Empowering Graduate Students to Become Exceptional Educators
The Roadrunner Teaching Assistant Academy (RTAA) is a professional development program offered by Academic Innovation at UT San Antonio. RTAA brings together current and future graduate teaching assistants from the academic colleges and health professional schools at The University of Texas at San Antonio to develop the skills, confidence and expertise needed to become effective, student-centered educators through evidence-based teaching practices, instructional technology training, accessibility-focused instruction, and collaborative learning experiences.
Since 2021, nearly 280 graduate students have participated in RTAA, developing practical teaching skills they can apply immediately in the classroom and throughout their academic and professional careers.
Applications Open for the Next Cohort
Current Cohort Details
- Application Deadline: August 7, 2026
- Program Date: August 10, 2026, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- Eligibility: Current or future graduate teaching assistants at UT San Antonio academic colleges and health professional schools
- Format: In-person workshops, applied learning activities, and Canvas engagement
- Credential: Certificate and Graduate School digital badge
RTAA at a Glance
Who is RTAA for?
Current and future graduate teaching assistants in the academic colleges and health professional schools at UT San Antonio.
What will participants learn?
Teaching strategies, educational technologies, accessibility practices, assessment techniques, and responsible uses of artificial intelligence in education.
What credentials do participants earn?
Participants who successfully complete program requirements receive a certificate from Academic Innovation and a digital badge from the Graduate School.
Why participate?
RTAA helps graduate students develop teaching confidence, strengthen instructional skills, and prepare for future academic and professional opportunities.
Participant Stories
Building Confidence in the Classroom
Calix Barrus
PhD Student, College of AI, Cyber and Computing (CAICC)
"Getting to have some formal training from RTAA at the start of the semester really helped me feel more comfortable. My first semester started strong and ended up being a success."
Isra Hilal
PhD Student, College of AI, Cyber and Computing, Information Systems and Cyber Security (CAICC)
"It has been a very important and valuable experience for me. I got lots of information about how to teach and how to grade students."
Ceyana Patrick
PhD Student, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), UT Health San Antonio
"I was able to get a lot of hands-on experience. I didn’t have any prior experience coming into this."
RTAA Outcomes and Impact
RTAA has supported nearly 280 graduate teaching assistants in developing the skills, confidence, and experience needed for successful teaching careers. Participants have also demonstrated strong persistence outcomes, with UT San Antonio Office of Institutional Research and Analysis data showing that more than 90% persist from Fall to Spring and more than 65% persist from Fall to Fall.
Frequently Asked Questions
RTAA is open to current and future graduate teaching assistants from UT San Antonio and UT Health San Antonio. No prior teaching experience is required.
Yes. RTAA is offered as a professional development opportunity for eligible graduate students.
Participants who successfully complete program requirements receive:
- A certificate from Academic Innovation
- A digital badge from the UT San Antonio Graduate School
These credentials can be included on CVs, resumes, teaching portfolios, and LinkedIn profiles.
Graduate teaching assistants play an important role in student success. RTAA provides practical experience, instructional resources, and professional development opportunities that help participants become more effective educators and lifelong learners.
When applications are open, the application section at the top of this page will provide the most current cohort information, eligibility requirements, deadlines, and application link.
Questions?
For more information, please email Frances Matos, Professor of Practice in Academic Innovation.
