Computer Science TA Onboarding Notes 2026

Introduction

Congratulations!  You’ve been selected to be a Computer Science Teaching Assistant.

TA Student Coordinators

• 1010 Coordinators: Gray von Goetz, Lauren Campbell, Amelie Dinh
• Lab / Poster / 3D Printing Coordinators: Milo Fritzen, Amelie Dinh
• Lab Operations Coordinators: Lauren Campbell, Amelie Dinh
• ACM Coordinators: Milo Fritzen, Cara Babin

What now?

1. Keep the lab clean.  This is always the highest priority.
2. Leave the lab cleaner than when you came in.  See item #1.
3. Hiring via Workday will be handled in the first two weeks of the semester.  Check your official LMU LION email for any Workday emails and follow the instructions carefully in those emails.
4. Scheduling of tutoring hours (if you are holding in-lab tutoring hours) will also be coordinated separately via a Google Sheet.   You will be invited to the Sheet within the first two weeks via your Gmail address.  Google Sheets and Calendar both work better with a Gmail address.

What can I do while I wait?

1. You can begin coordinating with the professor of your desired/assigned course.  See the LMU Schedule of Classes to know who is teaching what course.

2. In discussion with the professor, determine your role(s) as a TA:

1. Tutor (a.k.a. office hours assistant): this is the default.  You will hold tutoring hours in the main lab in Doolan 112 and 114.  Please select your own hours on a Google Sheet within the first two weeks of the semester when the Sheet is shared with you.
2. Grader: you will be grading for the professor on your own time.  Coordinate with the professor for any grading duties.
3. In-class assistant:  you will be attending the course to help the professor during class time.  Coordinate with the professor if they need in-class help.
4. Recitations: this is an advanced role where you will be giving review sessions for a given course, usually in Doolan 114.  Ask the professor about this.

When can I begin working?

You can begin working only after you are legally allowed to work:

• All your Workday paperwork is complete.
• This includes your I-9 and any other documents required by SES (Student Employment Services).
• All other entities are authorizing you to work (OISS for international students).

What about ________ and other lower priority onboarding tasks?

• Name tags with lanyards will be created within the first two weeks.  Wear them while on duty to be easily identified in the lab.  (TA Contact: Aidan Srouji)
• Lab Display Photos will be sourced from your LinkedIn profile.  If not, we will request one from you.  (TA Contact: Gray von Goetz)

Do I need to check in for each shift?

• Yes.  Use the QR code shown in the TA Portal dashboard here: https://my.lmucs.org 
• You do not need to check out at the end of your shift.
• QR Code check-in is for internal attendance tracking only.
• The QR code system is not connected to Workday in any way.

How do I log hours in Workday to get paid?

Introduce yourself to an upper-div TA in the lab and ask them to show you.

• Always log what you are doing in the comment section (i.e. “tutoring 1010”, etc.)

This process may change over time as Workday is relatively new and changes frequently.

Who gets OneCard access to the lab?

TAs with morning shifts will get OneCard access so they can open the lab in the morning.   The lab usually stays open all day until the evening when the last TA leaves.

If the lab is ever empty, please close all of the doors before you leave to help protect the lab and equipment.

For improved security of the lab, OneCard access will be limited based on specific need.

Brightspace Access and Support

We do not manage or have any control over Brightspace.  Email all Brightspace questions to LMU ITS at helpdesk@lmu.edu .

What is considered excellent performance as a TA?

• Cleanliness: always maintaining the lab whether on or off duty.
• Attendance: showing up when you commit to showing up.
• Humility: willingness to do the “boring” work.   Sometimes work is not fun.
• Communication: respond to Slack, emails, and phone calls.
• Action:  Do what you will say you will do.  Actions speak for themselves.
• Positive attitude: being helpful to the community, especially during your shift.
• Integrity: being honest about your hours, schedule, and intentions.
• Proactiveness: discussing solutions to problems instead of complaining.
• Execution: attention to detail and finishing tasks to 100% completion.
• Professionalism: speaking and behaving intelligently and professionally.
• Decision-making: when unsure, ask questions and practice good decision-making.
• Vibes: balance having fun and professionalism.  It’s OK to have fun and work hard.

What is poor performance?

• Poor hygiene: appearances and first impressions matter.
• Poor attendance: not showing up to your shifts.
• Poor execution: not finishing tasks or being sloppy or lazy about it.
• Poor communication: not responding to emails or Slack (i.e. ghosting).
• Poor integrity: attempting to game the system.  You are not fooling anyone.
• Poor attitude: excessive negativity and/or not helping the team.

