• CA TF Job Listings
• CA TF Job Application Form

Course Assistants and Teachings Fellows

What Are Course Assistants and Teaching Fellows?

CAs and TFs assist faculty teaching courses at HKS.

Course Assistant Duties

Duties vary depending on faculty need and CA skill level, but may include:

• Assisting faculty during class
• Preparing course materials
• Holding Office Hours (student tutoring)
• Reviewing problem sets
• Giving faculty "first reads" on written assignments
• Arranging media services
• Maintaning the course web page
• Proctoring exams

CAs and faculty should maintain open communication so duties are clear. Hourly commitment also varies, but tends to average 8-10 per week.

Teaching Fellow Duties

TF duties are the same as CAs, plus they are responsible for teaching course review sessions. HKS reviews generally meet on Fridays for 1.5 hours. A limited number of HKS courses have multiple reviews.

Applying

Working as a CA or TF at HKS is a great way to help your fellow students, form a close working relationship with an HKS faculty member, and get involved in the school community. It’s also a great way to further your own learning - there’s no better way to learn something than by teaching it to others. On top of that, you get paid.

How to Apply

1. Read the CA/TF section of the HKS Website and be sure you understand all rules, regulations, and policies.
2. Review the CA/TF Job Listings. Job lists may be tentative, and courses may be added, dropped, or moved to another semester.
3. Submit your Application.

Note: we can only accept applications from people who will be enrolled fulltime at Harvard (includes all Harvard Schools) during the semester they work.

Along with the steps above, you may want to speak directly to faculty members you'd like to work with. However, doing so is not required and does not replace submitting an application.

Things to Keep in Mind on Your Application

• Write a couple of sentences indicating interests, skills, education, work experience, and course work in the comment box.
• Do not paste your entire resume. It will not make it to the faculty.
• Indicate preference (if any) for CA or TF jobs in the comment box, and if interest varies from course to course.
• If applying for TF positions, indicate teaching qualifications/experience
• Apply for more than one job in each semester. HKS aims to place students in their first choice, but if not possible, we love to be able to give you another position.

Application Schedule

• Job Listings: generally posted April/May of previous academic year, but updated continuously
• Applications Due: generally due before end of previous academic year, but accepted throughout year as new jobs are posted
• Offers Made: usually late July, possibly as early as late May. January/Spring offers usually made in early November, but also possibly earlier.
• Accept/Decline: applicants are given a week to formally accept/decline after offers have been made.

Training

All HKS CAs and TFs are required to attend training. Trainings are held during the first week or two each semester. Dates, times, and locations are included in CA & TF job offers. Topics covered include payroll, course pages, and teacher training. TFs are required to attend an additional small group teacher training workshop.

Payroll

The majority of CA/TFs don’t need to submit payroll forms. If HR does need forms, they will contact you directly. Please fill out all forms and submit them as soon as possible. Paychecks can't be issues without them.

Payroll Contacts

• Central Payroll (paycheck and direct deposit issues): 617-495-8500
• Harvard International Office (Visa issues): 617-495-2789
• HKS HR: 124 Mt. Auburn St, Suite 240, 617-495-1140
• ID Office (for Library or Gym): 617-495-2404
• PeopleSoft Issues: 617-496-2001
• Tax Office (all tax related questions): 617-496-6800
• Benefits Office: 617-496-4001

CA Time Sheet Procedure

1. HR will email a link to the PeopleSoft online payroll system
2. CAs enter hours into PeopleSoft
3. CAs print a screenshot of their PeopleSoft submission
4. Faculty member signs print out
5. CAs drop print out into box outside of Littauer 347

• Deadline (Both Electronic and Hard Copy): Friday, 9am
• Failure to submit hard copies within 2 weeks of submission deadline will result in hours being deleted from PeopleSoft
• CAs absolutely must submit time sheets weekly or they won't be paid
• Teaching Fellows recieve a monthly stipend and do not submit time sheets
• Additional PeopleSoft Instructions
• CAs who miss the deadline must submit a hard copy time sheet

Employment Policies

Eliminating Positions

HKS allocates CAs and TFs based on student enrollment. Job assignments are made based on previous year's enrollment. Positions may be eliminated if enrollment drops below expectations. HKS makes all effort to find replacement positions if possible.

Start/End Date

CAs and TFs are not to begin work before the semester starts (Course Shopping Days). However, CAs and TFs should contact their faculty member as soon as job offers are made to begin coordinating. CAs and TFs are not to work after their faculty member submits final grades. If faculty would like CAs and/or TFs to work before or after the semester, they must arrange payment on their own.

