Job Description
The Academic Peer Mentor (APM) will aid in facilitating student learning and academic success in our living-learning communities (LLCs) through academic programming, marketing, and program assessment.
The APM will directly report to the APM supervisor (living-learning community graduate coordinator) and indirectly to the LLC directors (residence hall directors of buildings with LLCs ). In addition, the APM will often work with the assistant director for coordination of living-learning programs in Housing and Residence Life.
To apply for this position, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Possess motivation to work with students in living-learning communities.
- Must have completed a minimum of 28 total credit hours.
- Must currently hold a minimum 2.75 cumulative grade point average as a full-time student at the time of application.
- Must be in good academic and judicial standing with the university, Housing and Residence Life, and Office of Student Rights and Community Standards.
- The ability to work both autonomously and as a team player, be a positive role model, be familiar with and provide referrals to appropriate campus resources, and possess strong communication and organizational skills.
- Possess the ability to facilitate group discussion, coordinate program implementation, and create attractive marketing and publications for promote LLC sponsored programs and initiatives.
- Must have lived in a residence hall for at least one semester prior to starting work as an APM.
- Must live on campus (either in the residence halls or in the University Apartments) while employed as an APM.
Note: Preference may be given to those with prior residence life experience and/or experience living in a living-learning community.
Successful candidates will be responsible for the following:
Student Interaction
· Facilitate the implementation of living-learning community programs developed by the learning team. This includes but is not limited to publicity development, gathering supplies, gathering students for events, coordinating faculty/staff arrival for the event, collaborating with hall staff on events and initiatives, etc.
· Become personally acquainted with students in the learning community and build a rapport with students to assist in building a strong learning community identity by assessing student interest/needs and determining common community trends.
· Promote opportunities for students to learn about majors, minors, careers, theme-based interests, and activities related to the learning community, in and around campus.
· Provide students in living-learning communities with important student success programming, academic integration tips, and academic information like course request, reading/using Degree Works Audits, add/drop/withdrawal dates, and academic deficiencies through active and passive means.
· Act as a referral agent for students to academic and career resources on campus.
· Be available to attend and assist chaperone(s) on LLC-sponsored field trips.
· Be visible and approachable to students in the living-learning community.
· Facilitate academic support programming and provide support for students via departmental assessment initiative follow-up as determined by the living-learning director.
· Maintain an academically focused bulletin board during the academic year, which needs to be updated once a month.
· Submit weekly logs regarding student interactions and event attendance.
· Participate in LLC kick-off events related to the learning community and Welcome Week events as directed.
· Read the Freshman Connections book and be prepared to discuss with first-year students as well as attend Freshman Connections events.
· Work with supervisor and LLC Resident Assistants (RAs) to develop a system for students to communicate and connect with each other (i.e. bulletin board, e-mail distribution list, Twitter, community Facebook account, etc.)
· Actively participate in residence hall, living-learning community, university programs/activities and promote living-learning community students' involvement with the same.
Team Interactions
· Work closely with the LLC and residence hall staff to accomplish living-learning community and residence life goals, and to insure that the interests of participating students are integrated into the program.
· Assist the residence hall director team and hall groups with academic initiatives.
· Provide assistance to and communicate with faculty and academic advisors working with LLC participants. as directed by the APM supervisor.
· Serve as an effective member of the learning team and hall staff as well as attend various meetings throughout the semester.
· Participate as an effective member in the following meetings:
- Learning team
- Hall council (as directed by LLC director)
- Hall staff (as directed by LLC director)
- Supervisor/LLC Director one-on-ones
- APM staff meetings
· Move in prior to residence hall opening and attend all training sessions (both prior to leaving for the semester and before fall semester opening).
· Participate in staff retreats and staff development sessions as directed by APM supervisor.
· Contribute to in-hall collateral assignment(s) with APM supervisor approval.
· Work closely with LLC directors to create plans for each upcoming semester in advance.
Compensation
· $7.25 per hour
· Fall and spring semester: 10 hours per week (maintaining 10 hours/week is the responsibility of the APM)