Student Resources
What do Learning Assistants do?
Learning Assistants (LAs) are undergraduate students who are selected by faculty to support student learning through research-validated teaching and learning techniques. LAs earn a stipend for an average commitment of work 8 hours per week. During this time, LAs:
- Support students in various aspects of a course, including lecture, recitation, laboratories, office hours, and/or help rooms.
- Collaboratewith faculty and instructional team members in weekly preparation meetings.
- Prepare individually for student interactions by reviewing materials and planning approaches.
- Engage in pedagogical training in EDUC 4610 (New LAs) or Returning LA Professional Development Meetings
LAs work with their Lead Faculty to transform courses by creating environments in which students can interact with one another, engage in collaborative problem solving, articulate and defend their ideas, and explicitly discuss aspects of the nature of teaching and learning within their specific disciplines.
What do LAs find impactful about this experience?
These words came from end of semester surveys from Fall 2019 and Spring 2020, and responses to the LA Graduation Survey from the past 5 years. Words are scaled relative to the frequency they were used.
How do I apply to be an LA?
Undergraduate students who want to apply for LA positions need to first create an account at the . Once you have an account, log in to see up-to-date information about which courses will be hiring LAs and to complete and submit an application during the application period.
See current application and Selection dates here.
Applications for LA positions are open for approximately two weeks each semester, starting in late-October (for Spring positions) and mid-March (for Summer and Fall positions). See current application, interview, and selection dates on the LA Calendar tab for the current semester.
The LA application period overlaps with next semester's registration; we hope this helps you plan your own coursework in conjunction with the timing requirements of your desired LA position(s), plus the LA Pedagogy Course (if you're a new LA).
You will be able to apply for positions in up to three specific courses.
- You must select at least one specific course to apply to as your "First Choice." Some courses and/or departments receive so many applications that they only review applicants from students who indicated that course/department as their "First Choice", so make sure that this is your number one pick.
- We highly recommend that you also select a "Second Choice" (and up to a "Third Choice") to communicate your interest and to broaden your opportunity to be selected as an LA. Of course, you should only choose courses for which you have a genuine interest in being an LA. Don't apply to a specific course if you really wouldn't want to LA for that course. (Be considerate; don't waste faculty time by saying you're interested if you are not.) Most courses/departments consider applications from students who submit their applications as 2nd or 3rd choices.
- We also recommend that you include your application in the “general pool”. By selecting “yes” to the question about whether to include your application in the general pool, this will enable your application to be considered more broadly (beyond your top three choices). Interested faculty will contact you about an interview and confirm your interest in their course before offering you a position. If you do opt-in to the General Pool, you might add a few lines in your application about which departments or courses you're interested in beyond your top three choices.
- The day after the priority deadline, faculty will begin contacting applicants for interviews, although students can continue to apply after this date. Late(r) applications may still be considered, but mainly in circumstances where courses still have available positions. See below for advice from current LAs about the interview process.
- EDUC 4610 (2 cr.) is the required LA Pedagogy course, "Becoming a Learning Assistant". After you have accepted an offer for an LA appointment, you will be sent more information about how to find, and enroll in, this required co-requisite course. Since this course is exclusively for New Learning Assistants, it is hidden within the main course registration system, and you will not be able to find or register for the course until we've provided the 5-digit registration number to you. We will begin assigning pedagogy course sections in mid-December for the Spring semester and early-May for the Fall semester, so look for this email around then. See LA Info for more details.
- Students who are not selected will be contacted at the end of the LA Selection period.
How advanced in my studies do I need to be to be an LA?
The only requirement is that you have taken the class for which you’re applying. This means you could be selected as an LA as early as your second semester at CU. Many faculty will consider applicants who are transferring in a comparable course.
Note that students must be enrolled in at least 6 undergraduate credit hours during the semester they are involved in the LA experience. These 6 undergraduate credit hours may be on the main campus, Continuing Education, or a combination of the two. Graduate students are not eligible for this role.
Do I need to have earned an "A" in the course to be an LA?
No! All aspects of the application are taken into account when you apply, so a student with a lower grade may have other outstanding qualities that would complement the LA position, such as succeeding in the course after initially struggling, empathy for students who are finding the course difficult, enthusiasm for the subject, etc.
