Resources
The following are a set of resources for graduate assistants.
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USC Graduate School Handbook: In this handbook, you can find guidance on eligibility, English proficiency, selection criteria, the offer letter, continuation and reappointment, standards of conduct, terms of appointment, conflict resolution, and other resources.
Promoting Academic Integrity: While this page was originally written for faculty, TAs should be guided by the same principles. These principles include:
- Modeling integrity
- Including professional and ethical standards in your class and own work and regularly remind students that integrity boosts skills, knowledge, and self-esteem, while cheating and plagiarism does the opposite.
- Timely and respectfully address difficult issues
- Regularly discuss rules, standards, and ethics for good academic conduct
- Clearly explain your expectations and practices for assignments, tests, grading, collaboration, and citing sources
Teaching Assistant Toolkit: This set of resources created by the Center for Excellence in Teaching provides TAs with information on how to develop pedagogy and how to approach unique and difficult situations. The TA Decision Guide can be downloaded from this page and has information on
- Emergencies
- Support resources
- Disruptive/threatening behavior
- Accommodations
- Academic requests
- Academic integrity violations (plagiarism, cheating, collaboration, fabrication, etc.)
- Student crises and personal disclosures (health and harassment, assault, or violence)
- FERPA
- Grade appeal requests
University Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award: Departments can nominate one teaching assistant for this honor that is awarded to up to three individuals at USC each year.
Questions or Problems with TA Appointment: If you have questions or problems with your TA appointment, the first person to contact is your supervising faculty member or staff advisor. If that avenue is not sufficient in addressing the problem, seek support from the department chair. And if the chair is unable to find a solution, please reach out to the Dornsife Dean of Graduate Programs or the Dornsife Dean of Undergraduate Programs.
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The USC Semester
- USC Academic Calendar: Important dates during the semester including normal session start and end of classes, exams, and holidays
- USC Registration Calendar: More detailed dates related to registration, withdrawals, changing grade type, and when grades are due
Reporting Academic Misconduct: Process, flowchart, and information on the administrative review process and the faculty-student resolution option.
Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation: Information and links related to USC’s policy on Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation.
USC Grades Overview: Contains information about grading, such as procedures for grading, corrections, policies (including the grading handbook), definition of grades and marks, numerical equivalents, special cases, grading options (such as credit/no credit, pass/no pass, withdrawals, and audits), FERPA , and leave of absence.
Office of Student Accessibility Services – Faculty Overview: This page provides accessibility resources and a guide to the roles, rights, and responsibilities of faculty, students, and OSAS.
Disruptive Classroom Behavior: There are a few resources for addressing disruptive behavior:
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Grading and Roster System (GRS) – This is where faculty go to review their courses’ rosters and enter final grades for the course. Depending on the role you are given, you may be able to view the rosters and grades for the courses that you are a TA for.
Dornsife PhD Academy: Interdisciplinary community for Dornsife PhD students that focuses on practical professional preparation, and includes training in leadership principles, financial management, public speaking, communication, and other cross-cutting skills.
Advise USC: Student login for undergraduate advising
Dornsife Undergraduate Academic Advising: Individual and group academic advisement and guidance services for Dornsife undergraduate students.
Dornsife Career “Pathways” Advising: Dornsife student and alumni career counseling and advisement for those exploring career options and looking for guidance on next steps.
Dornsife Pre-Health Advisement Center: Provides support for those students seeking a career or further education in health professions.
Dornsife Pre-Law Advising: Provides support for those students seeking a career or further education in law.
Student-Athlete Academic Services: Center provides support in the areas of academic advising, career development, community service, tutorial programs, and learning specialists
language@usc: Provides placement exams in foreign languages, Mathematics, and Chemistry.
USC Dornsife Writing Center: This center provides feedback on writing and is open to USC students, faculty, and staff.
Other Useful Links
DTS – Dornsife Technology Services – Support Home
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Emergency Numbers:
UPC (213) 740-4321
HSC (323) 442-1000USC Safety Resources: This page lists guides and campus services aimed at providing student care, interventions, and emergency preparedness.
Review these guides to better understand what to do when procedural decisions need to be made: