Home / Instructors / Teaching Assistant (TA) Employment

Teaching Assistants (process, rates, timing)

Selection

  • 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.

Hours and 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 $3,787 for 100 hours, pre-tax.
    • 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 your 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 minimum allocations are sent to managers on May 15. 
  • Begin submitting TA appointments
  • 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)

Activities

Mandatory 

  • 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

Optional 

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

Purchasing and Resources

  • See the Graduate Division's TA Handbook for more information.
  • See our materials page for how to order eBooks, textbooks, desk copies, and readers.
  • Make no out-of-pocket expenses, we cannot reimburse you. Instead, the course instructor can submit requests for us to make purchases.

Parking passes, bus passes, and gym passes