Teaching Fellowships

Teaching Fellowships
Training
Employment Verification
Library Privileges
Teaching Fellow and Tutorial Application
Compensation
GSAS Residential Positions
Teaching Fellow Priority System
Tutorial Application and Selection Process
Teaching Fellowships and Stipends
Teaching and Fellowship Support
Teaching Fellow Job Description
Lottery System to be used in HAA courses
TF lunch meetings
Sections and Room Scheduling
Xeroxing, Telephone, Bluebooks, Returning Exams

Teaching Fellowships
The Department guarantees teaching fellowships in the third and fourth years of graduate study equal to the current living stipend of $19,000. Students must teach two sections, or fifths (fraction of the University rate for a full-time non-tenure-track teaching position), per term to satisfy this guarantee. Each fifth generally corresponds to teaching one section of a lecture course.

Although graduate students are not required to engage in teaching, it is considered to be a valuable part of the educational experience as well as a significant aspect of the university's fellowship program. Opportunities for teaching are usually made available to students beginning in their third year of graduate study. Such opportunities include teaching of sections in larger undergraduate courses and departmental undergraduate tutorials. At the end of each academic year, a list of courses potentially requiring teaching fellows will be circulated among graduate students. Since all such appointments are contingent upon enrollments, confirmation of appointment can only be made during the first few weeks of the course meeting. In recent years, teaching opportunities have been abundant and students have been offered an interesting array of opportunities. Departmental policies on the awarding of teaching fellowships are explained in the document distributed at the end of each year. Only in extremely unusual cases would a student teach in their second year of graduate study. This would happen only when significant coursework was taken prior to their study at Harvard, making that student, in effect, a G3 in their second year. In such a case, the total salary received would replace in whole or in part any stipend (financial aid above tuition) that may have been promised during the second year of coursework. Any request for teaching prior to the completion of all coursework will be handled and/or approved on an individual basis.
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Training
Third-year graduate students should prepare themselves for teaching by attending the Bok Center Orientation for New Teachers, usually held in the Sever Quadrangle and Emerson Hall one week before the fall term begins.
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Employment Verification
Newly appointed Teaching Fellows must present the following employment verification: an I-9 form, a passport, social security number and valid photo identification (student IDs are invalid). TFs will also need to complete tax withholding forms, including a federal W-4 form and possibly a Massachusetts M-4. A voided check is needed for direct deposit of salary payments. International students who do not have United States documents must provide a passport and visa or I-20.
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Library Privileges
Teaching Fellows receive an officer card, which provides extended library borrowing privileges.
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Teaching Fellow and Tutorial Application
The Department distributes a Teaching FellowTutorial application each spring for the next academic year. Faculty are expected to follow the guidelines of the priority system established by the Department in choosing TFs for courses (whether Core or Departmental). A Teaching Fellow is a student in the department or elsewhere at Harvard. A Teaching Assistant is a person who serves as a Teaching Fellow but is not a student at Harvard. The Administrator does the appointment forms for these positions in the Department; the Core office handles all appointments for Core courses.

Teaching Fellows are chosen by the professor in each course according the priority system established by the Department. In April of each year, courses will be listed in which enrollments are expected to warrant teaching fellows. Students are asked at that time to indicate (by the application form provided by the Department) which course(s) they prefer.
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Compensation
Five payments are made during each term on the 15th of each month (between September and January for the fall term, and between February and May, with a second payment on May 30th for the spring term). If appointed after September 15th in the fall term or February 15th in the spring term, a Teaching Fellow will receive back pay in a subsequent pay period. G3s and G4s especially, but everyone else as well should know that 4/5 is the "standard" amount of teaching in any given academic year. It is true that you are allowed to teach up to 6/5 in a year by GSAS. But, because the teaching fellowships are now part of the financial aid promises that are made to students when they are admitted, the department must now be more mindful of equitability than ever. The Department considers 4/5 of teaching the fulfillment of the department/GSAS obligation in any given academic year. If you teach all 4/5 in the fall term (in or out of the department), you are placed at lowest priority for the spring term. That doesn't mean that you cannot be employed in the spring term, but you are not likely to be appointed early-only after enrollments warrant additional appointments.
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GSAS Residential Positions
Residential positions are available to all graduate students. In early January, applications for Freshman Proctor and House Tutor positions can be made to the Freshman Dean's Office and the undergraduate dormitories, respectively. The usual stipend is room and board plus half of a teaching fifth for resident tutors or freshman proctors, and free meals for non-resident tutors. Tutors and proctors are expected to participate fully in the life of the Houses and provide academic advice to undergraduate concentrators in Art History. Graduate students may consult the GSAS Bulletin for application deadlines.
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Teaching Fellow Priority System