I'm not available for the LA Pedagogy Course. Can I still be an LA?
Participation in, and successful completion of, the LA Pedagogy Course is a required co-requisite of the first semester LA experience. The only exception to this rule is for students who are advanced in their CU Teach coursework. Contact Dr. Feldman , the Associate Director of LA Development, at lapedagogy@colorado.edu, for more information.
Does my LA position count toward the student employment maximum of 25 hours per week? Can I be an RA and an LA at the same time?
LAs are awarded a stipend that does not count toward the maximum 25 hours per week employment limit for CU ( 20 hours for international students). LAs do not submit a timesheet because the LA Experience is not a paid hourly position. You can be an RA and an LA at the same time, although balancing the time commitments on top of your coursework may be challenging.
Note that LA stipends are counted as financial aid. This means that your funding could impact the amount of other financial aid you receive because the total amount of financial aid you receive cannot exceed your total Cost of Attendance (COA). When total financial aid exceeds the COA, the Office of Financial Aid must reduce your aid. When reducing aid, every effort is made to reduce the least favorable types of aid, such as loans, first. Some students may not see an impact, but those that normally receive or borrow aid up to their COA will see a reduction to loans or other aid to account for the funding.
Can you be hired as an LA if you are an International or undocumented student?
Yes. Please contact our Program Coordinator, Maggie Rosenau at LAProgram@colorado.edu for steps to take to set up your stipend.
How much time should I expect to spend in this position?
LAs with a fulltime appointment should expect to spend 8 - 9 hours/week (on average throughout the 15-week semester) on all LA activities, including weekly preparation meetings with faculty, individual content preparation, and LA-Student Interactions. This does not include time spent on the LA Pedagogy Course, but does include LA Orientation.
When does the LA Pedagogy Course meet? How do I enroll?
EDUC 4610 (2 cr.) is the required LA Pedagogy course. After you have accepted an offer for an LA appointment, you will be sent more information about how to find, and enroll, in this required co-requisite course (you will not be able to find it in Buff Portal). Currently the LA Pedagogy Course is scheduled for:
- MW 11:15 am - 12:05 pm
- MW 12:20 - 1:10 pm
- MW 1:25 – 2:15 pm
- MW 3:35 - 4:25 pm
What is the LA Pedagogy Course?
All new LAs enroll in the two-credit pedagogy course EDUC 4610 'Becoming a Learning Assistant' to support their development, in which they will learn evidence-based, student-centered, inclusive teaching and learning practices. Previous LAs report spending an average of 4-5 hours per week on the LA Pedagogy Course, including class time. This will involve a total of 100 minutes of synchronous Zoom and/or in-person class time, plus online reading assignments, and teaching reflections. The remainder of LA time on the Pedagogy Course is spent on student surveys (twice per semester), audio transcript analyses (twice per semester), and the LA Mentor observation (once per semester) and mentoring sessions (twice per semester). Finally, LAs participate in an in-person poster session at the end of the semester to share what they have learned with the community.
Are there any additional meetings I need to attend?
All LAs (New and Returning) are expected to attend the LA orientation, which is typically held on the first Saturday after classes begin for the semester (see this calendar for up-to-date time and location information). This orientation provides a more detailed overview of the program, and importantly, will be one of the first times you will meet with the rest of your LA team. You will set your weekly meeting times, office hour schedule, learn more about your instructor's expectations, and have a chance to ask questions.
Additionally, all New LAs will present their growth at an end-of-semester celebration and poster exhibition that takes place during the final Friday of the semester. See upcoming dates here.
Do Returning LAs need to enroll in a course?
No, Returning LAs, those who have already successfully completed the LA Pedagogy Course, do not need to enroll in a course, rather, they participate in Returning LA Professional Development meetings as part of their individual preparation time, for an average of 30 minutes per week (7, 50-minute meetings throughout the semester).
These meetings are scheduled at a variety of times throughout the week, mostly in-person, with a couple of Zoom options available, TBA.
Each Returning LA is expected to attend their assigned time every other week attend LA orientation, deliver two student surveys, and respond to LA Program feedback surveys.
