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Replying to lapcat’s comment (which wasn’t possible), I suspect the schools would just look to adjuncts or senior u-grad students to be the necessary ta’s. It’

Replying to lapcat’s comment (which wasn’t possible), I suspect the schools would just look to adjuncts or senior u-grad students to be the necessary ta’s. It’s not like a 1st or 2nd year PhD student is particularly good or interested in ta’ing - they might be taking courses and are certainly fulfilling program entry requirements. Any research out of these people is gravy. Interesting concept. Paying students to attend. I survived on this support in ancient times as somebody has to handle all those pre med/vet/dental students. But it was lean and I still can’t enjoy Mac and cheese. It certainly wasn’t a job or career. Edit: reply again to deeper in the thread: we used the early students for things like 1-2 year lab as they were way better at lab than the students. Nobody handled a recitation unless they were 3rd year or more, had neutral+ evaluations and their boss lacked RA funding. Those with funded profs didn’t waste time ta’ing as they did work and wrote paper drafts. Those with new or unfunded profs did the ta gig and they also did full time work and writing drafts. 10+ extra hours a week ta.

lapcat 4y ago
> I suspect the schools would just look to adjuncts Adjuncts are more expensive than PhD students. That's not going to help at all with undergraduate costs. > or senior u-grad students to be the necessary ta’s. It’s not like a 1st or 2nd year PhD student is particularly good or interested in ta’ing - they might be taking courses and are certainly fulfilling program entry requirements. If 1st or 2nd year PhD students are not particularly good, then wouldn't senior undergraduate students be even worse? Anyway, in my experience 1st or 2nd year PhD students didn't usually TA. It was the longer tenured students who were the TAs.
avisser 4y ago
You can get adjuncts and undergrads to be replacement TAs, but from my 2nd-hand experience via my wife (PhD in psychology) it would be research where things fall apart. The tenured professors rely heavily on PhD students to run grant-funded research and write papers for the lab. The general public thinks first and foremost about education, but for lots of academics, teaching is a necessary evil and research is where the prestige (and money) is.
- ummonk 4y ago
  Exactly. Fundamentally, these grad students want to further enhance a system where undergrads pay tuition for an education, and that tuition gets paid to research-focused academics instead.

lapcat 4y ago

> I suspect the schools would just look to adjuncts Adjuncts are more expensive than PhD students. That's not going to help at all with undergraduate costs. > or senior u-grad students to be the necessary ta’s. It’s not like a 1st or 2nd year PhD student is particularly good or interested in ta’ing - they might be taking courses and are certainly fulfilling program entry requirements. If 1st or 2nd year PhD students are not particularly good, then wouldn't senior undergraduate students be even worse? Anyway, in my experience 1st or 2nd year PhD students didn't usually TA. It was the longer tenured students who were the TAs.

avisser 4y ago

You can get adjuncts and undergrads to be replacement TAs, but from my 2nd-hand experience via my wife (PhD in psychology) it would be research where things fall apart. The tenured professors rely heavily on PhD students to run grant-funded research and write papers for the lab. The general public thinks first and foremost about education, but for lots of academics, teaching is a necessary evil and research is where the prestige (and money) is.

ummonk 4y ago
Exactly. Fundamentally, these grad students want to further enhance a system where undergrads pay tuition for an education, and that tuition gets paid to research-focused academics instead.