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Reappointment
Reappointment to teaching positions in the Writing Program will be based on our primary commitment to offer the best writing instruction we can to the students we teach. We will also seek to provide financial support to as many qualified graduate students as our budget will allow. Therefore, we aim to reappoint all TOs in good standing, both with us and their graduate program, who have not exceeded their eligibility limits in terms of financial support. TOs maintain good standing with us by fulfilling their contractual obligations. These include participating in Course Director meetings and/or Practica, attending training sessions, allowing Course Directors to observe their classes once each semester, meeting with Course Directors to discuss classroom observations and evaluations, and following Writing Program policies and teaching practices. Graduate students seeking reappointment must also be making satisfactory progress toward their degrees. There may be occasions when an under-enrolled section of College Writing or Basic Writing is cancelled. In the event of this occurrence, the TO will be asked to work in the Writing Center for 20 hours a week in lieu of teaching for his/her associateship.
In reappointing graduate students from English, we follow that department’s guidelines for the number of semesters graduate students are eligible for funding. At present these guidelines are MFA: 6 semesters; PhD: 10 semesters; MA/PhD: 14 semesters. This number includes semesters teaching in the Writing Program and the English Department combined. For students from other departments, funding is for one year with the possibility of renewal twice. When we have particular needs or shortages, we may make exceptions to these guidelines.
Invitation to Reapply
Eligible Writing Program TOs in good standing need to notify the Writing Program by early February of their wish to be considered for reappointment for the upcoming academic year. TOs who have applied for reappointment will be notified of our decision by letter no later than May 1. Reappointed TOs will be invited to indicate their preference for courses. Those courses include Basic Writing, College Writing, Honors College Writing, and College Writing taught in computer classrooms. Decisions regarding TO preferences for teaching assignments will be based on seniority, relevant expertise and experience in a specific area, level of interest, and Writing Program staffing needs.
TOs will also be invited to indicate their preferences for teaching days and times. TOs in their first year of teaching in the Program will be assigned a 1-2 schedule. Veteran teachers will be assigned a 2-1 schedule, although requests can be made to teach a 1-2. Although the Program will attempt to honor reasonable preferences, we are subject to the University’s scheduling needs and constraints. TOs will be notified of their assignments in writing no later than three weeks before classes begin. Please note that TOs in their first year in the Writing Program teach a MWF schedule both semesters. The semester that you are assigned two sections, both sections will be scheduled on the same days.
Difficulties Meeting Reappointment Criteria
When a TO is experiencing significant difficulties with his or her teaching, the Director, Deputy Director, or an Assistant Director will meet with the TO to discuss the specific problem and offer reasonable assistance in addressing the problem. “Significant difficulty” includes, but is not limited to, failure to meet contractual obligations (holding classes, attending Course Director meetings, adhering to Writing Program instructional guidelines, turning in final grades through SPIRE, etc.); reports of notable and credible criticisms by students on course evaluations; credible complaints by students to the Writing Program about problematic teaching behavior, etc. If the difficulty persists, or is significant enough on first occurrence, the Director will submit written notification of the need for improvement in order to be reappointed. The TO will then have one probationary semester to demonstrate amelioration of the problem.
More immediate action may be taken if the Director feels there is cause to do so because of the seriousness of the problem or because of contract violation. In rare cases, the TO’s contract may be terminated.
Any TO who is subject to disciplinary action, non-renewal of contract, or termination of contract shall be able to grieve that decision following the procedures outlined in the GEO Agreement.
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