Assistant Instructor Support

2024 - 2025 DRW ADs

DRW ADs are your point of contact for any course related issues you may be experiencing while teaching your course.

Paige Welch         Autumn Reyes                 Jade Arizivu

Point of Contact: 

Course Scheduling: Sara Casselberry

HR/Tuition Rebate/Eligibility/Exception Requests: Victoria Obioma

Resources

DRW Plagiarism Protocol 

Conducting 306 peer reviews

Conducting teaching evaluations for AIs

Proposing lower-division courses beyond 309J

The 309j proposal process



20/30 Hour Limit

Assignments in a student job title at the university, including academic as well as non-academic positions, may not exceed 20 hours per week during the first two long semesters (fall/spring) of graduate study at UT Austin, and no more than 30 hours per week during the subsequent semesters, including summer.

The following exceptions apply up to 40 hours per week during:

  • Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after);
  • Winter Break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start); and
  • Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start) but no more than an average of 30 hours per week between 6/1 and 8/31.

Exceptions to allow up to 40 hours per week may requested, but only if the additional employment does not endanger your good academic standing or adequate progress towards your degree, as determined by your program. If supported by your program, exception requests should be submitted in writing to the Graduate School by your program’s graduate adviser. Final approval rests with the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies (Graduate Student Services).

Limits for International Students

F-1/J-1 students can work as many as 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. Full-time employment (21-40 hours per week) is allowed only during the following times for enrolled and continuing students:

  • Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after);
  • Winter Break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start); and
  • Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start) but no more than an average of 30 hours per week between 6/1 and 8/31.
CLOSING LIMITS
RHE 306 is open to 23 students per section during the summer. RHE 309J and all upper division courses are open to 25 students. 
 
ADDING STUDENTS
If you would like to add a student to your class, contact Sara Casselberry (sara.casselberry@austin.utexas.edu) with the student's name and EID. Please do not have students email us directly, as we need to know that we have your permission to make the add. We can add students, with your permission, through the fourth class day.
 
WAITLISTS
University-wide, waitlists turn off after the second class day. This means students can no longer make adds on their own or get added to a class via the waitlist system after this date and time.
 
DROPPING STUDENTS
We will only drop a student from your class if they missed the first two class meetings AND you have a student you would like to add. We will not drop students without your authorization, nor will we drop students unless others are waiting to get into the class. If a student is on your roster and simply never shows up, send them an Absence/Failing Report. (See "Absence/Failing Reports” below.)
 
ABSENCE/FAILING REPORTS
When a student misses multiple class meetings (or assignments — see below), file an Absence/Failing Report at https://utdirect.utexas.edu/ns/ns.unique.WBX. This will generate an official letter from the University warning the student that they are in danger of failing the class due to absences.
 
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Students may miss 6 MWF classes, but will fail upon the 7th absence. In MW and TTH sections, students may miss 4 classes, but will fail upon the 5th absence. Students are encouraged not to come to class if they are ill. Instead, they should communicate with you as soon as possible. You should provide an assignment to make up for the absence. If the assignment is not completed, an absence will be counted toward the total number of possible absences. 
 
SYLLABI
Please remember to send your syllabi to Sara Casselberry.

Arranging Substitute 

If you must miss in-person teaching, please email Senior Course Scheduler Sara Casselberry (Sara.Casselberry@austin.utexas.edu), and Associate Chair Clay Spinuzzi (clay.spinuzzi@utexas.edu). As soon as possible, let us know when and why you are planning to miss class and which option you plan to take:

  • Ask a fellow lower-division instructor to substitute for the day. Please give the instructor access to your Canvas.
  • Reach out to our ADs (jchurt09@utexas.edu, jarvizu@utexas.edu, ahr766@utexas.edu) to see if one of them can take on the class. Again, make sure they have access to your Canvas.
  • Teach remotely over Zoom. This was a preferred option during COVID, but the department now prefers a live substitute. If you do this, please inform students via Canvas as soon as possible so they know what to expect. 

Teaching is an extremely important obligation: You have many students relying on you for instruction and guidance. So the department asks you to miss in-person teaching only when absolutely necessary, to keep the department informed about your substitution plans, and to arrange for substitutes well in advance when possible.