Student Assistant - Computer Science Teaching Assistant Pathway

About Us

Since 1906, the University of West Georgia (UWG) has been home to those who seek a transformative college experience. UWG is a leading residential, doctoral comprehensive university that offers a broad undergraduate and graduate curriculum based on a liberal arts foundation. Nestled among the pines on a picturesque 645 acres is the University of West Georgia- a hidden gem approximately 40 miles west of Atlanta. Serving approximately 16,000+ students, and offering more than 100 programs, UWG is committed to advancing innovative academic programs and a student-centered business model. Perennially ranked by U.S. News & World Report, the Princeton Review, and Colleges of Distinction as a top national university, West Georgia offers 86 fields of study, including business, computing, nursing, education, STEM, communication and digital media, social sciences, and the fine and performing arts. UWG generates a regional economic impact of more than $650 million annually and provides a safe, quality, and affordable university experience that connects students to post-graduate career and leadership opportunities. UWG has been recognized by the Carnegie Foundation for its institutional commitment to community engagement through teaching, research and creative activities, and public service. West Georgia is one of only 119 U.S. colleges and universities to receive the elective classification in 2020 and is among only 359 institutions nationally. Dedicated to creating a first-choice university for students, alumni, employees, and communities, UWG seeks employees who will advance and support the Universitys mission of fulfilling the talent needs of western Georgia and the Atlanta metropolitan area, while contributing to the social, cultural, and economic development of the region and state.

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Invested in education with highly rated city and county K-12 systems, both city and county public school graduation rates are 90% and above and rank among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Job Summary

About the opportunity

Are you a senior who loves computing and enjoys helping others learn? The School of Computing, Analytics, and Modeling invites outstanding UWG seniors on a Double Wolf pathway to join the COMP 1010 teaching team as a Student Teaching Assistant. If you are in your final semester and thinking about graduate school, we warmly welcome you to apply, too. COMP 1010 is the first computing course for many STEM majors, and the support you give can make a real difference in whether a new student feels confident and keeps going.

This role is the first step in UWGs Graduate Teaching Pathway, not a one-semester job. You will build teaching, tutoring, and mentoring experience in the spring while you finish your bachelors degree. After you graduate and begin the M.S. in Applied Computer Science, you can move into a Graduate Teaching Assistant role supporting COMP 1010 lab sections once you begin your graduate studies. You will already know the course, the faculty, and what students need, and we will support you every step of the way.

What you will do

Working under the guidance of a faculty mentor, you will:

• Scheduled class time (20%): Help students during COMP 1010 class and lab sessions with programming exercises, debugging, and course concepts, and facilitate small-group student project teams.
• Training/mentorship with lead instructor (20%): Work with the lead instructor and attend teaching-team meetings and any training provided by the department or the Graduate School.
• Office hours, including virtual hours (40%): Hold regular in-person and virtual tutoring hours so students can get one-on-one help outside of class, lead review sessions before quizzes and exams, and mentor students who are new to computing by encouraging good study habits and connecting them with campus resources.
• Grading (10%): Assist with grading assignments and giving students feedback, as directed by your faculty mentor.
• Preparation (10%): Support the course in other ways your faculty mentor assigns, such as preparing materials and setting up lab activities.

Required Qualifications

• Be enrolled at UWG in a minimum of 6 credit hours as a senior majoring in Computer Science or Computing, on track to complete your bachelors degree by the end of Spring 2027 or Summer 2027.
• Qualify for the Double Wolf program as a senior, with plans to continue into the M.S. in Applied Computer Science. Double Wolf Direct Admit (100+ credit hours, at least 30 earned at UWG, and a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher) or Double Wolf Start Early (75+ credit hours, at least 30 earned at UWG, and a 3.2 GPA).
• Graduating seniors (Apply & Continue): Seniors in their final semester can hold the entry-stage role while they apply to any graduate program through the standard application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior tutoring, peer mentoring, or lab experience is a plus but is not required.

Required Documents to Attach

• Resume

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of West Georgia as determined by the University of West Georgia in its sole discretion; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials, reference checks; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individuals age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individuals protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individuals protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Special Applicant Instructions

Your path through the Teaching Pathway

The Teaching Pathway has three stages. Each step brings more responsibility, more support for your education, and more experience in the classroom.

Stage 1: Student Assistant - Spring 2027, your final undergraduate semester

Role: Peer instructional support in COMP 1010 under a faculty mentor

Pay: $7,000 per semester (20 hrs/week)

Tuition waiver: No

Stage 2: GTA Level 1 - Peer instructional support in COMP 1010 under a faculty mentor

Fall 2027, your first year of graduate study

Role: Supports COMP 1010 lab sections; not instructor of record

Pay: $1,400 per month (29 hrs/week)

Tuition waiver: Yes

Stage 3: GTA Level 2 - Instructor of record

After 18 graduate hours in the discipline

Role: Instructor of record (see below) with faculty mentorship; mentors new Level 1 GTAs

Pay: $1,660 per month (20 hrs/week)

Tuition waiver: Yes

A tip to get ahead: If you take Double Wolf Start Early graduate courses in computer science, those credits count toward the 18 graduate hours needed for GTA Level 2. That can help you reach instructor of record sooner after you start graduate study.

Moving into a GTA Level 1 appointment

Completing the Student Assistant stage gives you priority consideration for a GTA Level 1 appointment in Fall 2027. It is not a guarantee, so we want you to know exactly what is needed. To move into the GTA role, you will need to:

• Have earned a bachelors degree.
• Be admitted to the M.S. in Applied Computer Science and enrolled full-time.
• Be in good academic standing with a 3.0 GPA in graduate coursework.
• Be eligible for employment in the United States.
• Earn a B or better in any Double Wolf Start Early graduate courses.
• Receive a recommendation from your faculty mentor.