Beginning in your 4th-or-later semester as an LA, you are expected to attend orientation and complete an end-of-semester survey but are no longer required (but still welcome!) to attend Professional Development Meetings or deliver student surveys.
How much is the stipend?
Starting in Fall 2026, the LA stipend is set at $2150 for the semester for a full-time LA Appointment. This stipend is not taxed for United States residents.
How do LA's receive their stipend? Does it get applied to their bill, or do they receive it directly?
LAs will directly receive their fellowship stipend as one payment either at the end of September (for Fall appointments) or February (for Spring appointments).
LA stipends are counted as financial aid. This means that your funding could impact the amount of other financial aid you receive because the total amount of financial aid you receive cannot exceed your total Cost of Attendance (COA). When total financial aid exceeds the COA, the Office of Financial Aid must reduce your aid. When reducing aid, every effort is made to reduce the least favorable types of aid, such as loans, first. Some students may not see an impact, but those that normally receive or borrow aid up to their COA will see a reduction to loans or other aid to account for the funding.
How much will the LA Pedagogy Course cost?
CU utilizes banded tuition between 12 - 18 credits. Students will not see an additional fee for the 2-credit LA Pedagogy Course (EDUC 4610) as long as their entire course load is in this range. When above or below this credit range, students enrolled in the LA Pedagogy Course are responsible for paying for this course at standard rates. There is currently not a mechanism for taking this course as pass/fail.
Faculty can begin contacting prospective LAs for interviews and sending offers beginning the day after the priority deadline through the end of the LA selection period (see the LA Calendar for specific dates). You will be notified of an offer for an LA position by an email from Learning Assistant Alliance with the subject line “Offer Notice for Learning Assistant Position”. You’ll want to save this email because it contains your Lead Faculty’s name and often includes the scheduled weekly prep meeting time.
For more information about your next steps after receiving an offer email, go to: LA Info
How do you decide which classes to apply to LA for?
"I found that I applied to LA for classes that I wanted a better understanding of."
"Apply for classes that you find interesting! You will get to know the material well by teaching it (and learning it more in-depth yourself), so apply for a class that has material you want to interact with further."
What are the general qualities and qualifications of good LAs?
"Good LAs are approachable, compassionate, knowledgeable, and most importantly have a willingness to grow."
"Qualities that a 'good' LA possesses include being adaptive, communicative, collaborative, and someone that is willing to be challenged."
"From my experience, the best quality of an LA is to be prepared and understanding your limits. It is okay not to know every question that a student asks, however, never make something up! Additionally, a great quality of an LA is to be a problem solver, and the ability to think on your feet."
How do I prepare for an interview?
"I would prepare for the interview by first knowing why exactly you want to be an LA. Additionally, I would brainstorm what value you can add to the LA program. Everyone is unique and will be able to add value in their own ways, you just need to know what that value is."
"As long as you can answer why you are interested in becoming an LA, what motivated you to apply for the specific course, and what your experience was like in the class, if you took it, nothing should come as a surprise and it should be an easy, stress-free process!"
Should I only apply for positions within my major?
"Heck no! If I only applied for positions within my major I would not be an LA as none of my major classes have LAs. I think it is actually better not to LA your major as it allows you to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to grow."
"No, apply for any class that you're interested in and did well in! Some of the best LAs I've interacted with have been LAs for classes outside of their disciplines because they provided a unique perspective and could explain topics clearly to students outside of that discipline.”
Why do you have to take EDUC 4610 during your first semester as an LA?
"The LA pedagogy course teaches skills for effective teaching, helps you set goals to improve, and provides a support system of other new LAs, a mentor, LALA, and instructor."
"A better question is, how could you possibly LA without it! The course teaches you everything you need to know in terms of teaching techniques or 'pedagogy', in order to succeed as an LA. The class also provides you with an opportunity to problem solve with other LAs from various contexts."
What do you wish you had known when you first began your LA position?
"That it is okay not to know every question! You are human, it is okay not to know everything a student asks you."
"Between the pedagogy class, weekly meetings with your lead faculty / class LAs, and LA mentor, there were plenty of people to support me and help me improve."
