the first few weeks of class. These cohorts are divided by discipline, although they may include TAs from multiple departments or programs. Ideally, Teaching Affiliates are assigned to the cohort which contains their department, but sometimes Affiliates work within their discipline outside their department.

Additionally, Affiliates organize a small event or workshop later in the year that addresses the needs of TAs on campus, in their department, or across campus. For example, in previous years Teaching Affiliates have held a “coffee hour” for TAs to discuss their teaching experiences or developed materials for the Center for Teaching website.

The Affiliate position is a great opportunity for graduate students and post-docs who are interested in attending training sessions on teaching and getting some experience facilitating workshops, but who can only make a minimal commitment during the academic year.

Given the disciplines represented at TA Orientation, the CFT seeks Teaching Affiliate applicants from all disciplines. Applicants from the sciences and engineering are especially encouraged to apply.

Preferred Skills, Experiences, and Attributes:

• An understanding of the CFT’s mission
• Experience with CFT programs and services
• Some classroom or lab teaching experience as a TA or instructor of record at Vanderbilt (or elsewhere), with evidence of teaching effectiveness
• Passion for teaching, graduate student development, and the humanities
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Flexibility, imagination, energy

Primary Responsibilities:

• Develop and present workshops as part of TA Orientation (TAO) in August
• Design and implement a small project in the fall semester that will have a positive impact on graduate student teaching at Vanderbilt

Time Commitment:

Approximately 70 hours, most of them in August 2023. Half of the hours will be in-person and the rest will be online.

• Mid-August: Intensive training and preparation for TA Orientation.
• August (Dates TBD): TA Orientation.
• Late August: Debriefing activities and compiling materials from TA Orientation
• Approximately 5-10 hours in Fall 2023 designing and implementing the Teaching Affiliate’s fall project.

Compensation:

• $1,000 paid at the end of August

 

CiCT Program Facilitator

The CiCT Program focuses on the research on learning and best teaching practices, and supports the university’s pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning. The certificate is ideal for graduate students whose goals are to become more effective educators and who want to prepare for future careers in higher education teaching.  We are looking for graduate students with teaching experience, who are interested in extending their professional development around teaching and want to support that development in their peers.

Prerequisites:

• Have completed the CiCT Program.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Facilitating two semester-long sections of the CiCT program, one beginning in August and another beginning in January.

Time Commitment:

• Summer 2023– 5 hours training in July, responding to emails throughout the summer
• Fall 2023– Reading materials, lesson planning, facilitating sessions over 8 weeks, attending weekly CiCT planning meetings (5-10 hours per week while CiCT is in session).
• Spring 2024– Reading materials, lesson planning, facilitating sessions over 8 weeks, attending weekly CiCT planning meetings (5-10 hours per week while CiCT is in session).

Compensation:

• $1,500 paid at the end of August 2023
• $1,500 paid at the end of January 2024

 

Note that these procedures will apply to any former GTFs, CiCT facilitators, and Teaching Affiliates, not just those who worked at the CFT in the previous academic year.

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For Former Teaching Affiliates Reapplying for the Teaching Affiliate Position

1. In lieu of the standard application materials, former Teaching Affiliates interested in returning as Teaching Affiliates should submit an application letter that addresses the following questions:
   • How has your experience as a Teaching Affiliate impacted your teaching and/or your career since your participation in TAO?
   • How would you approach your work as a Teaching Affiliate differently this year than in the past given your prior experience as a Teaching Affiliate?
   • How will returning as a Teaching Affiliate benefit the Center for Teaching’s efforts to provide support for new TAs?
   • How will returning as a Teaching Affiliate benefit your own professional and/or personal development?
2. These candidates WILL NOT participate in an interview for the position, although they are welcome to arrange a meeting with the recruitment coordinator to discuss the position.

 

For Former Teaching Affiliates Applying for CiCT Facilitator Positions

1. In lieu of the standard application materials, former Teaching Affiliates interested in applying for CiCT facilitator positions should submit an updated CV, and an application letter that addresses the following questions (no need to submit a letter of recommendation):
   • How has your experience as a Teaching Affiliate impacted your teaching and/or your career since your participation in TAO?
   • Considering the job responsibilities of CiCT facilitators not on the list of Teaching Affiliate job responsibilities (facilitating two CiCT sections that focus on the research on learning and best teaching practices, and supports the university’s pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, and working with interdisciplinary grad students and postdocs), what experiences and perspectives would you bring to the CiCT facilitator position that would enable you to fulfill those job responsibilities successfully?
   • How do you expect your experience as a Teaching Affiliate to impact your potential work as a CiCT facilitator?
   • How will being a CiCT facilitator impact your professional and/or personal development?
2. These candidates will participate in an interview for this position. The interview will focus on the questions above and WILL include a teaching demonstration.

 

For Former CiCT Facilitators Reapplying for CiCT Facilitator Positions

1. In lieu of the standard application materials, former CiCT facilitators interested in returning as a CiCT facilitator should submit an application letter that addresses the following questions:
   • How has your experience as a CiCT facilitator impacted your teaching and/or your career since your participation in facilitating the CiCT?
   • How would you approach your work as a CiCT facilitator differently this year than in the past given your prior experience as a CiCT facilitator?
   • How will returning as a CiCT facilitator benefit the Center for Teaching’s efforts to provide professional development for grad students and postdocs wishing to gain foundational teaching knowledge and skills?
   • How will returning as a CiCT facilitator benefit your own professional and/or personal development?
2. These candidates WILL NOT participate in an interview for the position, although they are welcome to arrange a meeting with the recruitment coordinator to discuss the position.

 

 For Former GTFs and CiCT Facilitators Applying for Teaching Affiliate Positions

1. In lieu of the standard application materials, former GTFs and CiCT facilitators interested in applying for Teaching Affiliate positions should submit an application letter that addresses the following questions:
   • How has your experience as a GTF or CiCT facilitator impacted your teaching and/or your career?
   • How would you approach your work as a Teaching Affiliate during TAO differently this year than in the past given your experience as a GTF or CiCT facilitator?
   • How will returning as a Teaching Affiliate benefit your own professional and/or personal development?
2. These candidates WILL NOT participate in an interview for the position, although they are welcome to arrange a meeting with the recruitment coordinator to discuss the position.

 

For Former GTFs Applying for the CiCT Facilitator Position

1. In lieu of the standard application materials, former GTFs interested in applying for the CiCT facilitator position should submit an application letter that addresses the following questions:
   • How has your experience as a GTF and CiCT facilitator impacted your teaching and/or your career since your involvement with the CFT?
   • How would you approach your work as a CiCT facilitator differently this year than in the past given your prior experience as a GTF and CiCT facilitator?
   • How will returning as a CiCT facilitator benefit the Center for Teaching’s efforts to provide professional development for grad students and postdocs wishing to gain foundational teaching knowledge and skills?
   • How will returning as a CiCT facilitator benefit your own professional and/or personal development?
2. These candidates WILL NOT participate in an interview for the position, although they are welcome to arrange a meeting with the recruitment coordinator to discuss the position.