Teaching Assistant Orientation

About This Event

Graduate students balance many roles: student, researcher, mentor—and, in many cases, working as a teaching assistant (TA). While TA duties vary across departments they all demand considerable skills and knowledge.

To assist new TAs as they prepare for their duties, Teaching@Vanderbilt offers a Teaching Assistant Orientation (TAO) each August. TAO offers:

• Effective strategies for the varied teaching duties that TAs assume—including grading, holding office hours, leading discussions, teaching labs, and working with supervising instructors.
• Information on campus resources available to TAs.
• Advice from a panel of experienced Vanderbilt TAs across a range of disciplines. 

TAO helps students develop transferable skills useful for a wide range of careers, including effective communication, classroom management, problem solving, and time management.

Event Details

Wednesday, August 19, 2026
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Wilson Hall

We will provide light snacks for the event. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch and a refillable water bottle. Nashville is hot in August!