"Don't Panic! Students and faculty understand that you are a peer instructor that has taken the course but nobody expects you to be perfect or know all the answers and luckily for you, it isn't your job to be an answer fairy!"
How do you manage your time as an LA?
"I plan my time as an LA by putting scheduled parts of my LA commitment (lecture, weekly meeting, LA sessions) on my calendar. I also set aside time each week to prep for the LA sessions I run. In addition, treat the pedagogy class like you would any other class - be diligent about attending and allow time outside of class for completing assignments."
"Having a routine was most effective for me. The time requirement for most LA positions is by no means overwhelming but having a routine in place can certainly help manage your time. I would also plan ahead for your LA position in heavy test weeks of the semester so that you have enough time to help your students and also stay on top of your own work."
What is the most challenging part of being an LA?
"For me, it was getting students to work in groups. Students are usually pretty timid about working within groups, however, as the semester progresses it becomes much easier!"
"Just like with any job, you will always continue to learn and improve your practice. This can sometimes be challenging because it also means that you need to set continuous tangible goals to ensure that you aren't becoming stagnant and can measure your progress which was certainly a challenge for me at first but is an incredibly valuable life skill that I gained from my LA position."
What is the best part of being an LA?
"I didn't expect that working with my lead faculty would be a key part of my LA experience, but getting to know faculty and learn about their careers and research has strengthened my sense of community at Ҵýƽ. Another great aspect of LAing is how it taught me skills that have made me a better student, teacher, and public speaker."
"All the opportunities to grow within the LA program! Additionally, you learn so much more about the topic you LA compared to when you took the class as a student."
Next Steps for Selected LAs
Congrats! You’ve received an email from the Learning Assistant Alliance with the subject line “Offer Notice for Learning Assistant Position”! What’s next?
- Log in to your account at LearningAssistantAlliance.org and accept your offer!
- In the following weeks you’ll receive an email with the subject line, “LA Appointment Fall 2026…”. Follow these next steps to quickly work through the stipend setup and other onboarding processes:
- Complete the LA Commitment google form, in which you will review and agree to LA Program Policies and RSVP for LA Orientation (See the LA Calendar for current date, time, and location). Once you have submitted your appointment Commitment Form to the LA Program, the LA Program and partner departments guarantee that you will receive your stipend during the term in which you are selected for this role. In the event that the section/course for which you were selected is canceled, every effort will be made to find a suitable replacement position for you. At that point, you will have an opportunity to accept this new role or withdraw from the program.
- Log in to your account at LearningAssistantAlliance.org and complete the “LA Survey”. All new LAs enroll in the two-credit pedagogy course EDUC 4610 “Becoming a Learning Assistant” to support their development, in which they will learn evidence-based, student-centered, inclusive teaching and learning practices. Students enrolled in the LA Pedagogy Course (EDUC 4610) are responsible for paying for this course at standard rates. See below for more information.
- Complete the First Time LA Stipend Set-up Form, a DocuSign eDoc will go directly to Maggie Rosenau, LA Program Coordinator. The last 4 digits of your social security number must be on this form. Students who do not have a social security number, please enter all 1's.
- Receive section assignment for EDUC 4610, “Becoming a Learning Assistant.” in an email from Learning Assistant Alliance with the subject, “Learning Assistant Pedagogy Course Section Assignment.” Once we hear back from the majority of new LAs in the LA Survey on Learning Assistant Alliance, we will provide you with specific instructions for how to register for your section. Since this course is exclusively for New Learning Assistants, it is hidden within the main course registration, and you will not be able to register until we've provided the 5-digit registration number to you. We will begin assigning pedagogy course sections in mid-December for the Spring semester and mid-May for the Fall semester, so look for this email around then.
- Enroll in EDUC 4610, “Becoming a Learning Assistant.” If your assigned section time no longer works in your schedule, contact Dr. Betsy Feldman at lapedagogy@colorado.edu with a copy of your schedule and she’ll help place you in an alternative section. Previous LAs report spending an average of 3-5 hours per week on the LA Pedagogy Course, including class time. This will involve a total of 100 minutes of synchronous Zoom and/or in-person class time, plus online reading assignments, and teaching reflections. The remainder of LA time on the Pedagogy Course is spent on student surveys (twice per semester), audio transcript analyses (twice per semester), and the LA Mentor observation (once per semester) and mentoring sessions (twice per semester). Finally, the LAs participate in an in-person poster session at the end of the semester to share what they have learned with the community.
