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Learning Assistant Program

Undergraduate Learning Assistants (LAs) collaborate with instructors and teaching assistants (TAs) in College of Science courses to build interactive, collaborative classroom environments.

What is a Learning Assistant?


Learning Assistants (LAs) are undergraduate peer facilitators who support student learning and evidence-based instructional practices. LAs are specifically trained to facilitate small-group student discussion and are focused on supporting students, rather than instructors.

Learning Assistants:

    • Meet with and participate as members of an instructional team weekly (instructors, teaching assistants, and LAs)
    • Facilitate small-group student discussions during class time
    • Focus on supporting learners, rather than instructors
      • (e.g.: LAs do not grade, but do plan questioning strategies to guide students through assignments)
    • Manage online course discussions and meetings
    • Receive training in pedagogical theory and strategy as students in SCI 5050 – The Science of Learning (1-credit hour, in-person course)

Specific LA roles vary by course. Ideally, at least 50% of LAs’ hired time will be spent facilitating student learning during required class time. New LAs will also spend an hour each week in a pedagogy course (SCI 5050). Roles for LAs are subject to change.

Learning Assistants will support courses:

    • Lecture: Support students during lecture sections in breakout groups, Zoom chat, etc.
    • Lab: Assist students working on lab tasks either individually or within small groups
    • Discussion: Support students working in small groups during discussion sections
    • Online facilitation: Facilitate student interactions such as on a Canvas discussion board
    • Mentor hours: Support students' needs such as offering technical support, directing students to resources, reaching out to unengaged students, and more.
    • Small group study: Learning Assistants will be available during a specified time for students to drop in for help and may include study hall, review sessions, office hours, etc.
    • Individual preparation: Time spent outside of class to prepare for mentor hours, small group study, etc.
    • Grading: LAs will only assist with grading low-stakes assignments
    • Content Preparation Meetings: Attend weekly meetings with the course instructional team

Qualifications

The qualifications to become a Learning Assistant vary by course/instructor. Upon applying, applicants will upload a copy of their DARS report to help program staff determine eligibility for placement.

  • Satisfactorily completed the course for which they wish to serve as an LA (or have completed an approved equivalent)
    • Applicants can not serve as an LA for a course they are taking concurrently, even if there are different instructors involved
  • Currently-enrolled University of Utah undergraduate student taking 3 or more credits
  • Commitment to enroll in SCI 5050: The Science of Learning, a 1-credit pedagogy course (only first-time applicants need to take this course)
  • Working less than 20 hours per week at the University of Utah
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Desire to promote student success among peers

Compensation & Hours

  • Earn $15.00 per hour
  • Work between 5-15 hours per week

Federal Work Study

The Learning Assistant position is eligible to be filled as a Federal Work Study position.

You can learn more about Federal Work Study benefits from these sources:

Student Information


  • Summer 2024 Hiring Timeline

    (Update: Application has now closed, thanks to everyone that has applied!)

    Application Open: February 22 - March 7, 2024

    Offers Sent: March 18 - May 1

    Summer positions are only open to returning LAs.

    We will be looking to place Learning Assistants in the following departments for Summer 2024:

    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Math
    • Physics & Astronomy
    • Science Research Initiative (SRI)

    You can apply for Summer 2024 Learning Assistant positions here:

    APPLY HERE

     

    Before applying, please review program information and eligibility requirements. Applicants are encouraged and able to note interest for positions within multiple departments/courses but will only placed within a single department/course.

    Applicants should prepare the following information for their application:

      • Contact information
      • Major, GPA, anticipated graduation date
      • Evidence of previous courses taken – DARS Report (find a video here about how to get a DARS report)
      • A written explanation of your interest in being an LA (< 300 words)
      • A written statement about your relevant experience (< 300 words)
      • Schedule availability, including upcoming semester course schedule (even if it's not finalized)

    Recommendations are OPTIONAL FOR ALL APPLICANTS. We strongly suggest that you give the faculty/instructor who is completing the form as much advance notice as possible. See below for additional information:

      • Recommenders may be from the University of Utah or any institution where you have been recently enrolled.
      • Please note that recommendations are handled only via the recommendation form; NO SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS ARE ACCEPTED.
      • Recommendation submissions are due at the same time as applications.
      • When asking a faculty member/instructor to complete a recommendation form, students should send the recommender a completed FERPA release form along with a link to the recommendation form.
  • Fall 2024 Hiring Timeline

    Application Open: March 22 - April 7, 2024

    Offers Sent: April 15, 2024 - August 15, 2024

    We anticipate the need for Learning Assistants in the following departments for Fall 2024:

    • Atmospheric Sciences
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Geology & Geophysics
    • Math
    • Physics & Astronomy
    • Science Research Initiative (SRI)

    If you would like to be notified about future applications, click here to be placed on our email list!

     

    You can apply for Fall 2024 Learning Assistant positions here:

    APPLY HERE

    Fall and Spring LA positions are open to new and returning LAs. Summer positions are only open to returning LAs.

