TA Excellence Awards

• Grad TA award: Christopher Bellman
• Undergrad TA award: Omar Garcia Flores

• Grad TA award: François-Xavier Chaplain Corriveau
• Undergrad TA award: Forrest Buehlow

• Grad TA award: François-Xavier Chaplain Corriveau
• Undergrad TA award: Manuel Lebron Flores

• Grad TA award: Steven Porretta
• Undergrad TA award: Forrest Buehlow

• Up to 2 awards are given out annually
• Each award is valued at $100 and includes a commendation letter and formal recognition on the plaque kept in the School of Computer Science

• Up to 5 awards are given out annually
• Each award is valued at $250 and includes a certificate and formal recognition on the plaque on the fourth floor of Dunton Tower

i. Only those TAs that have been assigned to a Comp Sci course (Summer 2022 – Winter 2023, full year or one term) are eligible for these TA Awards.

ii. Who can nominate?

• Faculty, contract instructors, and students are welcome to nominate their TA(s).

iii. Are self-nominations welcome?

• Yes, TAs may nominate themselves for the award but self-nominations that have meaningful support from faculty, contract instructors, or students in the course will be given more weight.

iv. Preference for faculty nominations?

• Faculty nominations will be weighted more significantly than other non-faculty nominated submissions.

v. Any preference for support from students?

• Submissions that provide meaningful support will be weighted more significantly than nonspecific compliments.

vi. Can teaching materials be included and, if so, what conditions are placed on these documents?

• Yes, but submitted content should include a description of the context (i.e., why is it included, what impact did the content have, etc.)

vii. Nominators are asked to complete the digital ‘2022-2023 Outstanding TA Awards’ (available through the TLS ‘Outstanding TA Award’ website here), and attach any additional documentation using this online form.

viii. The deadline to submit is Monday, April 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm.

• The committee consists of the Associate Director (undergraduate) and the Lab Coordinators.

The committee considers all ways in which TAs improve or contribute to learning within the School of Computer Science and specifically the following criteria:

1. Teaching Skills (Excellence in-class, such as guest lectures, discussion groups, labs, tutorials, review sessions, office hours)
2. Grading (Consistency, feedback, support of students)
3. Communication (Email or in-person: clear, concise, supportive, rational)
4. Environment (Means by which the TA creates a supportive, inclusive learning and working environment reflecting the diversity of personality types and needs of the class, faculty, staff & students – in-person or online)
5. Other (All other criteria that has not been addressed that exemplifies why this individual excels in their role as a teaching assistant)

• The winner(s) will be notified in early May.