Compensation

CAs are paid an hourly rate and TFs are paid a flat per-course rate. Amounts are determined during the previous academic year and are included in all job offer letters. Pay is based on job title and not degree status. CAs coordinating three or more other CAs may become Head CAs and recieve an additional $1 per hour.

Number of Hours a CA Can Work

CAs may not work more than 40 hours per week. International students may not work more than 20. Totals take into account all jobs worked at Harvard. Most CAs average only 8-10 hours per week. Students near their limit should talk to their faculty member, program director, or the CA/TF coordinator. In the rare instance that a non-student is hired as a CA, they must not exceed 40 hours per week and 17.25 hours per week after their first 90 days of employment.

Taxes

Direct all tax questions to the Harvard Tax Office at 617-496-6800. International students should check with the Harvard International Office to see if their home country has a tax treaty with the United States.

Federal Work Study

Federal Work Study is a financial aid program available to US citizens and permanent residents. Visit the HKS Financial Aid Office’s web site (linked below) to find out more about the Federal Work-Study program, including what Work-Study is and how you can sign up for it.

It is not required that CAs or TFs be on Federal Work Study to get a job. However, preference is given to student with Work Study funding if two equally qualified students are interested in a job.

Other Jobs in Combination with CA or TF Jobs

CAs and TFs are required to inform the CA/TF Coordinator if they have other jobs within the University. In most cases this isn't an issue. However, there are university wide limits to the combinations of jobs that are acceptable and the total number of hours an individual works.

International Students

International students may serve as CAs or TFs provided they have the proper visa status and a US Social Security number. The Harvard International Office handles all such matters. It is the student's responsibility to work with that office to ensure that required paper work is in order. Contact information is at the bottom of this page.

Course Conflicts with Job Assignments

Job offers are made after semester schedules are available. CAs and TFs are required to identify conflicts before accepting offers. In the unlikely event a course time is changed after a position is accepted, CAs and TFs are release from their commitment and HKS will try to find a replacement job.

Taking the Course for Credit

Students may not work as a CA or TF for a course in which they are enrolled for credit.

Jobs for Non-Kennedy School Individuals

HKS CA and TF jobs are open to all Harvard students

Individuals Who Are Not Registered Harvard Students

CAs and TFs must be fulltime enrolled students at Harvard University during the semester they work. This policy is in place for two reasons: first, to support HKS students with financial assistance and work experience; and second, because fringe rates HKS is required to pay on non-students in student positions limit our ability to hire CAs and TFs for additional courses. Exceptions to this rule are rarely made.

HKS/Harvard Codes & Policies

• Academic Integrity and the Academic Code
• The Code of Conduct
• Exams and Grading
• Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
• University Sexual Harassment Policy
• HKS Sexual Harassment Document
• Student Privacy
• FERPA Regulations
• Identifying Students in Distress
• The HKS Student Handbook

Information for Faculty

Hiring

Faculty interested in hiring CAs and TFs should:

1. Makes sure their course qualifies under the HKS allocation guidlines below
2. Understand all CA and TF policies/procedures described on this page
3. Contact the CA and TF Coordinator

Making Effective Use of CAs and TFs

The following tip sheet and appendices from SLATE describe ways in which faculty can effectively use CAs and TFs to support student learning in their courses. Hopefully these tips are helpful in and of themselves, and also spur further thinking on how to use CAs and TFs productively.

• Two-Page Tip Sheet (PDF)
• Appendices (PDF)

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty are responsible for:

• Supervising their CAs and TFs
• Signing weekly CA timesheets
• Making sure CAs, TFs, and Faculty Assistants understand their role in the teaching team
• Holding CAs and TFs to a high professional standard

Faculty are also responsible for ensuring CAs and TFs understand the following HKS and Harvard Policies (linked in the section above):

• The Academic Code
• The Code of Conduct
• The Statement of Rights and Responsibilities
• The Sexual Harassment policy
• Student Privacy Laws (Buckley Amendment)
• Identifying Students in Distress

Coordinating CAs, TFs, and the Faculty Assistant

Courses run best when faculty members, CAs and TFs, and Faculty Assistants meet regularly to discuss workload, due dates, coordination, who is doing what, etc. Particularly, course material production should be handled by Faculty Assistants only because CAs and TFs can't work before the first class (when most materials are produced) and Faculty Assistants are more familiar with the production process.

