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Doctoral Student TA Training

For doctoral student TAs new to teaching at Penn, CETLI offers a three-day program. This program introduces Penn practices and expectations, offers graduate students the chance to start, or continue, their development as teachers, and prepares TAs to better help their students learn. Experienced TAs facilitate the program’s small-group workshops. PhD students TAing in Bioengineering and Materials Science Engineering should attend the Master’s Student TA Orientation.

Registration is currently closed. Registration for the 2025-2026 academic year will begin in the spring. If you have any questions, please email CETLI.

TA Training for New TAs

Tuesday through Thursday before classes start in August, new TAs in Arts and Sciences, Design, Nursing, Annenberg, Wharton and Engineering will participate in a three-day set of workshops on teaching and learning. The program includes:

  • A welcoming plenary, including an introduction to your role as a TA, resources to support your students, and relevant Penn policies.
  • Workshops on leading classes and grading in your field.
  • Practice teaching demonstrations.
  • Workshops on inclusive and equitable teaching practices.
  • Discussions of challenges facing TAs.

Learn About the Workshops

Register for TA Training

If your department or school requires you to attend TA Training, CETLI will contact you in late June with registration information. This invitation will contain important information that clarifies which workshops are most appropriate for your discipline. If you aren't sure which workshop is appropriate, email CETLI. 

Registration is currently closed and will reopen in June 2025.

Apply to be a TA Trainer

Do you enjoy teaching? Would you like to help prepare your peers to enter the classroom next fall?

Every year CETLI asks experienced TAs to apply to help train new TAs. CETLI needs doctoral students in the humanities, social sciences, sciences, and engineering to lead new TAs in workshops and facilitate teaching demonstrations and small-group discussions of scenarios.

Trainers will prepare to train other TAs by participating in several day-long workshops. Applicants should expect to be available for three full days in May (dates to be determined by trainer schedules) and must be available 8:30am-5pm, Monday-Friday the week leading up to TA training. Trainers will receive a $1,700 stipend. Applications are now closed and will reopen in the spring of 2025.

If you have a question, please email Ian Petrie. 

Programs for Grad Students

Resources