Graduate Student TORs

Graduate students throughout programs at Baylor University, both at the master's and doctoral level, have the opportunity to teach undergraduate classes as "teachers-of-record." Evidence shows that this is beneficial to graduate students, preparing them for future jobs in the academy—possibly even speeding their time to degree while reducing their waiting time on the job market. The Baylor University Graduate School works hard to support graduate student TORs.

To Meet SACS Requirements

• For classroom instruction, must have a master's degree in the teaching discipline or completed 18 graduate-level  credit hours in the discipline they are teaching
  • Approved Exemptions:
    • Co-requisite Lab section(s) (designated by a letter), 
    • 1-hour HHPR activity course, 
    • 1 hour Music Instruction course, 
    • PUBH 1145
    • For details on approved exemptions, see here.  
• Only teach undergraduate-level courses
• Must be mentored by a faculty member, including planned and periodic evaluations.
• If audited, we must be able to supply records of qualification, thus the online form.

To help us in this process, we require Graduate Program Directors or their Administrative Assistants to complete the online Faculty Certification of Credentials Form so that the Graduate School can properly connect TORs to training and the Office of Institutional Effectiveness can document satisfaction of SACS accreditation requirements. A reminder will be sent through the Graduate School Update emails near the end of each semester.  

Onboarding Steps for First-time Graduate Student TORs

1. Teacher of Record Training (TORT):  All Teachers-of-Record at Baylor University must receive training appropriate to their role. This training is primarily focused on policy and procedures (such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)) and university resources. Graduate Programs should alert the Graduate School of all first time TORs (through the Faculty Certification of Credentials Form) so that we can enroll them in the Canvas TOR training. All TORs must complete this training, and the Graduate School will monitor student participation and alert GPDs of non-compliant students. 
2. Title IX training:  All Teachers-of-Record at Baylor University must complete Civil Rights and Title IX Training. The Graduate School sends a list of all TORs (submitted through the Faculty Certification of Credentials Form) to the Equity Office, who will assign TORs the training.
3. Background Check.  All first-time Teachers of Record must clear a background check. The Graduate School sends a list of all TORs (submitted through the Faculty Certification of Credentials Form) to Human Resources, and HR will email each first-time TOR in regard to completing a background check through the HireRight company. Please let your students know this email is legitimate and they should follow the instructions that will come from Human Resources and HireRight. The background check is mandatory.   
4. Payroll for graduate student TORs must be set up separately.  See our Graduate Student Payroll page for instructions.
5. For first-time TORs, someone in the department with access in ChairSIS will need to add the graduate student as an instructor, which will then populate into CLSS.  The Registrar’s office is working with IT to automate this process, but for now this is a required step.  Contact Michelle_Galvan@baylor.edu with any questions.
6. Please encourage your graduate student TORs to take advantage of the many workshops and resources of the Academy for Teaching and Learning (ATL).  The Graduate School partners with the ATL to offer the Teaching Capstone in Higher Education (TeaCHE). This capstone, which is listed on transcripts, is intended to enhance readiness to teach in a higher education environment and provide distinction on the job market.
7. Departments should provide pedagogical training specific to their discipline, as well as arrange for assigned mentoring and evaluation processes.