Module 8 (Week 8 ): Summary

Summary

Upon completion of Module 8 (Week 8), you should have:

• identified the unique challenges and pressures of serving as a UTA.
• developed ideas for approaches that can be used to handle difficult or uncomfortable situations that may occur while serving as a UTA.
• gained confidence in your ability to manage difficult/uncomfortable situations.
• demonstrated effective teamwork and communication skills.

Takeaways 

• While there are benefits to serving as a UTA, there also are unique challenges and pressures.
• You may be the first to be confronted with a difficult situation related to your UTA responsibilities. In some cases, you may be able to handle it on your own or take the first steps, but there will be times when you need to turn it over to your faculty supervisor. Your faculty supervisor is ultimately responsible for managing difficult situations.
• If you are presented with a situation that you cannot or should not handle on your own, find a way to remove yourself tactfully and calmly and arrange a meeting with your faculty supervisor. If the student involved in the situation is in danger/crisis or others are in danger because of the student's behavior, be sure to seek immediate help.
• Treating your fellow students with respect and patience and actively listening to their view point is an important part of managing difficult situations.

Next Week

Module 9 (Week 9) will be completed online. The roles and responsibilities of UTAs have the potential to yield many benefits related to your personal and professional growth. In Module 9, we will discuss these benefits and focus on how your experience as a UTA and the assignments and activities in this course are connected to the development of your career readiness.