Graduate Assistant/Associate Required Trainings and English Proficiency Policy

A. Required Trainings

1. All GAs must complete required trainings. In addition, international graduate students from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate English proficiency in order to be a TA.
2. To request disability-related accommodations that will facilitate your full participation in these trainings, please contact the DRC at 520-621-3268 or disability@arizona.edu.
3. Failure to complete the required trainings may result in issues with accessing University systems.

B. Required Trainings for All GAs

1. Title IX Training
2. Safety Preparedness Training: Active Shooter
3. Information Security Awareness Training
4. Arizona Public Service Orientation

C. Required Trainings for All TAs

1. In addition to the trainings listed above, all TAs must successfully complete both FERPA and TATO trainings. Please note: these are two separate training modules, in two separate platforms.
   1. FERPA and TATO trainings must be completed within two weeks of a TA’s appointment start date. Upcoming deadlines:
      1. Fall 2026: September 6, 2026
      2. Spring 2027: January 31, 2027
   2. TAs must only complete these trainings once to satisfy the requirement.
   3. Completion of these required trainings is monitored by Graduate College staff to ensure completion of this important training. Failure to complete either of these trainings may result in termination and ineligibility for further employment.
2. FERPA Training
   1. All students are protected by a federal privacy law, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Since TAs are dealing with student records in an official capacity, they are bound by this law. The University requires that all employees with access to student records complete an online training course. The course can be accessed through the FERPA Training website or through the link in TATO.
3. TATO Active Student Learning via Brightspace
   1. Teaching Assistant/Associate Training Online (TATO) is a collection of self-paced modules about teaching and learning made available via Brightspace. It is recommended that TAs review all TATO modules before the beginning of each semester. Individual Units may also assign additional TATO modules.
   2. Steps to access the TATO:
      1. Go to brightspace.arizona.edu.
      2. Click on the button labeled "UA NetID Login" in the upper left side of the screen.
      3. Enter NetID and password.
      4. Click the Discover link located at the top left side of the screen. The Discover page contains all the courses that are available for self-enrollment. There are two ways to find a course if you don't see it listed in the course tiles: Select the Browse All Content option at the top of the Discover widget or you can use the search box to search for the course by any word in the title of the course.
      5. Select TATO. This will take you to the course enrollment page.
      6. Click the Enroll in Course button to enroll for the course. NOTE: If you are already enrolled in the course, the button will read Open Course. This offers a secondary way to get back to a course.
      7. When the enrollment is complete, you can click the Open Course button to go directly to the course.
      8. To quickly find a Discover course you are already enrolled in, select the Discover Courses tab in the My Courses widget on your Brightspace home page.
      9. Please contact U of A Brightspace Help if you experience any issues within the TATO.
      10. Any questions or concerns should be directed to gahelp@grad.arizona.edu.
4. Please note that the mandatory training Graduate Assistant/Associate Teaching Orientation (GATO) is no longer offered or required by the Graduate College. However, individual Units may require additional in-person or virtual trainings. Please contact the appointing Unit for more information about their required training(s).

D. Required Trainings for Graduate Research Assistants/Associates (GRAs)

1. All GRAs must complete the University's Conflict of Interest training in addition to the required trainings listed above. The particular kinds of training you need will depend on what kind of research you do and your specific role in the research process. Please contact the relevant compliance program(s) or the Office of Research and Partnerships, Conflict of Interest Division at COI@arizona.edu or (520) 626-6406 if you have questions about which trainings you need to complete. Failure to complete the required trainings can result in delays or denial of funding.

E. Demonstration of English Proficiency

1. All International TAs from non-English speaking countries must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English. Attendance at an English-speaking institution does not qualify a graduate student to be a TA. Additional evidence of English proficiency is required to assume the role of a TA. Tests that satisfy the requirement are listed below, along with their minimum passing scores. A passing score from any one of these tests will satisfy this requirement.
   1. TOEFL IBT Speaking Section – score of 5 [Effective 01/21/2026]
   2. TOEFL Essentials Test Speaking Section – score of 11
   3. IELTS Speaking Section – score of 7.5
   4. CEPT Speaking Section – score of 44
   5. Completion of ESPE
2. English Speaking Proficiency Evaluation (ESPE)
   1. If an International TA has not taken any of the approved tests listed above or does not meet the minimum passing score(s), the hiring Unit must perform an English Speaking Proficiency Evaluation (ESPE). The Graduate College requires that the ESPE evaluation be completed prior to the graduate student being hired.
   2. A recommended method of early evaluation is a video interview for prospective International TAs ahead of the classroom assignment. This will make it possible to evaluate speaking proficiency before class scheduling and teaching assignments are set. The interview can be conducted virtually and should last a minimum of 10-15 minutes. A minimum of two evaluators should conduct the evaluation of the interview.
3. English Speaking Proficiency Evaluation (ESPE) Scoring

   1. Hiring Units are free to use any evaluation method they feel is appropriate, as long as it is used consistently for all international graduate students being evaluated. One method used successfully in some Units is the rubric below. The rubric should be drawn up to include the evaluation of several elements of speaking proficiency, including intelligibility, fluency, accuracy in pronunciation, etc.

