When you are selected as a TA, you MUST follow the steps mentioned below. Please note that these steps are independent of each other. You can do them in any order. You are expected to complete all of these steps within ONE WEEK of your assignment as a TA.  

1) Paperwork and Payment
Follow these guidelines to complete the paperwork. Note, however, that the I-9 must be completed by all TAs, regardless of citizenship or visa status.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO TEACHING ASSISTANTS!!! Federal regulations specify that you are NOT allowed to work until a valid I-9 has been completed and submitted to the department. Failure to complete and submit the I-9 and other necessary employment paperwork to Cindy Walters within 3 days of the start of classes or 3 days of accepting the TA position (if you are offered a TA position after classes begin) will result in pro-ration of the semester stipend. If this is your first job at Columbia University, immediately complete the following two-step employment verification process: 1) complete section 1 of the I-9 by logging into http://www.newi9.com; 2) visit the I-9 Service Center in 210 Kent Hall and complete section 2 of the I-9 by providing employment verification documentation. Then obtain an employment packet from Cindy Walters in 476 Computer Science to be completed and returned for processing. If you were previously employed in the CS department, please email Cindy Walters (cindy@cs.columbia.edu) to confirm if any additional paperwork is needed. If you were previously employed in another department at the university, send an email to Cindy Walters with the department name and contact person who can produce your payroll paperwork for transfer to the CS Dept.

TA Hour Policy Visa regulations limit International students holding an F-1 visa to 20 hours per week during the academic year. Therefore if you TA one unit it is considered a total of 10 hours and if you TA two units it is considered a total of 20 hours. Contact the ISSO regarding any inquiries about this policy.

2) Apply for CS Account
Fill in the online application using MICE:
URL: https://www1.cs.columbia.edu/~crf/accounts/cs.html
Sponsor: TA Coordinator
Account Type: Select appropriate 'Student' account type depending on whether your are an undergrad, MS, or Ph.D. student.

3) Office Hours (in MICE and on course page)
Enter your office hours (OHs) in MICE. Also, post your OHs on your course page. Any changes to OHs must be posted on the course page or bulletin board.
Log into MICE. From the 'Persons' menu select 'Office hours' and update your OHs. If you will hold your OHs in the TA room, select Mudd 122A in the 'Room' drop down box.

4) Computer Science Department Academic Honesty Policy
All TAs are expected to have read the Computer Science Department Academic Honesty Policy. Please refer to the Academics page for a listing of honesty policies of various Columbia and affiliated schools. The TAs should post the link to the CS department honesty policy on their class bulletin boards.

5) Teaching/TAing at Columbia
Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) has a Teaching Center which contains other valuable resources on teaching and TAing.