Instructional Assistant and Grading Assistant Positions for 2017/18

1) Instructional Assistant Positions for 2017/18

Subject to final budgetary approval, the Department of Political Science invites applications for Instructional Assistants during the 2017-18 academic year. The exact number of positions available will be determined when final enrolment numbers are available. The number of winter term contracts issued depend upon a combination of the enrolment levels in the winter term and the performance of the IAs in the fall term.

Position Overview

IAs will be required to undertake the following tasks:

Prepare for and run weekly tutorials/labs;
Mark assignments, tests and exams;
Attend meetings with the instructors;
Hold office hours; and
Respond to emails from students in their workshops.

The total weekly commitment is likely to be from six to eight hours, with the exact number depending on the tasks assigned to the IA. Applicants should note that there will be approximately four to five peak periods throughout each term for marking assignments and/or exams, during which the required number of hours to be worked will increase.

In addition to the above, IAs must also attend an Instructional Assistants Orientation and the university's Teaching Assistants Conference, both of which will be scheduled for some time during Orientation Week. These dates will be known at the time appointments are confirmed (which should be no later than June 16, 2017). Because of the importance the department places on attendance at each of these events, contracts will not be issued for those who do not attend.

Courses Available (subject to change)

PO101: Politics Within Borders (1)

PO102: Politics Beyond Borders (2)

PO217: Asking Questions in Political Science: An Introduction to Research (1)

PO218: Answering Questions in Political Science: Research in Practice (2)

Position Requirements

Academic Qualifications:

PO101 and PO102: Applicants should be fourth-year Honours Political Science or Honours Political Science with Research Specialization students as of September, 2017 whose current Political Science and overall GPAs are no less than 9.50 each.

PO217 and PO218: Applicants should be fourth-year honours Political Science or honours Political Science with Research Specialization students as of September, 2017 whose current Political Science and overall GPAs are no less than 9.50 each, and have completed both PO217 and PO218 with a grade of A- or higher.

Other Qualifications

Applicants should:

Possess strong time management skills, and be able to handle their own academic workload and the additional IS tasks;
Exhibit a high level of professionalism;
Be good communicators (clear, articulate speakers), with strong interpersonal skills (friendly, approachable, able to create a positive rapport with students, etc.);
Be capable of unbiased evaluation;
Possess discerning, critical reading skills;
Be able to skilfully communicate his or her academic understanding in standard academic text forms; and
Be able to write clearly and argumentatively, with a solid understanding of the basics of syntax, punctuation and grammar;

Compensation

$21.70 per hour, plus 4% in lieu of vacation pay; 120 hours for the term.

Applications and Due Dates

Applicants should send a cover letter, including a statement about the his/her suitability for the position and what s/he can bring to the course, a resume, and the names of two academic references. Note that references from faculty members who can speak to your writing ability and participation in class would be preferred.

Official transcripts are not required as the department has access to, and will refer to, academic records.

Complete applications should be mailed or delivered to (email submissions will not be accepted):

Sherry Palmer, Department of Political Science
Room 4-120, Dr. Alvin Woods Building
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5

The deadline for receipt of applications is Sunday, May 21, 2017.

2) Grading Assistant Positions for 2017/18

Subject to final budgetary approval, the Department of Political Science invites applications for Grading Assistants (GAs) during the 2017-18 academic year. The exact number of positions available will be determined when enrolment numbers are available (mid- to late July). The number of winter term contracts issued depend upon a combination of the enrolment levels in the winter term and the performance of the Graders in the fall term.

Position Overview

GAs may be required to undertake the following tasks:

Mark assignments, tests and exams;
Attend meetings with the instructors;
Hold office hours; and
Respond to emails from students in their workshops.

The total weekly commitment will vary, depending on the tasks assigned to the GA. Applicants should note that there will be approximately four to five peak periods throughout each term for marking assignments and/or exams. GAs will need to check dates in the course outline and discuss with the instructor his/her grading requirements for each assignment/test/exam in the course.

Courses Available (subject to change)

PO210(1): Introduction to Law

PO245(2) The Art and Science of Policy Design

PO263(1) Politics and Government in Canada

PO264(2) The Practice of Politics in Canada