Resource Room Guidelines

Announcement: Effective 11/20/24, the Resource Room has been moved from Thaw 312 to Allen 509.

The Resource Room (RR) is functioning on an in-person schedule in the Fall and Spring terms and can be found in 509 Allen Hall.

The Resource Room is open during finals week. However, due to Graduate TA finals, a TA may not be present for their shift if their time in the Resource Room occurs within 2 hours before or after a scheduled final to allow them time to study and relax.

 

For Students

Graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) will be available in the resource room daily to assist with Physics and Astronomy classes, homework, and general tutoring. Appointments are not required. TAs hold both in-person hours as scheduled.

The Resource Room is to remain open during finals week on a modified schedule.

View the Resource Room Schedule Here.

For Current Teaching Assistants

Overview

The purpose of the Resource Room is to give assistance to students in physics and astronomy classes. If an astronomy question is beyond your expertise, please direct the students to any of the TAs who are assigned to astronomy classes.

The Physics Exploration Center (PEC) is adjacent to the Resource Room, however, the TAs are not required to work with students in the PEC. TAs are, however, required to simply sign any PEC worksheet an undergraduate presents to them upon leaving the PEC.

Procedures for TAs

Resource Room Allen 509
At the end of the TA's assigned work time they are required to...

  1. Empty the room of undergrads.
  2. Close the window.
  3. Turn off the lights.
  4. Close the door.

This applies only if the next scheduled TA has not arrived before your hours are complete. Do not assume that the next person will arrive.

Physics Exploration Center (PEC) Thaw 311
At the end of the TA's assigned work time they are required to...

  1. Empty the room of undergrads.

This applies only if the next scheduled TA has not arrived before your hours are complete. Do not assume that the next person will arrive.

While working in the Resource Room, TAs are required to...

  1. Sign or initial the undergrads PEC assignments when they ask for proof that they did the PEC assignment.
  2. Report any problem with the PEC equipment to Rich Misura via (412) 624-9241 or rjm2@pitt.edu.

Best Practices for TAs

All TAs assigned to work in the Resource Room must appear for their scheduled time and arrive promptly. When nearing the end of a session, warn any undergraduates present a few minutes beforehand to avoid confusion.

When a visitor enters the Resource Room, best practices encourage the TAs to introduce themselves. If occupied, the TA must inform the visitor to take a seat and that he/she will be with them shortly.

A few best practices are the following:

  • Students should be helped in such a way that they can work independently, each being giving fair attention and not simply given the answers. Students should find their own solutions.
  • For a difficult question, tell the student he/she may need to seek help with another TA. Direct the individual to a TA who can help them.
  • The Resource Room is not to be used for office hours. If a student asks for help from a TA's class, refer them to the official office hours posted in that class's syllabus.
  • If late, please contact the Graduate Administrator at (pagrad@pitt.edu)  so that a warning may be given to other TA's and students. Students will complain if no TA is present in the Resource Room, which will reflect poorly on evaluations. 
  • Scrap paper will be made available from a box on the table in the photocopy room in Allen Hall. Anyone can take stacks for use in the Resource Room or in the Graduate Student offices  (500 Allen or elsewhere) when needed.

The Resource Room is to remain open during finals week in such cases where the TAs assigned time does not have a conflict with their own final exam. The schedule will be modified as needed to reflect this.

Contacts

Sydney Seufer
Undergraduate and Outreach Coordinator
Department of Physics and Astronomy
paugrad@pitt.edu

For information regarding specific TAs or the TA program, contact the Graduate Administrator.

Emily McGurgan
Graduate Administrator
Department of Physics and Astronomy
pagrad@pitt.edu

For any problems with equipment, contact our Physics Demonstrator.

Rich Misura
Physics Demonstrator
Department of Physics and Astronomy
rjm2@pitt.edu

 

You can also Submit an anonymous concern with the TA/UTA program.