- Participate in LA Orientation. All LAs, New and Returning, are expected to complete a two-part LA Orientation:
- Asynchronous Online: An online Sexual Harassment and Non-discrimination training called “Community Equity for Returning Students” (completed by all students during their first semester of attendance at Ҵýƽ) and an introductory Canvas module available the week that classes begin.
- In-person: A three-hour MANDATORY in-person session typically the Saturday of the first weekend after classes begin. See the calendar for upcoming dates.
- Meetwith your instructional team and begin working with students!
- LA Stipend: Currently set at $2150 for the semester, this will be disbursed as a single stipend payment approximately six weeks after the semester begins. More information will become available at the beginning of the term of your LA Appointment.
- Learn more in the “Frequently Asked Questions”, below. During the semester of your LA Appointment, you will gain access to a Canvas site with more specific information about receiving your stipend.
- Log in to your account at LearningAssistantAlliance.org and accept your offer!
- In the following weeks you’ll receive an email with the subject line, “LA Appointment Fall 2026…”. Follow these next steps to quickly work through the stipend setup and other onboarding processes:
- Complete the LA Commitment Google Form in which you will review and agree to LA Program Policies, RSVP for LA Orientation, and tell us about your availability for participating in Returning LA Professional Development Meetings. See the LA Calendar for current date, time, and location. Once you have submitted your Commitment Form to the LA Program, the LA Program and partner departments guarantee that you will receive your stipend during the term in which you are selected for this role. In the event that the section/course for which you were selected is canceled, every effort will be made to find a suitable replacement position for you. At that point, you will have an opportunity to accept this new role or withdraw from the program.
- Complete the Returning LA Stipend Set-up Form, a DocuSign eDoc will go directly to Maggie Rosenau, LA Program Coordinator. Your 6-digit employee ID number must be on this form. Your employee ID can be found in four ways:
- Go to your student portal, it should be listed there.
- If you are currently employed or receiving a stipend your number can be found on the top of your pay record in MyCUInfo. Log into the employee portal > Ҵýƽ > Paychecks tile
- Email hcm_community@cu.edu
- If you are currently not employed or having difficulty finding your employee ID number, you can call Employee Services during business hours. 303-860-4200, option 2.
- Make sure you’re aware of the day and time of your first weekly preparation instructional team meeting. These often occur a couple of days before the semester begins, so you’ll want to pay attention to your email in the couple of weeks leading up to the beginning of the semester. Your lead faculty, indicated in your “Offer Notice” and “LA Appointment” emails, is your point of contact for this information.
- Add the Returning LA Professional Development Meetings to your calendar. Currently, meetings are planned to be held Wednesdays from 5:40 – 6:30pm in person. If you are unable to fit this in-person community meeting in your schedule, alternative tasks will be provided.
- Participate in LA Orientation. All LAs, New and Returning, are expected to complete a two-part LA Orientation:
- Asynchronous Online: An introductory Canvas module that will be available the week before classes begin.
- In-person: A MANDATORY two-hour in-person session most likely the Saturday after the first week of the semester. See the calendar for upcoming dates.
- Note: Beginning in your 4th-or-later semester as an LA, you are expected to attend orientation and complete an end-of-semester survey but are no longer required (but still welcome!) to attend Professional Development Meetings or deliver student surveys.
- Meetwith your instructional team and begin working with students!
- LA Stipend: Currently set at $2150 for the semester, this will be disbursed as a single stipend payment approximately six weeks after the semester begins. More information will become available at the beginning of the term of your LA Appointment.
- Learn more in the “Frequently Asked Questions”, below. During the semester of your LA Appointment, you will gain access to a Canvas site with more specific information about receiving your stipend.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will receiving an LA or LA Mentor stipend affect my financial aid?
