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Resource Teaching Assistant
Resource TA Program Overview
The Resource Teaching Assistants (RTAs) are a team of experienced graduate students dedicated to strengthening resource access, peer support, and community building for Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) at Western University.
This role was created in late 2025 to provide graduate students with consistent, approachable, and interdisciplinary support that complements existing resources across campus and enhances GTA connectivity. RTAs work collaboratively with GTAs at Western—in connection with existing roles, resources, and programming—to clarify GTA role expectations, facilitate access to teaching and learning supports, and help GTAs navigate their diverse roles and experiences as TAs, researchers, and students.
The three primary roles of the RTA team are the following:
- Wayfinding to GTA / GTA-relevant resources across campus.
- Developing resources that address common GTA questions, concerns, and needs.
- Building and nurturing community among GTAs.
This program is a collaboration between the Centre for Teaching and Learning, Student Experience, and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
2026 - 2027 RTA Team
Kardelen Kuçuk (Philosophy)
Cynthia Lam (Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies)
Ehsan Ur Rahman Mohammed (Computer Science)
Available Supports
The Resource TA team offers a range of supports designed to meet GTAs where they are on their own teaching journeys. Through informal conversations and resource navigation, they can work with GTAs on the following:
- Peer support for communicating effectively with your GTA supervisor and students
- Strategies for managing classroom challenges with fellow GTAs
- Clarification of foundational roles and expectations as a GTA
- Tips for time management and academic planning
- Support developing problem‑solving approaches and academic confidence
- Drop‑in hours for quick questions or check‑ins
- Small‑group sessions for collaborative learning
- Direction to relevant campus services, academic tools, and program supports and resources
- Identification of resources that best fit GTA needs
Fall 2026 Programming
Companion sessions are opportunities for additional exploration of topics covered in selected Future Prof workshops at the Centre for Teaching and Learning. These sessions are led by one or more members of the Resource TA team, who are all graduate students from across disciplines with extensive Graduate TA experience. Together with your RTA facilitator(s), you will have the opportunity to engage in conversation and/or to practice the approaches and strategies covered in the Future Prof workshop.
Please note that these sessions are not eligible for Future Prof credit towards the Western Certificate in University Teaching and Learning.
Companion Session: Universal Design for Learning I
October 7, 12:00 – 1:00 PM (in-person, Weldon Library 252)
Register
Companion Session: Accessible PowerPoint Slides
October 26, 12:00 – 1:00 PM (in-person, Weldon Library 252)
Register
Companion Session: Teaching Dossiers I
November 3, 1:00 – 2:00 PM (in-person, Weldon Library 252)
Register
Companion Session: Linguistic Justice & Global Englishes
November 30, 2:00 – 3:00 PM (in-person, Weldon Library 252)
Register
How to Connect
Contact Information: ResourceTA@uwo.ca
Students can reach the Resource TA team in several ways:
- Email Support: Send questions or concerns to the RTA team inbox for timely guidance
- Information and Community Gathering Sessions: Attend scheduled events throughout the term
- One‑to-One Meetings: Book a meeting for personalized support
- Teaching Cafés: Informal, TA-driven gathering where graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) can gather in community
- Additional programming that builds on graduate programming at CTL and Student Experience