Most of what comes to you as a TA is yours to handle: a bug, a concept, a clear grading mistake. Some of it is not: grades beyond the rubric, extensions, accommodations, suspected cheating, a student in trouble. This page sorts the common cases into three groups, gives you words for the hand-off, and lists the UMass offices that take over when it is bigger than the course. Your instructor's rules for the course come first. The best time to settle who decides what is at the start of term, so bring this page to your first meeting with your instructor.
Defaults that work. If you only take four things from this page:
- If anyone may be in danger, call first: 911 or UMass Police at (413) 545-3111. Then tell your instructor.
- Anything that changes a grade, a deadline or a policy goes to your instructor, so every student is treated the same way.
- You report, you don't rule. On suspected cheating, write down what you saw and tell the instructor. Never confront or penalize.
- Never promise to keep something secret before you know what it is.
The quick guide
| Situation | You handle | Check with your instructor | Always the instructor or a campus office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regrade request or partial-credit dispute | Fix a clear mistake against the rubric | Any change to the rubric, or a dispute the student won't drop | Formal grade appeals |
| Student submitted the wrong file | Tell them what the late-work policy says | Whether a late swap is allowed | |
| Extension request | Apply an extension policy the instructor has already set | Anything outside that policy | |
| Accommodation request | Carry out a letter the instructor has shared with you | Disability Services decides. No letter: refer the student there | |
| Suspected cheating or unauthorized AI use | Take notes, keep the evidence | The instructor of record; the Academic Integrity Office | |
| Student comes to every office hour and is falling behind | Keep your usual time limit; point to tutoring | Tell the instructor about the pattern | Dean of Students or Academic Alert if they stop engaging |
| Student is upset or struggling | Listen; give the CCPH number | Tell the instructor the same day | CCPH or the Dean of Students Office |
| Student mentions self-harm or is in crisis | Stay with them if it is safe | CCPH (413) 545-HELP, or UMass Police (413) 545-3111 / 911, now. Then the instructor | |
| Student tells you about harassment or discrimination | Listen; don't promise confidentiality | Your instructor, and Equal Opportunity & Access. Confidential options below | |
| Conflict with another TA or a UCA | Talk to them directly first | If it continues | The department, if it involves the instructor |
| Questions about another student's grade, or a parent calls | Nothing beyond the student's own record | The Registrar, for FERPA questions | |
| Medical emergency or threat | Call 911 or UMass Police (413) 545-3111 | The instructor, right after |
The middle column is the one to settle early. Many instructors are happy for TAs to handle routine regrades or one-day extensions under a rule they set. Ask, and get the rule in writing.
Grades, regrades and late work
Every student in the course should be graded by the same rules, whichever TA they get. So you can fix a clear mistake (you missed a part, added wrong, or misread the rubric), but changing what the rubric means, giving credit it does not allow, or accepting late work outside the policy is the instructor's call.
- Ask for the request in writing: "Send me a short note on which part you think was misgraded and why. I'll look again against the rubric within 48 hours." Writing it down cools things off and gives you a record.
- Look at the whole question again, not only the part the student points to. Whether a regrade can lower a score is your instructor's policy; know it before you look.
- If you change your rubric's meaning, it changes for everyone. Tell your instructor and the other graders.
Suspected cheating or unauthorized AI use
At UMass, the Academic Integrity Policy names graduate TAs among those who report suspected dishonesty to the instructor of record, and no penalty may be given on suspicion alone. The instructor contacts the student (within 10 business days of finding the problem) and decides how to proceed. Using generative AI counts as cheating or plagiarism unless the instructor has allowed it.
- Do not confront the student, accuse them, lower the grade or keep it to yourself.
- Write down what you noticed and why, and save the evidence (the files, the timestamps, the similar submissions).
- If the student asks: "I can't make a call on this myself. I've passed it to Professor ___, who will contact you by UMass email."
Extensions and accommodations
Disability Services decides accommodations, case by case, and students share them with instructors through an accommodation letter each semester. You carry out what the letter says. You never decide one, never negotiate one, and never ask why a student has one.
The script: "Extensions are Professor ___'s decision, so please email them. If this is disability-related, Disability Services sets accommodations, at (413) 545-0892. Once there's a letter, we'll follow it." The Exams: Accommodations, Makeups and Proctoring page has the details for exams.