• The first criterion for appointment to a Teaching Fellowship is satisfactory academic standing in the Department which is determined by the faculty. Only one semester of teaching will be allowed if Incompletes from previous coursework are not completed satisfactorily by the end of the first term of the G3 year. The graduate school mandate is that G3s and G4s are to be given highest priority for teaching.
• The second consideration shall be the course preferences indicated by the student.

The Department has a commitment to the employment of its graduate students before seeking outside assistance. This will apply equally to Department courses and Core courses taught by Department faculty. Qualified GSAS students should always be considered for teaching positions before hiring non-GSAS candidates.

It should be understood that potential TFs cannot always be assigned to courses in fields that they know well, much less their "special field" -- and therefore have to be willing to put a good deal of time and effort into learning new material as well as teaching. Clearly, CORE courses that traditionally service large numbers of students (Alexander, Modernism) are likely to need more TFs than others. Graduate students should consider preparation for teaching when planning their curriculum. It certainly behooves potential TFs to take a wide range of courses and also to consult with faculty for whom they would like to teach -- particularly those whose classes can be expected to have large enrollments -- well beforehand.

The priority of students for teaching fellowships shall be established according to the number of fifths currently being taught. "Fifths" are the university system for calculating salary in practical terms; one fifth equals one section of teaching. Department courses generally employ students for 2/5ths of teaching (two sections) per term. Head Teaching Fellows will be selected from the list of applicants by faculty members responsible for courses. Consideration will be given to student preferences and to teaching experience. Ordinarily this position is restricted to students who have completed their General Examination. A Head TF is paid for 3/5ths, but teaches only two sections. If there is ever an instance of priorities overlapping, the most advantageous priority will be applied.

Priority l -- G3s and G4s

Students previously awarded finishing fellowships will be given lowest priority for teaching assignments.

An exception must be obtained from the Graduate School to teach beyond this point: 16+/5ths Priority 5

Notes for Teaching Fellows

• Students not satisfied with their Teaching Fellow assignments are urged to bring their grievances to the Chair of the Department.
• Ordinarily, students do not teach tutorials in two consecutive semesters.
• Students who have received dissertation completion fellowships will be given lowest priority for teaching positions.
• Students should have completed all coursework and language requirements prior to applying for a teaching fellowship. Any request for teaching prior to completing all coursework will be handled on an individual basis. If all language requirements are not passed when a student is eligible to teach (G3+) or coursework is not complete, one semester only of teaching will be allowed until those requirements are met.
• Stipends are replaced by teaching in G3 and G4, but a G2 student who has completed coursework is not required to teach. The stipend may be kept in the second year even if coursework is completed (as long as the student is not teaching).
• Regardless of any work done prior to or in the beginning of the term for a department course, an appointment as Teaching Fellow and the resulting salary is justified only by enrollments; compensation can only be guaranteed if enrollment warrants. The Department has no separate funds for paying for course assistants who are not Teaching Fellows. It is a regrettable fact that appointments made prior to the beginning of the term may have to be rescinded or shifted depending on the enrollment for so long as the University policy excludes pre-registration we do not know what the numbers are with certainty until at least the 2nd week of the term.
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Tutorial Application and Selection Process

The Sophomore Tutorial (HAA97r), usually taken by undergraduates in their sophomore year, focuses on a specific area of art history. Up to two of these tutorials are offered each semester. Graduate students interested in teaching this tutorial are encouraged to submit proposals for subjects in their own areas of expertise. The Head Tutor may ask that a proposal be altered (e.g. if it is too broad or too narrow in scope). The deadline for proposals is April 15.

