OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
English Department
Information for Incoming Teaching Assistants
Congratulations on joining the department as a Teaching Assistant. This document will give
you a brief overview of the department, tell you the next steps to take, and answer some of the
most common questions asked by new TAs.
Please contact the department staff or teaching program directors with any questions.
Meet the Staff
JuDean Scott, Assistant to the Department Head, 205 Morrill Hall, judean.scott@okstate.edu
Teaching Assignments, Classroom Scheduling, Departmental Business
Robert Estes, Senior Financial Assistant, 207 C Morrill Hall, robert.estes@okstate.edu
Employment and Benefits, Travel Arrangements, Departmental Finances
Lori Raborg, Assistant to the Graduate Director, 308 Morrill Hall, lori.raborg@okstate.edu
Academic Records and Compliance, Coordination with Graduate College
Jill Traynor, Administrative Assistant, 205 Morrill Hall, jill.traynor@okstate.edu
Copying and Scanning, Equipment and Film Checkout, Department Directory
Carefully read all communication from staff, both e-mail and paper documents. Respond to all
requests for information, complete and return all forms, even if your response is “Does not
apply to me.” In most cases, we need responses from ALL TAs; it is better to provide too much
information than too little.
Teaching Program Directors
Composition
Ron Brooks, Director
ron.brooks@okstate.edu
409 Morrill
an.cheng@okstate.edu
302B Morrill
Professional Writing
An Cheng, Director
Teaching English as a Second Language
Gene Halleck, Director
gene.halleck@okstate.edu
109A Morrill
rebecca.damron@okstate.edu
104 Morrill
Writing Center
Rebecca Damron, Director
Incoming TA Information - 1
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
English Department
First Steps:
U.S. Students
International Students
Notify the English Graduate Office of
your intent to attend:
Englishgrad@okstate.edu
Notify the English Graduate Office of
your intent to attend:
Englishgrad@okstate.edu
Sign and return the TA offer letter to
indicate your acceptance of the offer.
Sign and return the TA offer letter to
indicate your acceptance of the offer.
Complete the FAFSA
(http://www.okstate.edu/finaid/)
and Graduate Student Resources Form
http://www.okstate.edu/finaid/pdf/gradr1
2.pdf
These are required for your tuition
waiver.
Complete the Financial Guarantee
(http://gradcollege.okstate.edu/downloa
d/pdf/FinancialGuarantee.pdf)
Contact the Graduate College to
confirm the funds you must guarantee
(grad-i@okstate.edu).
Activate O-Key Account:
https://app.it.okstate.edu/okey/
Activate O-Key Account:
https://app.it.okstate.edu/okey/
Review upcoming courses,
contact Graduate Director for
advisement:
http://english.okstate.edu/home/courses
Review upcoming courses,
contact Graduate Director for
advisement:
http://english.okstate.edu/home/courses
Complete academic enrollment
 Enroll in courses
 Obtain OSU Student ID Card
113 Math Sciences Building,
bring photo ID
Attend ISS Orientation
 Apply for work permit
 Apply for Social Security Card
 Enroll in courses
 Obtain Student ID
Visit the English Department to
complete employment paperwork
Visit the English Department to
complete employment paperwork
Attend TA Orientation
(mandatory each semester)
Attend TA Orientation
(mandatory each semester)
Incoming TA Information - 2
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
English Department
Enrolling in Courses
1).
Contact the Graduate Director to discuss courses; have the Advising Hold lifted from
your O-Key account
2.
Enroll in courses; following the instructions here:
http://gradcollege.okstate.edu/student/enrollment.htm
You must take six (or seven credits) to receive the tuition waiver; you may not enroll in
more than six credits without the permission of the Department Head
a.
Enroll in the appropriate Pedagogy course(s) to support your teaching
assignment




b.
ENGL 5210 Writing Center Theory and Pedagogy (1 credit)
ENGL 5213 Composition Theory and Pedagogy (3 credits)
ENGL 5223 Professional Writing Theory and Pedagogy (3 credits)
ENGL 5243 Teaching English as a Second Language (3 credits)
Enroll in an additional elective (3 credits)
Employment Paperwork
1.
Visit the Department after July 1 to complete employment paperwork (International
Students complete the paperwork during Orientation Week). Completing the paperwork
before the rush of Orientation Week helps ensure you will receive your first paycheck on
time.
You will need the following documents/information:

Social Security Card (required by the University) If you have lost your social
security card, the Social Security Administration can give you a one-page (free)
verification containing full name and Social Security Number.

