Teaching assistants were asked whether they had various responsibilities. They typically had multiple responsibilities. Almost one-half (46 percent) reported that they had full teaching responsibility for one or more courses during the 1999–2000 academic year. Forty-six percent led discussion sections for such courses, and 37 percent supervised lab sections for faculty-taught courses. The majority of teaching assistants held office hours (71 percent) and assisted faculty with grading or other instruction-related activities (70 percent). (see figure)

Teaching assistants averaged a total of 15 hours per week in contact hours with students, office hours, or assisting faculty with grading or other instruction-related activities. Not included in this total are hours spent preparing for classes. Thus, the total time that teaching assistants devote to fulfilling their responsibilities is likely to be higher, especially for those individuals who have full responsibility for a course.