- Note that LA stipends are counted as financial aid. This means that your funding could impact the amount of other financial aid you receive because the total amount of financial aid you receive cannot exceed your total Cost of Attendance (COA). When total financial aid exceeds the COA, the Office of Financial Aid must reduce your aid. When reducing aid, every effort is made to reduce the least favorable types of aid, such as loans, first. Most students may not see an impact, but those that normally receive or borrow aid up to their COA will see a reduction to loans or other aid to account for the funding.
- The LA Program reports the majority of LA and LA Mentor stipends to the Office of Financial Aid well before aid is dispersed and bills are applied to student accounts at the beginning of each semester. Fall stipends are reported in May. Spring stipends are reported in December. Changes that occur outside these timelines will be reported as they occur.
How can I determine if my direct deposit is set up correctly?
- To confirm that your direct deposit is set up correctly, login to MyCuInfo > Navigate to My Info and Pay > Select Pay > select Direct Deposit. From there you should be able to confirm if your linked bank account shows up after you provide the necessary security credentials (typically a phone call or a text). It might take a day or two to be active.
How do I complete the Personal Information Form (PIW)? (Only needed for first-time employees at any of the CU campuses.)
- The PIW is what generates your employee ID number, a necessary identification for receiving a paycheck from Ҵýƽ.
- New CU Employees will receive a link to the Personal Information Form (also known as PIW) in their First Time LA Stipend Set-Up Form if they answered “No” to the question “Have you ever been employed by the University of Colorado?”. This form should be submitted as soon as possible after selection in order to receive your stipend on time. We will contact you if yours PIW form is still missing at the beginning of the semester of your LA Appointment.
- Go to “How do I complete the form?” (on the right side of the screen). Watch the Personal Information Form Video (2:31)
- Note: Ignore the first 28 seconds of the video to prevent confusion.
- Click on the link: Action Required
- Complete the Personal Information Form (PIW)--This is only done one time when you are a new CU employee.
- International LAs who do not have a Social Security Number have multiple steps to follow. Please contact the Program Coordinator, Maggie Rosenau, at LAProgram@colorado.edu for further instructions.
How do I submit a timesheet for my LA position?
- Short answer: Do not submit a timesheet.
- The LA position is a tax-exempt stipend that needs no action from you. It goes directly into your personal bank account via Direct Deposit (if you set this up). Only student hourly positions on campus require you to fill out a timesheet.
- If you are employed in 2 student positions in the same semester and want to make sure you’re submitting your reportable hours on the right job line. You will know you are reporting work hours for the correct job in MyLeave based on the supervisor’s name. If Reporting To: says Laurie Langdon, that’s your LA stipend, for which you do not report hours. Do not select this.
I have multiple jobs at Ҵýƽ. How do I check for correct pay?
- Pay for all positions (stipends, hourly, etc.) will be combined into one deposit every 2 weeks. Here's a that will help you understand your pay.
How do I update my preferred name and/or pronouns that are listed in my email address, Buff Portal, and/or Canvas?
- CU systems allow you to indicate your gender identity, name pronunciation, preferred name, pronouns and/or sexual orientation. Here’s how.
How can I find my W-2 for my LA and/or LA Mentor position?
- Learning Assistant fellowships and LA Mentor fellowships are paid with a stipend, which is tax exempt, therefore you will not receive a W-2. Exceptions may apply for international student employees.
I worked in an hourly position at CU in the previous year, but I’m not an active employee. How do I access my W-2?
- Standard procedure is to receive your CU W-2 in the mail. If your mailing address is not current or you just want an e-copy of your CU W-2 email hcm_community@cu.edu .
I’m an International Student and do not have a social security card or tax identification number. What should I do?
- Contact LA Program Coordinator, Maggie Rosenau at LAProgram@colorado.edu, so they can help you get started with the steps for getting set up in your LA Appointment and getting a social security card (tax ID number, SSN).
Do I need to fill out an I-9?
- No. An I-9 does not need to be completed for LA positions because the job code for LA stipends does not require it. It’s a tax-exempt stipend. Most other student positions at Ҵýƽ will require an I-9 form. Your payroll liaison for each job should give you that information.
Who do I contact to verify my employment for a future job or internship opportunity?
- Human Resources will provide start date, end date, position held and salary, if requested: /hr/records-employment-verification. They will not provide reference checks or comment on rehire status of former employees.
