Vacancy Announcement

Position Type: Teaching Associate 

Term of Appointment: Academic Year 2025/2026 (Fall or Spring, or both)

Hours of Appointment: up to 0.40 timebase (up to 16 hour/week) 

Pay Rate: up to approx. $1,311.00/month

Postions Available: Multiple 

Department of Sociology

Overview

Teaching Associates (TAs) typically are responsible for providing classroom and/or laboratory instruction, making assignments to students, preparing course materials, administering examinations, assessing student performance, tutoring students and determining course grades. Also, incumbents may assist faculty with field experience, supervision, simulation exercises and/or research projects. Students applying for TA positions must be currently enrolled in the graduate program of the department in which they are applying. Degree-seeking graduate students who are enrolled in interdisciplinary degree programs may be hired as TAs for departments that comprise their interdisciplinary programs. Academic Student Employees may not concurrently hold a faculty or staff position. Students with assignments in more than one student classification (i.e., Graduate Assistant, Instructional Student Assistant, and Student Assistant) are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the academic year. The 20 hour per week maximum includes hours worked in all positions.

See Classification Standards for more information: https://www.humboldt.edu/academic-personnel-services/employee-recruitment/academic-student-unit-11 

Job Duties

JOB # 228: Sociology: Teaching Associate 

A Teaching Associate (TA) works with a curriculum designed by a supervising instructor. They are assigned to course "discussion sections" (in some cases labs) each usually enrolling between 25-35 students. The TA is/becomes familiar with the course material such that they can facilitate successful weekly discussions of readings or other assignments. The TA grades assignments and exams for students in their discussion sections. In addition, a TA meets regularly with the supervising instructor to coordinate the above responsibilities. The TA will usually attend large lectures, except in weeks where other TA workload needs take precedence: this decision must be negotiated with the supervising instructor. The TA union requires that a TA work 2.67 hours per week for each "weighted teaching unit" (WTU) assigned. For example, a TA may be assigned 2 WTU for teaching two 50 minute discussion sections, plus 1 WTU to compensate for additional time needed to accomplish the related TA work. In this example, the TA would have a 3 WTU workload, which is a 20% time appointment that requires the TA to work a total of 8 hours per week. A TA in this above example could expect the following workload breakdown: 20% discussion section facilitation, 20% large lecture observation including note taking, 10% supervising instructor meetings, and 50% preparation and grading. Appointments are for a single term, though applicants may reapply for a Teaching Associate position.

Minimum Qualifications for this Classification

Knowledge and Abilities: Knowledge of the subject matter of the discipline to which the individual is assigned. Ability to relate well to others within the academic environment and ability to instruct and evaluate students.

Education: Education equivalent to or completion of the requirements for a bachelor's degree and concurrent admission to or enrollment in a graduate degree program of the university in the discipline to which the individual is assigned.

Experience: Evidence of satisfactory achievement in previous academic work.

Note: Exceptions to the minimum eligibility qualifications may be granted at the sole discretion of Cal Poly Humboldt.

Department Hiring Criteria

JOB # 228: Sociology: Teaching Associate 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION:Graduate students enrolled in the MA in Public Sociology or in the MA in Environment and Community are eligible to apply for Teaching Associate positions in Sociology

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Preference is given to students who are recommended by Sociology faculty members for a teaching position, demonstrate a strong grasp of sociological concepts, are reliable, and work well independently, as well as on a team.

• Additional training, such as completion of SOC 560: Teaching in Higher Education is encouraged, but not required.  Students in the Public Sociology program will be considered for a TA position if they show evidence of preparation for teaching sociology at the undergraduate level through coursework and/or successful teaching experience.

How to Apply and Contact Information

Please submit the follwing application materials via CHRS Recruiting (PageUp):

• Letter of Interest/Cover Letter;
• Resume/CV;
• Application for Employment (complete in CHRS Recruiting - PageUp); and
• Current Unofficial Transcripts.

Please direct any questions pertaining to this position, the Department of Sociology, or Cal Poly Humboldt to:

Department of Department of Sociology

Cal Poly Humboldt

Email: soc@humboldt.edu 

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Availability of positions are contingent upon departmental need. Early response is encouraged.

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Notice: It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide complete and accurate employment information. A background check must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position that is designated as sensitive under CSU guidelines. The background check will include, at a minimum, a criminal records check. Certain positions may also require a credit check, motor vehicle report, and/or fingerprinting through Live Scan service. Adverse findings from a background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current CSU student workers who apply for the position. All CSU employees are obligated to respond to and report incidents of sexual harassment and sexual violence. The successful candidate for this position will be mandated to receive relevant training on an annual basis. The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. Cal Poly Humboldt is a Title IX/Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. If accommodations need to be made during the recruitment and interview process, please contact Human Resources at (707) 826-3626 or hr@humboldt.edu