The Federation of Teaching Fellows had its long-awaited first meeting with the University yesterday. The teaching fellows got exactly what they expected -- a decision to meet again in two weeks.

The Federation's three-member executive committee delivered a petition signed by 498 teaching fellows to John P. Elder, Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The petition calls on the University to meet with Federation representatives for discussions on increasing teaching fellows' pay and redefining their work load.

Dean Elder agreed to set up a conference between the Federation and Dean Ford. But he asked the teaching fellows' representatives to assemble evidence substantiating their complaints.

Before the meeting, John R. Maynard, teaching fellow in English and spokesman for the Federation, said that the teaching fellows were already marshalling arguments to support their request of $400 per year increase over the present top rate for a fifth-time teaching load.

Dean Elder said yesterday he would accept the Federation as speaking for the teaching fellows who signed the petition, "but certainly not as any sole bargaining agent."

The 498 signatures represent slightly more than half of the Faculty's 900 teaching fellows.

Maynard said the Federation representatives also left a copy of the document at. Dean Ford's office, though they did not speak to him personally.