Nature of the Program

The TFRO is intended as a resource for both faculty and students during the often uncertain first few weeks of each semester when enrollment for courses is in flux. During this period, faculty often find themselves scrambling to find qualified TFs for their courses due to larger enrollments than expected. At this time, graduate students also find themselves in a similar situation: their teaching prospects for each semester are always dependent on course enrollments. Graduate students who had relative assurances of a teaching fellowship in a given course suddenly find themselves without teaching because enrollment is much lower than expected, and scramble to find another teaching position in order to stabilize their financial situation.

The TFRO will act as a resource for faculty members and graduate students during these first few weeks. The TFRO will have, on file, names of GSAS students and their qualifications. Faculty members suddenly finding themselves in need of additional TFs due to a larger than expected enrollment should contact the program office and speak to the program staff about their needs and the qualifications required. The program staff will review their files and provide the faculty member with names and contact information of students who may be qualified to teach in the course in question. Faculty members can then contact the prospective students in order to ascertain whether they fit the needs of their the course. The TFRO will only refer graduate students to faculty members - hiring decisions are completely up to the faculty member.

The TFRO will be especially useful since it will give faculty members and courseheads the opportunity to come in contact with qualified students who may not be in that particular faculty member's department.

The TFRO will also function as a resource for GSAS students. The program will keep updated information on enrollment in courses which may need TFs, both in the Core and in Departments. Information as to the possible needs of courses will be made available to students on our files.

What to do

The Course Information Form is intended for use during the early weeks of the semester. If you should find that your course is suddenly oversubscribed, please complete and submit the Course Information Form. You may also download the form and send to: the TFRO, Dudley House M-4 or faxed to 496-5459. On-line submission is also coming soon.

Contact Information

The TFRO will be operating exclusively via e-mail this year. You can contact the TFRO bys sending e-mail to tfro@hugsas.harvard.edu. Information may also be faxed to 496-5459 or mailed to the TFRO care of the Graduate Student Council, Lehman Hall M-4.