Learning Assistants

The LA program enhances the educational experience for those involved (LAs, non-LA undergrads, and faculty).  Recent research on this type of program shows other benefits include improved undergraduate retention (via application in “bottleneck/gateway” courses, etc.) and reduced time to graduation. LAs work with students to facilitate their learning and often work with students individually or in small groups. LAs are trained to ask questions that promote student discourse and that uncover student thinking and student misconceptions.

To learn more about the LA program, contact a current LA or the STEM Accelerator faculty member working in your major. They can answer most of your questions not addressed here.

LAs are required to work 10 hours/week. The breakdown of those 10 hours is unique to the course they are assigned. Your faculty mentor will outline your expected involvement — i.e. your duties in terms of hours/week — when you meet (before the semester begins).

Students:
All new (i.e. first time) LAs are required to attend a mandatory weekly seminar. This one-hour seminar will introduce you to pedagogy and various aspects of science education and your attendance will count towards your 10 hours/week. Beginning in Spring 2017, New LA’s will be required to select one of two mandatory seminar time slots. Days and times of these seminars will be posted on this page for you to consider when registering for fall courses.  Please plan to hold one of the two slots open in your schedule.

Each LA will also be assigned an advisor from the STEM Accelerator and will meet with this person throughout the semester. Our goal is to make certain each LA has a strong support network and benefits educationally from this program. If this happens the students in your courses will benefit and so will you!

Faculty mentors:
Please be specific and thorough in detailing what you expect and what are the required duties. This is a learning experience for the LAs. As such, their duties should involve some aspect(s) of “active learning/involvement” — e.g. helping facilitate discussion in breakout groups (lecture, labs, recitations), leading oral exams, etc. Administrative tasks such as grading and copying should NOT be a major part of their duties, if it is done at all.

You will need to meet with your LA(s) weekly to discuss: their duties for the upcoming week(s), issues they may encounter in the lecture/lab/recitations they are working, etc. At times, this meeting might last 10 minutes; other times, it might last one hour — its up to you. Regardless, this weekly meeting will count as part of their 10-hour/week effort.

Yes; LAs are paid $2000.00 total for the semester in incremental stipends.  While not formally a wage, these stipends correspond to a rate of $13.33/hour for the 15 week semester.

Applications for this program are accepted the semester before work begins. Click on the "apply" button above for information.

Yes; there is no limit on the number of semesters you can serve as an LA.

Yes; all faculty and students must re-apply each semester.

Yes; priority will be given to students and faculty who already have a student/faculty member in mind. This should information should be included in your application. You should only list courses you have successfully are currently enrolled) with an earned grade of “B” or better.

All application will be reviewed by the STEM Accelerator faculty and by the professors who have been awarded an LA. The faculty member will then contact perspective LAs and schedule a time to interview them for the position. You will then be notified regarding the final decisions (ALL applicants will be notified of final awards). All applicants will be notified the week before finals begin. Faculty mentors should plan to meet with their LAs before the semester ends.