The procedure for choosing instructors for the Advanced Tutorial is as follows:

1) To qualify as a tutor, graduate students must have completed their general examination and have had some previous teaching fellow experience.

2) Applications will be judged on the combined basis of the teaching fellow priority system, the applicant's qualifications, prior teaching experience, and the proposed topic. Generally, preference is given to those who have not taught a tutorial previously.

3) To ensure a broad range of tutorial offerings, the Department prefers to offer at least one non-Western and/or architecture tutorial.

 The Methods Tutorial (HAA98br) is an introduction to the methods and techniques of art history for new concentrators. The choice of instructors is based on priority as well as teaching qualifications.

Changes in status or availability (i.e. internships, fellowships, etc.) must be submitted to the department office in writing. Graduate students will not ordinarily teach a tutorial for two consecutive semesters. Students will be notified of their selection by letter generally at then end of the spring term. For both tutorials, sections and employment are dependent upon projected and actual enrollments.
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Teaching Fellowships and Stipends
Only in unusual cases will students teach in their second year of graduate study. This would happen only when significant coursework was taken prior to their study at Harvard, making that student, in effect, a G3 in their second year. In such a case, the total salary received will replace in whole or in part any stipend (financial aid above tuition) that may have been promised during the 2nd year of coursework. Students who are G3 and G4 generally support themselves by teaching. The salary from the teaching fellowship replaces any stipend that may have previously been received.
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Teaching and Fellowship Support
National Gallery fellowships do not allow teaching or holding a job. Teaching is only possible if it is in compliance with the terms of the individual fellowship.
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Teaching Fellow Job Description

The following is a basic description of the duties that Teaching Fellows and Head Teaching Fellows are expected to perform in departmental courses. This description accepts that there are gray areas. It is intended to clarify what are, and are not, ordinary responsibilities. For courses lacking a Head Teaching Fellow, the Professor assumes the Head TFs responsibilities, although help in the execution of necessary tasks may be negotiated with the Teaching Fellows. Reasonable lead-time is required.

 I. Pre-course organization: Professor

o reserve teaching rooms through Department or Registrar

o plan for possible lottery

o arrange for book reserves at the Fine Arts Library or Lamont

o order textbooks (4 months prior to term) from the Coop

o order desk copies (6 weeks prior to term) from the Coop or publisher

o prepare sourcebooks: copyrights, duplication of texts, etc.

o prepare reading lists

o alert Department staff to make initial contact with audio-visual services for lectures

o prepare lecture and section curriculum

If a Head TF has been selected before a course begins, she or he may reasonably be asked to perform some of these duties in consultation with the Professor. However, the primary responsibility of these tasks falls within the domain of the Professor. The training of TFs is considered to be an important aspect of the role of Instructor, particularly in large courses, as well as of Head TF, and often takes place in the context of the weekly TF preparation meetings.

II. Course Teaching and Administration

Here duties are broken down into those of Professor, Head TF, and TF. In some areas it is noted that the Professor shares responsibility with the Head TF or with all TFs. If the course lacks a Head TF, duties listed here in the Head TF section fall to the Professor, although help in the execution of tasks may be negotiated with TFs. The training of TFs is considered to be an important aspect of the role of Instructor, particularly in large courses, as well as of Head TF, and often takes place in the context of the weekly TF preparation meetings.

 A. Professor

o meet once a week with all TFs to plan section teaching. It is recommended that each meeting revolve around a basic presentation of the essential material for the upcoming week, and that responsibility for this presentation rotate through the TFs.

o set the exams (may be done in consultation with all TFs or a TF committee, if desired)

o produce lecture notes/handouts for students (if desired)

o order, pull, and return all slides for lectures and personal use

B. Head Teaching Fellow

o attend sectioning meeting at the beginning of each semester

o administer course lottery (with Professor and TFs)

o prepare section lists, collate class lists, confirm enrollments against Registrar or Core office lists (in consultation with TFs and Professor where appropriate)

o order slides to be made for sections and/or review carousels--not lectures

o prepare slide lists for review carousels and maintain

o organize audio-visual support for lectures and exams

o if appropriate, organize exhibition (in consultation with Professor and TFs)

o organize and supervise make-up exams (in consultation with Professor)