Allocation Polices

HKS allocates CAs and TFs based on course enrollment. Initial assignments are based on previous year’s enrollment. Assignments are sometimes made on a standby basis when enrollment is uncertain or a course is new. Allocations may be recinded if enrollment drops below required numbers.

Allocation Ratios

	Standard Guideline	Quantitative Guideline
First CA (Standared) or TF (Quant)	30	20
Second CA	45	30
Third CA	75	50
Fourth CA	105	70
Fifth CA	135	90
Sixth CA	165	110

The two ratios are not a reflection of the level, value, or seriousness of courses, but the general difference in workload for students in them. Quantitative courses generally require more problem sets, and students generally need more tutoring.

Courses with CAs on Federal Work Study are not assigned additional CAs because allocations are based on enrollments and not dollars per course.

Qualifying for a TF

A course must satisfy one of the following:

• The course is advanced (e.g., for prospective PhD students)
• The position involves a significant amount of teaching (generally a formal weekly review)
• The course has a substantial amount of written work requiring PhD-level experience to evaluate.

Jointly Listed Courses

HKS assigns CAs and TFs to jointly listed courses using the following guidlines:

• If there are a total of 30 students in a course under both numbers combined, HKS will pay for half of a CA or TF.
• If there is are total of 45 students total in a course under both numbers combined, HKS will pay for a CA or TF.
• If total enrollment is skewed so that very few students have registered under the HKS number, HKS will negotiate with the joint listing department about splitting costs.

Teaching For CAs and TFs

Below are some links to useful information about student teaching at HKS

• CA/TF Tip Sheet
• CA/TF Fall 2012 Teacher Training Handout
  
• Additional Classroom Teaching Resources
• Video of Fall 2009 Teaching Fellow Training Session (includes presentations by award winning HKS TFs)
• CA/TF Fall 2012 Logistic Training Slides

Information for Students: Getting Help From a CA or TF

Who are CAs and TFs?

CAs are generally second-year MPP, MPAID, or Two-Year MPA students. Normally, they have taken the course for which they are a CA the previous year and have done well in it. Occasionally, they may not have taken the course, but have background in the subject area that enables them to provide assistance. Teaching Fellows are either doctoral candidates at Harvard, or second year students who have substantial strength in the subject and often considerable teaching experience. Occasionally, TFs may be from another university in the area.

What do CAs and TFs do?

In addition to performing a variety of administrative tasks to help the professor run the course, CAs generally hold office hours, i.e., meet with students individually and in small groups to help them understand course material and work through assignments. TFs are responsible for conducting review sessiosn for the entire class, but may also meet with students in office hours as CAs do. Only the professors themselves assign grades, but CAs and TFs may be permitted to assist them by marking problem set and exam answers (where the faculty member provides an answer sheet), or by commenting on written assignments.

The level and kind of CA or TF support can vary greatly from course to course. What CAs and TFs actually do depends largely on how the professor organizes the course and on how he or she prefers to teach. Very large courses with four or more CAs may be organized in a different way than a smaller course with only one CA or TF.

When to see the CA or TF

It’s a good idea to get acquainted early with your CAs and TFs — before problems arise — especially in the quantitative courses. While you may have learned well without help in earlier settings, e.g., as an undergraduate, you may find that you need some assistance working through problem sets and other assignments here. Take that in stride, and seek help: it’s intended to be part of the instruction.

It’s useful to schedule individual time with CAs and TFs apart from office hours if you can, but don’t be put off if they don’t always have time for you; be patient. Schedule as far ahead as possible; don’t wait until the assignment is due.

How to Make the Most of Your Time with CAs and TFs

• Note that earlier office hours will be less crowded; you’ll get more attention by going then.
• Approach CAs and TFs with a real need, e.g. questions about a problem set or writing assignment.
• Prepare: formulate your questions in advance. Don’t be afraid to ask what seem like basic questions.
• Do the reading, and try to do the problem set or assignment by yourself first. Don’t go to office hours just to get the answer.
• Go to review sessions; they will help you get more out of office hours.
• Seek help when you need it, but don’t let getting it substitute for your own efforts to learn.

Two Important Things to Remember

CAs and TFs represent a range of experience and expertise. CAs in particular are usually only one year ahead of the students in the class. While they have taken the course or learned the subject elsewhere, they are not necessarily "whizzes." They are eager to help you, but they are also fallible. Be understanding, and recognize both the extent and the limitations of the assistance they can provide.

CAs and TFs are students, too, with their own academic workloads. While they are happy to help you during office hours and appointments, there are times when approaching them is off limits. When you see CAs and TFs doing their own work in the library or computer lab, let them be. If a CA or TF asks not be called at home after a specific time, or not to be called at all, you need to respect that request.

