[Plsfaculty] FW: Graduate Assistant/Associate Evaluations are Due!

[Armendariz, Amanda - (amandao)]

Hello SPLS Faculty,

Please see email below from Dr. Pitts about evaluations. As an FYI, in addition, I sent out a reminder to our grads about scheduling their advisory committee meetings and provided them with the annual progress form as well.

Sincerely,

Amanda Armendariz, MSW
Student Support/Graduate Coordinator
School of Plant Sciences<https://cals.arizona.edu/spls/graduate>
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
University of Arizona
Forbes Bldg Room 319
520-621-1219

From: Pitts, Margaret J - (mjpitts) <mjpitts at arizona.edu>
Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2022 2:00 PM
To: Treanor, Julie L - (treanorj) <treanorj at arizona.edu>
Subject: Graduate Assistant/Associate Evaluations are Due!

Dear Colleagues,
I am writing with an important reminder regarding the end of term evaluations (GA conversations) for all Graduate Teaching Assistants/Associates, Graduate Research Assistants/Associates, and Graduate Outreach Assistants/Associates. Please ask GA supervisors to use the GA conversation forms linked below to initiate a conversation with GAs regarding their performance in their GA role, including graduate students who may be graduating this spring or summer. The goal of the GA conversations is to provide meaningful performance feedback to GAs. The GA conversation starts with the GA and invites them first to think about their goals, achievements, and plans for improvement. Supervisors, respond to the GA's self-reflections by adding their own observations and feedback regarding performance. Please provide feedback about what the student is doing well and what recommendations there are for any areas of improvement. We encourage supervisors to hold a conversational follow-up meeting after completing the forms. Programs keep the record of the GA conversation except in the event that the GA's work was unsatisfactory. Then, the program must share the document with the Associate Dean of the Graduate College (Maggie Pitts, mjpitts at email.arizona.edu<mailto:mjpitts at email.arizona.edu>). Please review the Graduate College policy below. You will also find the links to the conversation forms and the verification form below.
End of Term Evaluations
The University of Arizona requires that each person occupying a Graduate Assistantship/Associateship in Teaching (GAT), Research (GAR) or Outreach/Other (GAO) position must receive a written performance evaluation from their faculty supervisor at the end of each term of hire, regardless of the specific duties.
The end of the term evaluation is intended to be a tool for both the student and the department to monitor and facilitate teaching/research improvements and to assist with the GA's professional development. The Graduate College has designed a Career Conversations form that emulates the one used for other University employees (TA Conversations(link is external)<https://arizona.box.com/v/grad-ta-conversation>, RA Conversations(link is external)<https://arizona.box.com/v/grad-ga-conversation> and OA Conversations(link is external)<https://arizona.box.com/v/grad-oa-conversation>). The conversation should follow the UA Human Resources (HR) example as shown in the video overview(link is external)<https://hr.arizona.edu/career-conversations#Video> with one important exception - GAs are not expected to align their evaluations to the UA strategic plan. The individual hiring units need to set up the flow, format, and additional rubrics that meet the hiring unit's needs. Completion of the GA conversations document by the student is a condition of continued employment for all GAs. The hiring unit is responsible for keeping the individual assessment forms on file (making sure to give a signed copy to the student). To verify compliance with the end of term evaluation, the hiring unit's designated staff person must complete the verification form<https://grad.arizona.edu/forms/financial-resources/graduate-teaching-assistantassociate-evaluation> to show overall completion of the assessments. Attempted submission by unauthorized parties may put the submitter at risk for a code of conduct violation or other disciplinary action.
Best wishes for a successful end of semester,
Maggie

Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Pitts
Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, Graduate College
Associate Professor, Communication
University of Arizona
302 Administration Bldg


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