Mentoring Teaching Assistants (TAs):
Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE)

PIE is coordinated by the Center for Teaching & Learning, and serves as a teaching resource for graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) and departments. It is important to prepare TAs, not only to insure immediate high-quality classroom instruction but also to prepare them for teaching careers when they have completed their degrees. Read more about PIE, its history and programs.

• Teaching Resources for TAs
  FSU is committed to excellence in both research and teaching. To supplement TA training offered by your department or program, PIE has resources to help you improve your teaching.


• Resources for Departmental TA development
  Departments that manage graduate assistantships effectively save time and effort for everyone. If your department needs support in developing TA training programs that prepare TAs for their instructional responsibilities, PIE will assist in training activities.


• PIE Teaching Conference
  The conference helps orient TAs to their instructional roles and responsibilities at FSU and introduces them to best teaching practices and policies and services of the University as they relate to teaching. Since the conference accommodates TAs across disciplines and with varied teaching responsibilities it is usually followed by discipline-specific training sessions in individual departments.


• PIE Associate Program
  The PIE Associate Program helps to improve teaching across campus by helping departments enhance their TA training programs and establish interdisciplinary connections and community among graduate students at FSU. PIE Associates serve for one year and earn a stipend for his/her work.


• Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards (OTAA)
  The University recognizes the outstanding contribution TAs make to the instructional mission of the University with the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Awards. These awards are given to TAs in recognition of their distinguished contributions to undergraduate student learning through excellence in instruction.