Peer Instructor Job Description
Peer Instructors (PIs) are academically successful juniors and seniors who are interested in working with and helping first-year students. PIs need to have strong interpersonal skills, an interest in and concern for new students, and a desire to make a lasting change at IU.
The primary responsibility of a PI is to teach the one credit COLL-X111 "FIGs Seminar" that emphasizes experiences and skills that are expected to help each FIGs student in his or her academic transition to IU. The Seminar also includes a variety of "outings" designed to acquaint students with campus resources and the "faculty chat" during which course instructors are invited to meet with the FIGsters outside the classroom setting. While being at the front line in helping FIGs students make a successful transition from home to campus, PIs also serve as models of academic success and mentors for new students who may be uncertain about their ability to make this transition.
Time Commitment:
PIs are hired for the entire 2008-2009 academic year and are expected to live with and connect with their students during both the fall and spring semester. Because the work of the PIs is highly skilled, a significant amount of training will be completed to ensure that they are well-prepared and ready to go once the students arrive. In this sense, the work of PIs is "front-loaded."
All training sessions are mandatory!
- Spring training: Saturdays March 29, April 5 (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
- Pre-fall semester training: Four to five days prior to the start of the Fall 2008 semester - TBA
A weekly estimate of the time commitment (not including the spring and pre-fall semester training) is:
- Fall semester - 1 hour per week teaching the seminar, variable seminar preparation time (2-4 hours per week), and 1.5 hours every week in PI staff meetings.
- Spring semester - 1-2 hours of checking-in with students and 1 hour per week planning or convening activities or events.
1. Participate in spring and pre-fall training and preparation
2. Teach FIGs Seminar (COLL-X 111) and report S/F grade for each student at the end of the semester
3. Live in a residence hall where the FIG is housed and adhere to all residential life policies and regulations
4. Attend weekly PIs meetings (usually early Wednesday evenings, 5:00-6:30 PM)
5. Become familiar with courses in the FIG, meet and be in touch with the faculty teaching FIGs classes, invite FIGs faculty members for Faculty Chats, collect syllabi from component courses, attend each FIGs class at least once during the semester if schedule permits
6. Help organize study groups for FIGs students
7. Organize cultural outings and invite FIGs faculty members for Faculty Chat
8. Serve as a general academic resource and role model for FIGs students
9. Be accessible informally to FIGs students
10. Assist FIGs director with planning for subsequent FIGs and PI preparation
Application Process:
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
1. must be a junior or senior at the time of the FIG (i.e., as of the fall semester of 2008)
2. must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher and be a full-time student in good academic standing
3. must complete Peer Instructor application, which includes listing two references
4. must submit transcript (unofficial, such as OneStart printout, is fine)
5. must complete an interview?scheduled after initial screening of applicants
Renumeration:? $1,100 per academic year and free single room in the residence hall.
Deadline
Applications are due by Friday, March 28 at 5pm. Application forms for the 2008/09 academic year are available here.
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