How do I access the employee portal if I’m not actively employed?
- If you are not actively employed, you will not have access to your employee portal. Call Employee Services during business hours. 303-860-4200, option 2, email hcm_community@cu.edu.
Who to Contact for Help
| For questions about: | Contact: |
| Getting paid, direct deposit, updating employee portal | Dr. Maggie Rosenau: LAProgram@colorado.edu |
| LA Pedagogy course or Returning LA Professional Development information, including scheduling and switching sections | Dr. Betsy Feldman: LAPedagogy@colorado.edu |
| Questions/concerns about interactions with other LAs, lead faculty, and/or students | Dr. Betsy Feldman: LAPedagogy@colorado.edu Dr. Sarah Wise: sarah.wise@colorado.edu Dr. Laurie Langdon: laurie.langdon@colorado.edu |
| Weekly prep meeting time and/or LA appointment times--the lecture, laboratory, recitation, office hours, and/or help room times in which you’ll be directly interacting with students | Your Lead Faculty, as listed in the Learning Assistant Alliance with the subject line “Offer Notice for Learning Assistant Position”. |
Spring 2020 Mentor Project by Lily Chung and Tyler Wylie
Who are LA Mentors?
LA Mentors are experienced LAs who are trained to support first-semester Learning Assistants through the challenges and successes of their interactions with students. LAs meet with their LA Mentor as part of the LA Pedagogy Course through weekly group mentoring, and individually through an in-class observation and one-on-one mentoring sessions.
What do LA Mentors do?
- Support new LAs by listening, providing feedback, and helping them increase their confidence and competence in their first semester of interacting with students.
- Observe and meet with LAs one-one-one, to set goals, reflect, and help them develop long lasting positive habits in their LA practice.
- Advocate for LAsand help them develop their own agency to improve undergraduate education.
- Co-constructeffective peer mentoringpracticeswith other LA Mentors inthe two-credit EDUC 4620/4630 LA Mentor Courses.
- Collaborateonprojects that impact the Ҵýƽ community.
How do LA Mentors Benefit from thisExperience?
- Practice listening, time management, and organization skills.
- Participate in a supportive community of like-minded, motivated, individuals who are passionate aboutimprovingeducational experiences of LAs, faculty, and students.
- Develop leadership skills by balancing and supporting the needs of LAs, LA Faculty, and LA Programs around the world, along with your own goals and mental health.
- Explore skills and experiencesof personal importance to clarify your next steps after graduation.
What does it take to be an LA Mentor?
- You have at least 1 semester of LA experience.
- You are passionate about helping new LAs and improving undergraduate education experiences.
- You have excellent accountability and promptly reply to communication.
- You want to take on more of a leadership role in the LA program and at Ҵýƽ.
- You want to learn within a community that values you fully and appreciates your uniqueness, strengths, and struggles.
- You know that you have a lot to offer new LAs, but also a lot to learn, and you're willing to grow through your successes and failures.
Applications
Recruitment for LA Mentors typically occurs during the final month of the semester with interviews during finals week. Check #opportunities channel in Slack or contact Dr. Feldman to learn more.
- How to find it? Talking to professors.
- Why do it?Reinforces your understanding of Chemistry and builds a nice working relationship with professor and other IA's. The classes are also very small so you really get to know your students.
- How to find it?Directly from the ATOC department.
- Why do it?Additional income and involves similarresponsibilities to LAing.
- How to find it?IPHY Adverstising; Website; Emails, Professors.
- Why do it?To learn more about the subject; connect with faculty; resume builder; to help students learn; earn credits for degree.
- How to find it?/chbe/careers/undergraduate-course-assistant-ca-position.
- Why do it?More teaching experience, often available for higher level courses.
- How to find it?/precollege/cu-upward-bound-program.
- Why do it?Motivate and support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, supplementing their existing education and preparing them for academic success at all educational levels.
- How to find it?Privately or signing up through your department.
- Why do it?Additional income, resume builder. It's a good way to keep yourself fresh on material and also help others in the process!
- How to find it?/sciencediscovery/.
