Offices of the Vice President for Academic Affairs
and
Vice President for Student Affairs

The Offices of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Northern Iowa are currently accepting applications from undergraduate students interested in serving as a peer teaching assistant for first-year Liberal Arts Core classes offered during the 2012-2013 academic year, including the year-long Cornerstone course.

A select group of courses within the Liberal Arts Core have designated sections for first-year students only, including Introduction to Psychology (Category 5B), Theatrical Arts and Society (Category 3A), Human Identity and Relationships (Category 5B), Soundscapes: Music in Culture (Category 3A), Life: Continuity and Change (Category 4A), Astronomy (Category 4B), Visual Perceptions (Category 3A) and First Year Cornerstone (Category 1A and 1B). The Cornerstone course is a 6-hour writing and speaking intensive course for first-year students who have not yet satisfied Category 1A (writing/research) and 1B (speaking/listening) of UNI's Liberal Arts Core.

Students who are selected as peer teaching assistants will receive university elective credit hours equivalent to the number of credit hours for their assigned course, and will work approximately 10 hours a week (includes class attendance and meeting times), not to exceed 150 hours per semester. Peer teaching assistants will be assigned to a specific course section for the full semester. Cornerstone peer teaching assistants will be assigned to the same course day/time for the fall and spring semesters.

Peer teaching assistant candidates must be willing to:

• Attend their assigned first-year course each time it meets during the week
• Attend co-curricular activities with the class (i.e., lectures, performances, etc.)
• Hold regular office hours for students to assist them in meeting class requirements
• Work closely with the faculty person teaching their designated sections, providing course-related support and assistance (such as group facilitation, meetings with first-year students, and grading)
• Promote the value of a liberal arts education, and the role of their assigned course within the Liberal Arts Core at UNI
• Attend peer teaching assistant organizational meetings and workshops as required.
• Participate in assessing the effectiveness of their assigned course

Required Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student for the next academic year (2012-2013), with both Category 1A and 1B of the Liberal Arts Core (or equivalent) completed or in process (for those assigned to Cornerstone).
• Outstanding communication skills (oral, written, and listening).
• Interest in and commitment to first-year student success.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn more about academic and student support services and university policies and procedures.
• Available to attend all class sessions of his or her assigned first-year course during the fall semester (for all non-Cornerstone sections), or for both fall and spring semesters (for all Cornerstone sections).
• Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0.

Application:

Applications received by February 24, 2012 will receive full consideration.

In order to be considered for the peer teaching assistant position, applicants must complete and submit the full online application, available at www.uni.edu/orientation/pta.

For more information contact Kristin Woods at kristin.woods@uni.edu.