 C. All TFs

o attend sectioning meeting at the beginning of the term

o if appropriate, select art works for use in section (in consultation with Professor) and work with museum staff

o pull and return slides for sections

o check section attendance

o if appropriate, contact House tutors about students

o keep office hours for students (minimum one hour a week)

o supervise midterm exams

o run review sections during reading period if agreed upon by the teaching team

o grade exams and papers

o meet once a week as a group with the Professor to plan section teaching. It is recommended that each meeting revolve around a basic presentation of the essential material for that week, and that responsibility for this presentation rotate through the TFs.

There has been a great deal of discussion in the past several years in the Joint Student-Faculty Committee about Teaching Fellows and/or Head Teaching Fellows being asked to pull slides (for Professors) for lectures. At this time, the consensus is that the Professor should do this task and not Teaching Fellows or the Head Teaching Fellow. If a problem arises, please see the Chair of the Department.

D. Staff Support

Department staff are willing to type or xerox materials necessary for the smooth administration of a course, but need suitable advance warning. For typing, please allow two working days (48 hours). For xeroxing a document of two pages or less, please allow two working days. For xeroxing a document of more than two pages, please allow one week. An example: if a two page document needs to be typed and xeroxed, one should allow four working days. If these guidelines cannot be met, such duties fall to the Professor or the Head TF.

 NOTE: Should any conflicts or problems arise, they should be brought to the attention of the Chair immediately. If this is not possible, grievances should be referred to the Director of Graduate Studies.
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Lottery System to be used in HAA Courses

The following is a priority system for undergraduates in large History of Art and Architecture courses for which a lottery is necessary:

1st priority History of Art and Architecture and Visual Studies Concentrators

2nd Freshmen

3rd Seniors

4th Juniors

5th Sophomores

A random lottery is used for lowering tutorial enrollments. Tutorials generally have an average of 8 students.
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 TF Lunch meetings
Teaching Fellows may wish to have lunch meetings. To apply for and receive funding for lunches, speak with the Department Administrator for History of Art and Architecture courses. Core courses are handled separately. A minimum of six meetings must be held during the semester and no more than $75 per person (including the course head) may be allocated to any one course.
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Sections and Room Scheduling
Classrooms for sections are reserved prior to the term. Phantom sectioning cannot be done; rooms for sections can only be reserved for TFs that have been appointed at that time. The staff member designated for room scheduling will be in touch will all appointed teaching fellows and Head Teaching Fellows in particular.

The History of Art and Architecture Department holds regularly scheduled rooms through the regular term only; during reading period and final exams, rooms must be scheduled on a case-by-case basis.
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Xeroxing, Telephone, Bluebooks, Returning Exams

• For typing, please allow two working days (48 hours). For xeroxing a document of two pages or less, please allow two working days; for more than two pages, allow one week. If a document needs to be typed and xeroxed, four working days lead-time is preferable. In general, use of the office copy machine is for xeroxing of 100 pages or less. Use of Harvard Copy is preferable both for quality of copying as well as lower cost to the department. Teaching Fellows and graduate students should use the typewriter in the Teaching Fellows office.
• The telephone in the Teaching Fellows office and Graduate Student Lounge is exclusively for the use of graduate students. The telephones in the History of Art and Architecture office should be used by students only in rare cases of emergency, due to the usual harried atmosphere in the office. The Teaching Fellows' telephone number is 495-3342 and voice mail has been installed so that messages may be left if you are not there to receive the call. If you would like to hear (or delete) messages from another phone, you may call 495-8168; after the answer, press *5-3342, then the access code; follow the prompts from there.
• The Department Office keeps a small supply of bluebooks for use for language exams and courses with no Teaching Fellows. For large courses, Teaching Fellows are responsible for obtaining bluebooks for courses as needed from the supply room in the basement of the Science Center.
• Old exams and papers from any semester should be stored (or returned to students) in the Teaching Fellows Office for one semester only. After one term has passed, they should be discarded. Under no circumstances should papers or exams be left for students in the Department Office.
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