Government-issued photo ID

Cancelled check (for direct deposit) The University uses direct deposit for all
paychecks. If you would like to use a local bank, open your account before
completing your paperwork.
TA Orientation
You must attend orientation before each semester you are a TA. Orientation is held MondayFriday the full week before classes begin in the fall, Wednesday-Friday before classes begin in
the spring.
If you think you may miss part of orientation, you must receive approval from the director of
the program for which you will be teaching.
Incoming TA Information - 3
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
English Department
Employment Equivalent
TAs in the English Department are considered to be employed 50% FTE (Full-Time Equivalent).
A 50% FTE schedule is six credit hours of courses and 20 hours of work, either teaching two
courses or tutoring 20 hours in the Writing Center, or teaching one course and tutoring ten
hours.
Teaching Schedule
A preliminary teaching schedule will be distributed by e-mail , usually in July and November,
as soon as undergraduate enrollment numbers stabilize. This schedule is subject to change as
enrollment shifts and the Registrar calls for course changes. Confirm your final schedule during
TA Orientation.
Although every attempt is made to accommodate teaching preferences, no schedule can
accommodate everyone. A little flexibility goes a long way in getting a preferred schedule in
upcoming semesters.
Check your schedule to ensure that you have no conflicts with your own coursework. Alert
JuDean Scott of any conflicts or errors as soon as possible, so she may adjust the master
schedule.
TA Benefits
Monthly Stipend
You will be paid for the nine-month academic year. Your pay is deposited directly into your
bank account on the last working day of the month, one-half your monthly stipend amount for
August, full months for September through April, and another half-month for May. December
pay is deposited before winter break. If your employment paperwork is delayed, you may not
receive your first payment until the end of September.
A “Payroll Advice” will be sent to your Okstate.edu e-mail account 7-10 days before pay day.
Check your Payroll Advice to confirm that you are being paid the correct stipend; advise Robert
Estes if the amount is not correct. Also, contact Robert as soon as possible if you have not
received a Payroll Advice, have not been paid, or have any questions about your pay. The
sooner you ask, the easier the fix.
Health Insurance
The University provides health insurance coverage for TAs. Your coverage begins on the first
day of the semester, if all employment paperwork has been completed. If you are employed as a
TA in spring and again the following fall, your insurance coverage will continue uninterrupted,
even if you are not employed for summer. See the University Health Services insurance site for
more information: http://www.okstate.edu/UHS/uhsgatara.htm
Incoming TA Information - 4
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
English Department
Tuition Waiver
As a TA, you receive a waiver of non-resident tuition and up to six credits of resident tuition.
You are responsible for university fees (about $650/semester), books, and other expenses.
Each semester you must sign a Graduate Tuition Waiver Agreement – a contract between you
and the university. The university agrees to pay your tuition; you agree to remain enrolled in at
least six hours of appropriate coursework and to complete your work assignment. You must
repay the full amount of your tuition if your enrollment drops below six credit hours (you
withdraw from a course) or if you do not complete your work assignment.
Tuition waivers post as a credit to your Bursar account after the final drop/add date, usually in
the second week of the semester. Resident and non-resident waivers post separately.
Spousal Tuition Waiver
If you have received a TA non-resident tuition waiver, your graduate spouse is eligible for a
waiver of non-resident tuition. The spouse will need to complete the Spousal Graduate Tuition
Waiver Form and return it to the Office of the Registrar at the beginning of each semester to
receive the waiver.
http://registrar.okstate.edu/images/FORMS/nonresidenttuitionwaiver.pdf
Departmental Communication
Carefully read all departmental communication, both e-mail and paper documents. Respond to
all requests for information, complete and return all forms. In most cases, a work project is
dependent on responses from ALL TAs; it is better to provide too much information than too
little.
Mailboxes and Offices
All Faculty, instructors, TAs, and staff have mailboxes or folders in the English Main Office, 205
Morrill Hall. Typically, class instructors have mailboxes where students can submit
assignments, Writing Center tutors have folders. Mailboxes are located on the walls nearest the
door; folders are in a drawer to the right as you enter to 205 Morrill. Anyone can leave materials
in your mailbox, only you can remove materials from your mailbox. Check your mailbox at
least once per week.
If you would like to leave papers for your students, put the student’s name on the paper and
leave it in the Student Pick-Up drawer, to the right as you enter 205 Morrill, below the TA Mail
drawer.
TAs have office spaces on the 4th floor of Morrill Hall. All offices are shared by several TAs;
some have individual private desks. Offices 406, 408, and 410 have shared workspaces on the
“hotel plan”; no desks are private, TAs use whatever workspace is available when they arrive in
the office.
See Jill Traynor for your office assignment, office key, and mailbox location.
Incoming TA Information - 5
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY
English Department
E-mail and Listservs
Your OKState.edu e-mail will be used for official university communication.
There are several departmental mailing listservs. You may belong to several different lists,
depending on your TA assignment. You will receive an instructional e-mail when you are
added to any list.

OSU-English-L : All English faculty, instructors, TAs and staff

OSU-EnglishGrad-L: English Graduate Students only, no faculty

Complist-L: Composition Instructors

TESLing-L: TESL and Linguistics faculty and students
Other Communication
The Department of English Policy and Procedures Manual describes both university and
department policies and procedures relating to instruction, class preparation, scheduling, and
TA reappointment. Read it carefully, refer to it often.
http://english.okstate.edu/faculty/p-n-p_current.pdf
Please contact the English Staff with any questions.
We look forward to meeting you!
Incoming TA Information - 6