The Dean's Award for Excellence in Student Teaching

Students and faculty at HKS rely heavily on CAs and TFs. In recognition of this, the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Student Teaching is presented each year to outstanding CAs and TFs. Winners are picked and nominated by the student body.

Recipients of the Dean's Award for Excellence in Student Teaching
1996	Mehir Desai, TF	2005	Pelin Berkmen, TF
	Matthew Eichner, TF		Jonathan Borck, TF
	Martha Bakken, CA		Gee Kim, TF
	Victoria Sweeney, CA		Ruben Kliksberg, TF
	Catherine Paynton, CA		Jesselle Loss, CA
1997	Colin Boyle, CA		David Lynch, TF
	Shashi Verma, TF		Demian Sanchez, CA
	Shelley Fuld, TF	2006	Brian Robert Iammartino, TF
1998	Leandro Arozamena, TF		Yun Jung Kim, TF
	Paul Barbir, CA		Kristi Olson, TF
	Saru Jayaraman, CA		Carla Smith, CA
	John Mikhail, TF		Alfie Ulloa Urrutia, TF
	Robert Streiffer, TF		Gernot Wagner, TF
1999	Carrie Conaway, TF	2007	Sameer Doshi, TF
	Lisa Nelson, CA		Sudakar Raju, TF
	Meridith Tirpak, CA		Melanie Hollands, CA
	Karl Rethermeyer, TF		Margot Crandall Hollick, TF
	Audrey Watson, TF		Shunsuke Mabuchi, TF
2000	Waleed Al-Mokarrab, TF	2008	Yue Man Lee, TF
	Heather Harker, TF		Gary Reinbold, TF
	Matissa Hollister, TF		Gerd Schwarz, TF
	Kessely Hong, TF		Ngoc Ahn Tran, TF
	Marcel J. Lettre, II, CA		Jessica Reitz, CA
	Dean R. Pettit, TF	2009	Syon Bhanot, TF
2001	Carrie L. Conaway, TF		Joshua Bookin, CA
	Ethan D. Kaplan, TF		Kate Dillon, TF
	Pierre T. LeBlanc, TF		Aakanksha Pande, TF
	Paul Porteous, CA		Gary Reinbold, TF
	Alesia Rodriguez, CA	2010	Wayne Huang, TF
	Lori D. Snyder, TF		Meredith Mira, CA
2002	Christopher Blattman, TF		Goncalo Ribeiro, TF
	Esteban Clavell, TF		Pierre Thielboerger, TF
	Bertha Angulo Curiel, CA	2011	Nadir Ahmad, TF
	Shanna Rose, TF		Laure de Vulpillieres, TF
	Valentina Sequi, TF		Ellen Whitesides, TF
2003	Catherine Barber, TF		Syon Bhanot, TF
	Marie-Louise Kirk, TF		Ariel Stern, TF
	Khoung Vu, TF		Jennifer Yen, TF
	Talha Syed, TF
	Aswin Techajareonvikul, TF
2004	Pelin Berkman, TF
	Naomi Calvo, TF
	Evren Pacaliogul TF
	Ben Sommers, TF
	Narsimhan Swaminathan, TF

Contacts

Matt Lincoln
Teaching Support Coordinator, Office of Academic Administration
Office: Littauer 347
Email: Matthew_Lincoln@hks.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-496-2328

HKS Human Resources
Office: 124 Mt. Auburn St., Suite 240
Phone: 617-495-1140
Website: www.hks.harvard.edu/hr

HKS Office of Financial Services
Office: 124 Mt. Auburn St., Suite 140
Phone: 617-495-2161
Website: www.hks.harvard.edu/ofs

HKS Registrar’s Office
Office: 124 Mt. Auburn St., Suite 165
Phone: 617-495-1150
Website: www.hks.harvard.edu/registrar

Financial Aid/Work Study
Dan Rossi
Financial Aid Officer, Work-Study Coordinator
Office: 124 Mt. Auburn St., Suite 165, 110
Email: Dan_Rossi@hks.harvard.edu
Phone: 617-495-1153
Website: www.hks.harvard.edu/degrees/sfs/current-students/work-study

The Harvard International Office
Office: Holyoke Center, Room 864
Phone: 617-495-2789
Website: www.hio.harvard.edu

StudioHKS (Media Services)
Office: Littauer 250
Phone: 617-495-0493
Website: www.hks.harvard.edu/studioksg/index.htm