Graduate students must complete the New Teaching Assistant (TA) Orientation before or during their first regular academic-year quarter (i.e., not summer) as a TA, otherwise, they will be ineligible to TA in future quarters. Once a student has completed the UCR Graduate Division New TA Orientation, they do not need to retake it.

All New TA Orientation components are found on Canvas/eLearn (see below for self-enroll link--please do NOT enroll if you are not already a new TA or scheduled to TA next quarter). The orientation is asynchronous and students will be able to self-enroll. Each TA is expected to complete the required training between the beginning of the quarter and the conclusion of Week 5. The required training elements (as mandated by the Academic Senate) take approximately four hours to complete.

The new TA Orientation covers mandatory modules on basic pedagogy, TA rights and responsibilities, FERPA rules and regulations for TAs, a UAW presentation, teaching in a diverse classroom environment, and building rapport with students. Additional, non-mandatory modules provide resources for classroom and online teaching technologies, relevant campus partners, and best practices in pedagogy. Below is an outline of the mandatory orientation components:

1. Module 1: Rights & Responsibilities Video & Quiz
2. Module 2: Organization & Instruction Video & Quiz
3. Module 3: Diversity & Rapport Video & Quiz
4. Module 4: FERPA Training Video & Quiz
5. Sign-up information for the UAW Union presentation
6. End of Course Reflection

Graduate students working as TAs for the first time (who have not previously completed UCR’s New TA Orientation) must complete orientation before or during their first quarter as a TA. The Teaching Assistant Development Program (TADP) has limited staff and resources, so if you fail to complete the required orientation by the deadline, we cannot guarantee that you will be certified.

New TA Orientation is NOT offered over the Summer.

Spring 2026 New TA Orientation

TA Orientation for Spring 2026 opens Day 1 of Week 0! More info will appear here. Do NOT enroll if you are not currently a new TA or scheduled to TA next quarter.

A tutorial on how to self-enroll to the TA Orientation Canvas course can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CPkVz4LLD8RW27T9Bb5gmg6WZyy2c4zC/view?usp=share_link