University 101 Peer Leader Position Description

University 101 peer leaders serve in a teaching team with a University faculty or staff member for UNIV 101. UNIV 101: Student in the University is a 3-credit course for first-year South Carolina students. Each section accommodates 18-24 students.

UNIV 101 is designed to help first-year students adjust to the university, develop a better understanding of the learning process, and acquire essential academic success skills. The course provides a general orientation to the functions and resources of the university and also provides a support group for students transitioning to college by examining problems common to the first-year experience. Attaining an appropriate balance between personal freedom and social responsibility underlies all UNIV 101 activities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a role model of positive behavior, representing the University with pride and respect
  
• Serve as an advocate for the interests, needs, and rights of first-year South Carolina students
  
• Help students adjust and become academically successful
  
• Serve as a mentor for academic, co-curricular, and leadership involvement
  
• Assist in planning of syllabus, course content, and class logistics
  
• Assist in facilitating class discussions
  
• Serve as a liaison for student feedback to instructor
  
• Meet with teaching team partner outside of class regularly for class preparation
  
• Attend all class meetings of your UNIV 101
  
• Maintain confidentiality of students and maintain appropriate relationships
  
• Attend the First-Year Reading Experience and co-facilitate an intellectual conversationhighlighting the key themes of the required summer reading with your UNIV 101 class
  
• Peer Leaders are required to enroll in a three credit hour Educational Leadership and Policiescourse, EDLP 520: The Teacher as Manager.

  EDLP 520 is a unique class designed to provide a forum for the evaluation, reflection and processing of your experiences as a University 101 Peer Leader. Discussion will revolve around such topics as teaching techniques, classroom management strategies, student development theories, lesson plan development, and other related issues. It might be useful for you to consider the approximately 40 contact hours in your University 101 class as a lab or practicum, with the meetings of EDLP 520 as a discussion/lecture class.

Job Expectations and Requirements

• Necessary personal characteristics for this position include: knowledge of campus resources, connectedness to and involvement on campus, appreciation of diversity, maturity, approachability, dependability, flexibility, good communication skills, willingness and ability to model appropriate behavior, maintain confidentiality, and mentor first-year students.
  
• Have a minimum GPA of 3.0
  
• Junior standing or above for the semester you intend to serve as a peer leader.
  
• Adherence to the Student Honor Code, Code of Conduct, and commitment to exemplify the ideals presented in the Carolinian Creed.
  
• Interest in working as a teaching-team member with a University 101 instructor.
  
• Completion of a Peer Leader Training Workshop. (Peer leaders studying abroad in the spring will attend a training workshop during summer 2010.)
  
• Once peer leaders have paired with a University 101 instructor, you will attend a team-building workshop with your instruction team.