A student in distress
You are not expected to be a counselor. You are expected to notice, stay calm and connect the student to people who can help. UMass's guide for this is called the Maroon Folder: recognize, respond, refer.
- Recognize: a big change in work or attendance, tears, anger, talk of hopelessness, or a student who says they are not OK.
- Respond: "Thanks for telling me. I want you to get real support." Listen more than you talk.
- Refer: the Center for Counseling and Psychological Health (CCPH), (413) 545-2337 in office hours, or (413) 545-HELP (4357) at any hour. Offer to call or walk over together.
Tell your instructor the same day. You can also call CCPH yourself for a free, confidential consultation about how to help, and refer a student of concern to the Dean of Students Office through its online Student Support Request. Sharing a safety concern with these offices does not break FERPA.
If the student mentions hurting themselves or someone else, or you think anyone is in danger, do not wait: call 545-HELP, UMass Police at (413) 545-3111, or 911, and stay with the student if it is safe.
Harassment or discrimination
If a student starts to tell you about harassment, assault or discrimination, be honest before they share details: "I want to help, and I need to tell you I can't keep this confidential. I'll need to share it with the instructor." Then listen. Point them to the confidential places they can talk first, the Center for Women & Community (24/7 line (413) 545-0800) and CCPH, and to the Equal Opportunity & Access Office, (413) 545-3464, which handles reports. Tell your instructor.
Which university employees must report to Title IX is set by UMass's responsible-employee policy, and teaching assistants are not named in its current list. Whatever your status, the steps above are the safe default: no promise of secrecy, tell your instructor, and make sure the student knows where to go.
Privacy (FERPA)
Talk about a student's work and grades only with that student and the course staff. Not with their parents, friends, other students or other faculty without their written consent. Never post grades with IDs, and never leave graded work where others can see it. When in doubt, don't share, and ask the Registrar's office. The script: "I can't discuss anyone's grades except with that student. That's federal privacy law."
Who to call
| Office | For | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| UMass Police | Emergencies, threats, safety | 911 or (413) 545-3111; non-emergency (413) 545-2121 |
| CCPH | Mental health; consultation for you | (413) 545-2337; 24/7 (413) 545-HELP (4357) |
| Dean of Students Office | Students of concern (not confidential) | (413) 545-2684; Student Support Request online |
| Center for Women & Community | Confidential support after harassment or assault | 24/7 (413) 545-0800 |
| Equal Opportunity & Access | Harassment and discrimination reports | (413) 545-3464 |
| Disability Services | Accommodations | (413) 545-0892 |
| Academic Integrity Office | Integrity process questions (for instructors) | (413) 577-6767 |
| Registrar | FERPA questions | (413) 545-0555 |
Further reading
At UMass
- Faculty Senate, Academic Integrity Policy: what counts as dishonesty, generative AI included, and the TA's duty to report.
- Academic Integrity, Policy & Procedures: the instructor's steps and deadlines.
- UMatter, The Maroon Folder Resource: recognize, respond, refer, with phone numbers.
- CCPH, Faculty and Staff: consultation for staff and what to do in an emergency.
- Dean of Students, Request and Referral: the Student Support Request form, and Academic Alert.
- Equal Opportunity & Access, Responsible Employees: who must report, and how.
- Equal Opportunity & Access, Reporting Options and Confidential Support: which offices are confidential.
- Disability Services, Laws and Policies: how accommodations are decided.
- Registrar, Student Rights under FERPA: rules for faculty and staff.
Beyond UMass
- CMU Eberly Center, Checklist: Issues to Clarify with TAs Up Front: regrades, extensions, makeups, cheating and referrals, written for instructors. Useful for your first meeting.
- University of Calgary, U Have Integrity: Resource for Teaching Assistants: do's and don'ts when you suspect misconduct.
- Stanford Teaching Commons, Where to refer students: you don't have to help students on your own.
- UC Berkeley GSI Teaching & Resource Center, Working as a GSI: FAQ: grading disputes, conflicts and when to consult the instructor.
Related pages: AI Policy Questions from Students, Office Hours FAQ, When You Don't Know the Answer and Exams: Accommodations, Makeups and Proctoring.