- Why do it?In a nutshell, TAs in this program get to teach K-12 kids about various sciences over the summer. LAs would be able to use their already acquired teaching skills while teaching for this camp.
- How to find it?.
- Why do it?Make money and meet a lot of cool people who know more about math than you. Or get better at helping students break down problems .
- How to find it?Talking to Professors, getting in contact with the school you are interested in.
- Why do it?Learn what it is like to teach an actual class of high schoolers. Understand the preparation work that goes into teaching.
- How to find it?Physics Program Website & Contacts through lab website.
- Why do it?Learn more about the subject I'm studying, connect with faculty. Gain a new experience into how the real world of neuroscience research functions. Help be a part of a team investigating important scientific questions.
- How to find it?/urop/.
- Why do it?You can either apply to open research assistant or independent research opportunities that are available from professors, or if you find a willing professor, can put in an application for a research idea of yours and your professor's idea. There is grant money involved and if you obtain the research grant, it's a huge resume builder and opportunity to do research of your own creation.
- How to find it?
- Why do it?It's an amazing opportunity to get into a psych/wellness research lab. It's a three-year program that will teach you about psych/wellness research and also run your own study and write an honors thesis at the end of the 3 year program.
- How to find it?.
- Why do it?ASES is a great organization that focuses a lot on sustainability and how people can be more engaged with the environment. Gives students a hands on experience and gathers some research experience as well.
- How to find it? CU's study abroad office will help connect you and set you up.
- Why do it?You get placed in an internship in the area of your choice in the country of your choice! Housing and everything is set up and the process is not too complicated.
- How to find it?/cuteach/stem-education-certificate.
- Why do it?Opportunity to learn about STEM education, develop skills and investigate teaching as a career.
- How to find it?/ics/colloquia-current-semester/ics/undergraduate-certificate-cognitive-science.
- Why do it?The ICS certificate is a great way to explore different fields, and it has a lot of passionate professors, grads, and undergrads involved. The Colloquia are free (usually weekly) presentations given on fascinating topics and can be a great way to learn more, connect with people, and develop.
- How to find it?/studentgroups/ambassadors/.
- Why do it?Great way to help prospective students learn about the educational resources that CU provides. Can promote students to create relationships with their professors. Make the academic experience of college seem less intimidating and more approachable.
- How to find it?/program/learningassistant/student-resources#ucb-accordion-id--2-content5. Contact Dr. Feldman on Slack for more info.
- Why do it?To have community and professional development. Becoming a better student.
- How to find it?.
- Why do it?It's a good way to connect with 'the younger generation' and be involved in the community.
- How to find it?/orientation/leader-info.
- Why do it?To welcome students during fall welcome, give tours, and run events.
- How to find it?Instagram @cu.wind.club, Newsletter signup link: .
- Why do it?You get to learn about wind energy with the CU Wind Team. It's pretty low commitment, and they are planning on going on industry tours, inviting speakers, and more!
- How to find it?/studentgroups/neuroscienceclub/.
- Why do it?It is a great resource for Neuro students to be a part of the Neuro community as well as get help in various classes. They also do lots of fun neuro-y events.
- How to find it?Website : Instagram handle : @roamboulder.
- Why do it?It is a student organization so everyone involved in the process of publishing a print/magazine are students (photographers, videographers, models, editors, graphic designers, makeup artists, fashion coordinators, marketing team, journalists, etc). It is a great way to connect with other people and engage in not only learning about the various sides of publishing a magazine, but you can also easily take a leadership role and gain experience, build leadership skills, and add items to your resume or portfolio.
- How to find it?.
- Why do it?Connect to other students from a variety of backgrounds while helping speakers prepare for TED talks. Also, it is a pretty cool opportunity to be a part of the TED talk process.
- How to find it?Computer Science Advising.
- Why do it?Fun to try with friends.
- How to find it? Program Websites or Graduate Advisors/Chairs, research faculty in your field of interest.
- Why do it?Advance your career and development. Do something that fits with your research interests, interact with more students, and get yourself more academic and teaching training.
- How to find it?CU catalog in the School of Education.
- Why do it?Much deeper and more practical application of how we can effectively teach, and what the status of teaching theory is.
- How to find it?.