Graduate Teaching Assistants
New Graduate Teaching Assistants for 2026-2027: Please Complete Your Orientation!
New Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs): Required Orientation Components for New GTAs
Welcome to a community of Graduate Teaching Assistants! Whether you're new to teaching or have significant experience, teaching is a skill we continually develop throughout our careers. While it can be demanding, the good news is that we are all lifelong learners, constantly improving.
The University of Louisville and the Graduate School require certain preparation and training in order to serve as a GTA. Additionally, you can find a number of programs and resources to support you in your GTA role and teaching development. We’ve happy to be a part of your journey!
See the accordion options below for the required orientation components for New GTAs.
2026-2027 Required Training
All new Fall 2026 Graduate Teaching Assistants are required to complete the Fall 2026 New Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation Module. In this module, you’ll find the materials you’ll be required to know and some immediate resources. Please complete the module before the first day of classes, and ideally prior to the required in-person component of Fall 2026 New Graduate Teaching Assistant Orientation.
Agenda
Parking information included in next accordion file
| 8:30am | Check-In Begins |
| 9:00am | Welcome from the Dean |
| 9:10am | Overview of the Day |
| 9:20am | Addressing Common Questions: Small Group Q&A |
| 10:35am | Concurrent Session I |
| 11:20am | Transition |
| 11:30am | Concurrent Session II |
| 12:15pm | Transition |
| 12:25pm | Lunch & Stepping into Teaching as a New GTA |
| 1:10pm | Motivating Student Learning |
| 1:30pm | Seasoned GTA Panel |
| 2:20pm | University Libraries as a Teaching Partner |
| 2:30pm | Preparing for Your First Day |
| 2:40pm | Resources for UofL GTAs |
| 2:50pm | Wrap Up & Evaluation |
If you have already have a parking pass, follow your typical procedures for parking.
Free parking will be available in the 3rd Street South Lot behind the J.B. Speed School of Engineering. Paid parking is available closer to Orientation in the Speed Art Museum garage and in the visitor side of the Floyd Street Garage. Please allow extra time to park and walk to Strickler Hall for Orientation.
Note: if you try to enter campus along First Street, you will be turned away as this passage is reserved for Move-In.
This may not be added to your blackboard shell until a few weeks into the semester in which you are teaching. If by the end of August, it's still not there, please reach out to michelle.rodems@louisville.edu to let us know.
- Visit http://blackboard.louisville.edu,
- Find "My Organizations Plus" on your dashboard
- Go to "Organizations in which you are participating"
- Click on "PS Ferpa organization"
- Complete the FERPA review and statement of responsibility, which will prompt the availability of the "FERPA Quiz"
- Complete the "FERPA Quiz"
Your information will be sent to your department and they will confirm that you have passed your quiz in order to teach at UofL.
Complete the Sexual and Discriminatory Harassment and Title IX Training Module. These should be added under Blackboard organizations within about 30 days, but if you don't see the modules appear, please let us know.
Pursuant to Kentucky law* Non-native speakers of English who wish to serve as a graduate teaching assistant, with the exception of those teaching a foreign language, must provide evidence of spoken English language proficiency.
International graduate students who receive graduate teaching assistantships from their departments will be contacted to provide evidence of spoken English language proficiency.
(submitted by the units and/or departments)
Nursing The School of Nursing will host its New Graduate Student Orientation on Wednesday, July 29 at 10:00 AM. This in-person session is required for all new students beginning classes in the fall, including those enrolled in the DNP, MSN, and PhD programs. |
School of Public Health and Information Sciences The SPHIS will hold an online orientation for newly admitted students on August 12, 2026, 9:00 am – 1:30 pm. |
Pharmacology and Toxicology Orientation The Pharmacology and Toxicology new student orientation this year will be held Tuesday, August 11th - Thursday, August 13th. |
Audiology and Speech Pathology Audiology will hold new student orientation on Friday, August 14. Speech-Language Pathology held theirs in May. |
Integrated Programs in Biomedical Sciences Orientation (School of Medicine, PhDs) CTR Room 101/102 Monday August 3 -Thursday August 6, 8:30am-2:00pm |
Department of Physiology Orientation Schedule Physiology In-Person Master's and Ph.D. Program Orientation August 10, 2026 at 12:30 p.m., CII Rooms 130 & 132 Physiology Online MS Program Orientation August 11, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. Online |
Health Profession Education- online |
Dept. Of Microbiology and Immunology Monday August 10th and Tuesday August 11th |
Law School Our orientation will kick off on Monday, August 10th and run the full week. |
Department of Educational Leadership, Evaluation, and Organizational Development EdD students held a virtual orientation Saturday morning, August 8, 2026 |
Psychological Sciences Monday, August 10, 9am-1:00pm |
School of Music Orientation will be held Wednesday, August 12, 2026 |
If you are a new Graduate Teaching Assistant who is unable to complete training during the fall, please contact Michelle Rodems about how to complete your required training.