      Language Use	N/A	Unacceptable	Conditional	Acceptable
      Speaks in phrases, not word by word
      Speaks clearly and at a reasonable rate
      Has few mistakes in grammar or pronunciation
      Converses at length rather than answering yes/no
      Speaks confidently and convincingly
      Can explain a technical concept in their discipline
      Correctly understands questions

   2. International graduate students should receive a majority of scores in the “Acceptable” range to be considered to have passed the test. Those that have many conditional scores should be treated as “conditional passes” and have only limited TA duties, such as grading. Those that have more than 1 unacceptable score should be considered to have failed. Units are encouraged to impose stricter standards if they wish.
   3. Once international graduate students are evaluated by their hiring Units, the Unit should assign one of three possible overall scores:
      1. Pass (numerical score of 2) = unlimited instructional duties.
      2. Conditional Pass (numerical score of 1) = limited or no direct instructional duties. (Ex. grading, lab prep, website support, office hours, etc). A list of the ITAs duties must be submitted with the grade. A graduate student who receives a score of 1 will need to be re-evaluated each semester that they are hired, until they achieve a score of 2.
      3. Fail (numerical score of 0) = Not eligible for hire as a TA. A graduate student who receives a score of 0 will need to be re-evaluated, and must obtain a score of either 1 or 2 to begin in instructional duties.
   4. Units must report scores to the Graduate College by filling out the English Speaking Proficiency Evaluation form. Once the Graduate College receives this form, the score will be entered into UAccess Student. Failure to report a score will delay benefits processing. Units needing assistance in applying this test should contact either the University's Center for English as a Second Language, or the University's English Applied Linguistics program.
4. Resources to Improve Spoken English
   1. Courses to help students improve their English are offered through the University’s Center for English as a Second Language.
   2. Workshops to improve spoken English are offered through the Clinic Services in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing under the direction of Janet Hawley, janet@arizona.edu or 520-626-6073. Please contact the Clinic Office at 520-621-1826 for an appointment.
   3. Another resource to help with a TA position is the University Center for Assessment, Teaching and Technology.
5. Syllabi Suggestions
   1. Units should prepare undergraduate students for working with International TAs. It may be helpful to include the information below (or something similar) in the syllabi for courses with International TAs, or to encourage international TAs to adapt and disseminate this information to their students in other ways:

“We live, learn, and work in a global society. In your career, you’re likely to engage with people from all over the world. Communication skills across linguistic differences are a key competency of career readiness. At the U of A, we have instructors and students from over 120 different countries, so you will encounter faculty, TAs, and fellow students whose accented English may, at first, be difficult to understand. You will also encounter various variations and pronunciations of English by both domestic and international TAs. This is an opportunity to expose yourself to accents and variations of English and hone your communication skills.”

Remember that your TA is highly qualified to teach the course material but may still be adjusting to a different education system, cultural norms, or language. They are working incredibly hard and deserve respect. Effective communication in a globalized world is a two-way street, and your participation is vital to creating the optimal experience. Below are some strategies for communicating with international TAs:

• Concentrate on what your TA is saying by also paying attention to their verbal and nonverbal cues. The more you communicate with your TA, the more you will understand each other. All TAs want to make sure you learn, so ask questions and make suggestions for what would help you to communicate and learn better.
   
• Whenever any instructor or TA happens to speak quickly or in a low voice, and you struggle to understand them, feel free to ask them to slow down, speak up, and clarify what they’ve just said. You could also paraphrase what you’ve just heard to check your understanding. You may suggest to your TA that they write down words you don’t understand or provide lists of key words or notes that may help you and others follow along.
   
• When you are speaking, and especially when it seems that the TA may strain to understand you, please speak a bit slower and clearer than usual. Be cautious about using slang and idioms because they may be challenging to grasp across cultural and language differences.
   
• Get to know your TA and take this opportunity to ask questions about your TA’s culture, life, and academic experiences. The more you interact with your TA, the easier it will be to hone your communication skills.

If you try these suggestions and are still having difficulties, talk and explore options with your TA and then, if applicable, with the faculty member associated with the course. If there is no faculty member, communicating with the department chair is another option.