Home / Instructors / Course Materials, Instructional Support, and Technology

Hiring TAs and Readers

Teaching Assistants (TAs)

Procedure:

  • TAs are selected by departments and colleges.  Then, Summer Session hires and pays them. For inquiries about getting a summer TAship, please contact appropriate course sponsoring units (like your major department).
  • Our priority is hiring UCSC students as TAs. Exceptions needed for non-students.

Payment:

  • TAs can work a total of 2 TAships (200 hours max) per five-week session, 4 TAships total (400 hours max) per summer.  
    • TAs are appointed $3,420 for 100 hours, pre-tax.
      • TAXES
      • During the summer, students who are U.S. citizens, Permanent Resident Aliens, and Resident Alien (for tax purposes), are not exempt from DCP Safe Harbor and Medicare Deductions. For more information regarding Safe Harbor and Medicare deduction please visit the Career Center website, General Employment Information.
      • If you have questions about your paycheck deductions, dependents you claimed, retirement etc. please contact Payroll at payhelp@ucsc.edu or 831-459-2488. Summer Session staff are unable to answer payroll-related questions.
      • There are no timesheets nor Cruzpay use.  You are appointed for x hours, expected to work exactly x hours, and paid for x hours.
      • Paychecks go to the same location you receive them the rest of the year. For example, if you have direct deposit, it continues in summer. If you check is mailed to you, ensure your address is correct for summer months.

Payment Dates:

  • Session 1 instructors - full pay August 1
  • Session 2 instructors - full pay September 1
  • 8wk - half August 1, half September 1
  • 10wk - half August 1, half September 1

Timing:

  • TA allocation estimates sent to Department Managers around May 15. These are highly accurate and departments can begin submitting appointment information.
  • If enrollments decrease, we will not decrease TA allocation.  
  • TA allocation (official/final) sent to Department Managers on May 31.
  • All appointment information is due to Summer Session by June 10.
  • The process is for the entire summer (all sessions).
  • See Department and Divisional from 2012-present for reference.
  • Labs and art studios - work with Summer Session separately (like MCD Bio, METX, ART, for example)

TA Mandatory Activities

Reading required texts for class Attending class
Preparing for section or lab Teaching section or lab
Holding office hours Cleaning up lab
Evaluating student work

TA Optional Activities

Preparing Assignments Consulting with instructor
Running course-related errands (such as photocopying) Previewing films
Interviewing guest speakers Grading exams


Resource: See the Graduate Division's TA Handbook for more information.

Readers

Procedure:
  • New Reader Hour Allocation process. Departing from our previous Reader process, we will rely on your knowledge and expertise; you let us know what Reader support you need! We will gather this information from you on June 10 via our Reader Appointment Google form.
  • Requests for Readers should be made to your Department Manager, CAM, or Program Director.
  • Our priority is hiring UCSC students as Readers. Exceptions needed for non-students.
  • Labs and art studios - work with Summer Session separately (like MCD Bio, METX, ART, for example)

Payment:

  • Readers can work a total of 2 Readerships (200 hours max) per session, 4 Readerships (400 hours max) per summer.
  • Reader pay rate is $17.26 per hour.
  • Readers are paid for the hours provided in their appointment letters.
  • There is no CruzPay to input hours or approve for summer work.

Union Represented:

  • If you are assigned to any Academic Student Employee (ASE) title (Reader, Tutor, Teaching Assistant, Associate In, or Teaching Fellow), your appointment is covered by a Memorandum of Understanding between the University and the ASE/UAW establishes the terms and conditions of your employment.