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
Please note that if you are completing a mandatory teaching requirement, you do not need to complete any paperwork and only have to accept the position in mice; if you are presently funded as a GRA student, you will be paid for TA duties as additional comp and need only to accept the position in mice. All others must follow the procedure outlined below.

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. TAs who are being paid by the university for the first time must complete an I-9 regardless of citizenship or visa status. 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. PLEASE NOTE: If you are on a visa type other than F-1 or J-1 you cannot be a CS TA. In addition, if your country has a tax treaty with the US, you will be contacted by the Payroll Department once an employment record has been created for you with further instructions. If you are completing a mandatory teaching requirement, you do not need to complete any paperwork and only have to accept the position in mice; if you are presently funded as a GRA student you will be paid for TA duties as additional comp and need only to accept the position in mice. All others must follow these guidelines to complete the paperwork. Contact Cindy Walters (cindy [at] cs.columbia.edu) with any additional questions.

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.