The TA/GA Awards Program recognizes, promotes, and rewards the contributions that teaching and graduate assistants make to enhance the quality of the undergraduate student learning experiences at the university.

Eligibility

Nominees must have worked as a teaching assistant or graduate teaching assistant (TA or GA) over the 2024/25 academic year. A person can receive this award only once throughout their time at the university. Candidates can be nominated, or they may self-nominate.  

Note: Research Assistants (RAs) are not eligible

Nomination Process

As part of your nomination package, you will upload five documents in pdf format:

Letters of support: Letters of support should provide specific examples of why the nominee should be considered for the TA/GA Award

• One letter of support from the Supervising Instructor (SI)

• Two letters of support from students

Teaching philosophy (1-2 pages): The teaching philosophy should demonstrate evidence of reflection on one’s practices and highlight ways in which the nominee addresses the award criteria.

Supporting materials (maximum of 3 pages): It is essential to provide meaningful captions or descriptive information for all supporting materials, describing how the evidence demonstrates that the nominee meets the criteria for the award.

Nominations must be submitted via email to unit3vp@torontomu.ca

Note: “Supervising Instructor” (SI) is a Faculty member, Instructor, School Director, Department Chair, or Learning Support Coordinator who is responsible for supervising the Assistant in the TA/GA role.

Award Criteria

Teaching Excellence as a TA/GA

The nomination must include evidence of outstanding teaching. Outstanding teaching integrates best practices in instruction and assessment, demonstrates the effectiveness of teaching strategies, and provides evidence of student engagement. The nomination package should demonstrate how the nominee has embodied teaching excellence through:

1. Applying effective teaching strategies;
2. Providing effective feedback to improve the quality of undergraduate education;
3. Incorporating equity, diversity and inclusion in teaching;
4. Enhancing the student learning experience.

In nominating or applying for this award, consider that teaching excellence as a TA/GA can be demonstrated by an outstanding record of undergraduate teaching, including one or more of the following:

• Effectiveness of teaching strategies in the classroom, studio, or laboratory;
• Evidence of student engagement and improvement;
• Evidence of innovative approaches to TA/GA work;
• Enthusiasm for teaching, use of best practices, and diverse teaching methods;
• Ability to support and mentor students with their professional development goals;
• Development and implementation of creative teaching approaches, including the planning and delivery of labs or tutorials;
• Evidence of transformative influence on the student learning experience;
• Evidence that the nominee’s practice fits within their teaching philosophy.

Evidence in support of the criteria may include some of the following examples:

• Description of specific teaching strategies that were developed to improve student learning, including their planning, development, and delivery;
• Examples of impact on student learning (e.g. improved exam performance, pass rates, writing improvement, etc.)
• Descriptions of the development of innovative teaching materials;
• Examples of ongoing commitments to teaching through professional development (such as the Graduate Teaching Development Program (GTDP) and TA/GA Workshops);
• Specific examples where the nominee’s teaching style, innovative teaching strategies, etc., had an impact on students’ learning;
• Any additional evidence addressing TA/GA teaching excellence.

Selection Process

CUPE 3904 Unit 3 will award up to five prizes of $1000 each to TA/GAs.

The Selection Committee will be composed of Toronto Metropolitan faculty members, current Graduate Students, and staff at the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching.

Note: Unit 3 has no connection to the official hiring process for TA/GAs at TMU

Deadline, Nominations Instructions & Submission

The nomination package must be submitted to CUPE 3904 Unit 3 VP by 11:59 p.m. on the due date.

• Nominations accepted for, Fall 2024, Winter 2025, or full-year contracts.
• Tip: Applicants may find compiling their packages closer to the end date of their TA/GA contracts beneficial given that they will be contacting faculty and students for letters of support.
• All submissions are included in the same adjudication process either in the Fall or Winter.
• Incomplete or late applications will not be considered for this award.

Nominations for the Fall Awards will be open November 1st - November 15th 2024. Please submit your nomination package as soon as it is ready.

Contact

unit3vp@torontomu.ca

Previous Award Recipients