A recent study conducted by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that students earn higher grades from TAs who match the students’ race or ethnicity. TAs make up about 15 percent of the teaching staff in post-secondary education institutions, according to a Sept. 21 Inside Higher Ed article.

The research, released this month, also found that students were more likely to attend the optional discussion sections and go to office hours when TAs shared their race or ethnicity.