As a TA, there are both federal and University policies you must follow.

Title IX

Title IX is a federal law that protects against discrimination on the basis of sex. This applies to everyone at [Your University], and it is especially important in the classroom. All new employees, including Teaching Assistants, must complete mandatory Title IX training. If you have not already completed this training, learn more here: website link.

FERPA

The Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects the privacy of student educational records. FERPA rights are granted to anyone who has enrolled in classes at [Your University]. As a Teaching Assistant, you will contribute to student educational records by providing grades and feedback to students. You will also have access to other protected student information.

It is important that you safeguard the privacy of these records. Remember that these records are the very personal property of your students, and betraying their confidence can harm your students.

Please review the video below which provides an overview of FERPA from the U.S. Department of Education.

External Link: Student Privacy 101: FERPA for Parents and Students

At UW-Madison, the Office of the Registrar is responsible for managing student educational data, including enrollment, grading, and tracking degree completion. According to the Registrar's guidance on directory information, information that is protected under FERPA, also called "non-directory information", includes:

- - Social security number
  - Campus identification number
  - Race/ethnicity
  - Residency status
  - Transfer-student status
  - Academic and disciplinary actions
  - Class schedule
  - Courses completed
  - Grades and grade point average (GPA)

One huge benefit in using Canvas for your courses is that it securely and privately manages student data for you, controlling access to courses and grading information via [Your University's Authentication method]. Canvas also provides a secure place to communicate with students, and your teaching team, about grades and other protected student information. Under FERPA, you are allowed to share protected information securely with others who have a "legitimate educational interest" in a specific student. This generally includes the specific student, any other official instructors in the course, and sometimes administrators or other staff resolving grade disputes or other academic issues. The best way to share grades and other protected information is through Canvas, not through email.

ADA & Accessibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act are federal policies that guarantee access to and ability to participate in services, programs, and activities at [Your University]. In addition, [Your University] is committed to an inclusive and accessible campus experience for everyone.

At [Your University], the [Your University's Accessibility Center] works with students needing accommodations to access and fully participate in courses. If a student in your course is working with the [Your University's Accessibility Center], the lead instructor will be notified by email and informed of accommodations a student needs.

More information about working with the [Your University's Accessibility Center] is available later in today's content on Identify Where to Get Help.

[Your University's] Academic Policies

While you can refer students with questions about academic policies to their Academic Advisor, two policies are particularly helpful to know about:

1. Drop deadlines for courses: Sometimes it is in a student's best interest, academically or financially, to drop a course. The Registrar's Office maintains a list of deadlines each semester, including drop deadlines: [link to your university's deadlines].
2. Incomplete grading policies: Students may only be given a grade of Incomplete in rare cases. Students must have been performing well prior to an unexpected event preventing them from completing the course. For more information, visit [link to your university's incomplete policy].

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