Why does my performance matter?

Performance will influence priority on future scheduling and projects.  More importantly, it leaves a good or bad impression on those around you, which will influence whether others will want you on their team (or want you to work for their company).

What are the consequences of poor performance?

Poor performance will be met with immediate disciplinary action without warning or notice up to and including termination.  This is your warning.  There will be no further warnings.

What about grading?

• Grading can be done on your own time and at any location you prefer.
• Hours spent grading are separate from tutoring hours.
• Max grading hours are equal to your max tutoring hours.
• Please make a comment in your Workday log like “grading 1010”, etc.
• See the TA Knowledge Base for more info on grading.

How do I earn the ability to work more hours?

• More TA hours can be earned through requesting (or being requested) to do specific work from faculty or staff.
• Current performance, attendance, and work ethic will be taken into consideration.
• Talk to the professors about their courses to see if there is room to help out in terms of office hours, grading, in-class assistance, or other types of work.

Are there any other rules I should know?

• Keep the lab clean.   If you eat, drink, or make any mess, then wipe down the table.

• Throw out obvious trash even if it is not yours.
• Sweeping crumbs onto the floor is not cleaning.

• Show up to your shift.  Repeated missed shifts will result in disciplinary action.

• Check in with your QR code at the scanner in the front of the lab at the beginning of every shift.
• There is a 30-minute window before and after your shift starts.
• Please be early or on-time, not late.
• Log your hours in Workday to get paid.

• For personal safety, utilize the “buddy system” after hours.   No being alone in the lab after hours.  This is a direct request from Dean Choe.
• When in doubt, call Public Safety.  If anyone in the lab is causing a disturbance beyond your control, do not intervene.  Call Public Safety immediately at 310-338-2893.

Why is cleaning so important?

• Cleaning will make you a better computer scientist.  See the quote, “how you do anything is how you do everything”.   Develop clean habits.  Pay attention to detail.
• Everyone benefits from a clean lab.  Yet, cleaning is one of the most underappreciated tasks due to its basic nature.  No one is above cleaning.
• A clean lab encourages others to keep it clean.  Read about behavioral theories: Broken Window Theory, Social Norms Theory, and Nudge Theory.
• Cleaning prevents ants and other pests.  The building was built in the 80’s and we’re on the ground floor.  If food is left out, the ants will come.
• There is no excuse for not cleaning.  It’s OK to struggle with computer science concepts, but it’s never OK to leave a mess.  Cleaning is always your most important duty.
• Cleaning is a show of respect and appreciation of everyone around you. Leaving a mess is selfish and disrespectful.

Where should cleaning be focused?

• The tables and floors first, but ultimately the entire lab is important -- both Doolan 112 and 114.  See this slideshow for reference.  (TA Contact: Amelie Dinh)
• Areas to check:

• Tables: check for even slight food/liquid residue and wipe it down.
• Floors: pick up any trash off the floors including markers and wires.
• Under the tables: especially near the walls where dirt and cobwebs collect.
• Under the lockers and cabinets: trash gets lost under here sometimes.
• Window sills: dirt collects here periodically.
• Couches:  Straighten these up and the cushions, and check underneath.

• Terminate all ants immediately.  If there are multiple, find their source of entry into the lab using a flashlight and take photos.  We will deploy a plethora of ant bait.

Any other suggestions?

• If you are even slightly sick, please cancel your shift.  This is 100% acceptable.
• Use a real profile photo of yourself in Slack.  In this hybrid world, name-to-face recognition is important, otherwise, the person you are Slacking with might not know who you are in real life.
• If you are feeling physically or mentally tired, please go home and rest.   Speaking or acting out of frustration will do more harm than good.
• If you are feeling frustrated by anything at all, please let someone know.  As a learning institution, we are ultimately here to help you.  Communication skills are equally as important as computer science skills.

Philosophies

• The best employees are leaders.  They don’t need to be managed.
• There are infinite ways to be constructive or destructive.  Choose your path.
• There will be problems.  This is how you will improve your problem-solving skills.
• Many problems can be solved through communication.   Ask/Slack another TA.
• This is not a zero-sum game.  We would love to have 1000+ excellent, outstanding TAs and there would still be room for more.  Be positive and proactive.
• The Internet gives you the ability to learn and build whatever you like.   No permission needed.  No one can stop you.  You can do it.  I believe in you.

I still have questions!

• Introduce yourself to another TA and ask them.  Practice your communication skills.
• Or direct message Masao on Slack:  https://lmucs.slack.com