Definition
Graduate students who do the actual grading and teaching in large university courses while the professor's name appears on the syllabus. They're the unsung heroes of undergraduate education, compensated primarily in experience and poverty.
Example Usage
My TA for Intro to Psychology graded all 200 exams while the professor was at a conference in Hawaii.
Origin
Position formalized in American universities during the post-WWII expansion of higher education.
Fun Fact
Many TAs earn less than minimum wage when their actual working hours are calculated, leading to unionization efforts at major universities.
Source: Higher education staffing terminology
Related Terms
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See “teaching assistant” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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