    Before applying, please review program information and eligibility requirements. Applicants are encouraged and able to note interest for positions within multiple departments/courses but will only placed within a single department/course.

    Applicants should prepare the following information for their application:

      • Contact information
      • Major, GPA, anticipated graduation date
      • Evidence of previous courses taken – DARS Report (find a video here about how to get a DARS report)
      • A written explanation of your interest in being an LA (< 300 words)
      • A written statement about your relevant experience (< 300 words)
      • Schedule availability, including upcoming semester course schedule (even if it's not finalized)
      • For NEW LAs only: Commitment to enroll in the FREE, 1-credit hour pedagogy course: SCI 5050: The Science of Learning. This course is only held in-person. The scheduled days/times of SCI 5050 are listed within the application and applicants will be able to note which sections work best with their schedules.
      • Commitment to complete a virtual Canvas program orientation (for all LAs).

    Recommendations are OPTIONAL FOR ALL APPLICANTS. We strongly suggest that you give the faculty/instructor who is completing the form as much advance notice as possible. See below for additional information:

      • Recommenders may be from the University of Utah or any institution where you have been recently enrolled.
      • Please note that recommendations are handled only via the recommendation form; NO SEPARATE RECOMMENDATION LETTERS ARE ACCEPTED.
      • Recommendation submissions are due at the same time as applications.
      • When asking a faculty member/instructor to complete a recommendation form, students should send the recommender the link to the recommendation form.

Meet Our Learning Assistants


Meet Our Learning Assistants: Hannah Schmutz

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Meet Our Learning Assistants: Yu-an 'Andy' Chan

Yu-an 'Andy' Chan ‘A Common Language' Andy (Yu-an) Chan jokes that he became a learning...

Meet our Learning Assistants: Kayla Rebentisch

Kayla Rebentisch Vaulting To New Heights U Health/Kinesiology senior and Learning Assistant Kayla Rebentisch followed...

Learning Assistant Testimonials


Learning Assistants have the ability to positively improve their peers' learning journeys in a multitude of ways. Not only do Learning Assistants have an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with instructors and their fellow students, but solidify their own understanding of the subject matter, learn the actual science behind learning in the 1-credit pedagogy course, SCI 5050: The Science of Learning, that all new LAs will complete, and gain confidence and leadership skills that will propel them in their own fields long after graduation.

We encourage anyone interested in becoming an LA to check out the testimonials of past and current Learning Assistants to read in their own words how the experience has affected their own educational experiences.

Learning Assistant Testimonials

Faculty Information


  • Thank you for your interest in utilizing Learning Assistants! Please contact your Department Coordinator to find out if Learning Assistants make sense for your course and your goals:

      • Biology – Reneé Dawson
      • Chemistry – Michael Gruenwald
      • Math – Matt Cecil
      • Physics – Claudia DeGrandi
      • Atmospheric Sciences -- Brenda Bowen
      • Geology & Geophysics -- Peter Lippert
      • Science Research Initiative (SRI) -- Josh Steffen

    Learning Assistants are funded in partnership between each department, the College of Science, and the Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CSME). Because funding for LAs is limited, LA placement prioritizes courses which employ active learning strategies and small-group discussion during required class time.

    Best Practices for LA Use

    CU Boulder’s flagship Learning Assistant program is a useful resource for learning about program structures and impacts.

  • If you would like to recommend a student for the Learning Assistant Program, please complete a recommendation form.

    Summer 2024 LA Recommendations: Recommendation Form

    Fall 2024 LA Recommendations: Recommendation Form

    You may wish to ask the student to complete a FERPA release for the recommendation.

Program Model


While LAs’ impacts on student experience and achievement are well-documented, LAs themselves benefit significantly from their work. LAs hone their understanding of foundational disciplinary concepts, which can lead to better performance in upper-division courses. LAs cultivate listening skills and bring information that they’re hearing from students back to their instructional teams where they practice advocating for targeted instructional supports. Instructional teams and SCI 5050: The Science of Learning offer opportunities to connect with peers, learn about on-campus resources, and build relationships. Perhaps most importantly, LAs learn about the complex psychology behind learning; by understanding ideas like Growth vs. Fixed Mindset, Imposter Phenomenon, and the structural inequities that can impact students’ varying mastery levels, LAs become comfortable participating in (and leading) productive, collaborative, discussion-based problem-solving.

The LA experience provides an opportunity for students to gain communication, facilitation, and leadership skills. Although LA responsibilities and expectations vary, all LAs will be compensated $15.00/hr and generally work between 5-15 hours per week.

In general, LAs can expect to:

    • Be a part of the instructional team in courses which actively engage learners
    • Facilitate students in small-group discussion during class time
    • Focus on supporting learners, rather than instructors
    • Meet with their instructional team (instructor, TAs, LAs) weekly
    • Receive training in pedagogical theory and strategy as students in SCI 5050: The Science of Learning

Faculty members who are interested in having LAs in their classroom should reach out to their department coordinators or email Karie.Christopher@utah.edu.

The Learning Assistant program at the University of Utah started in 2017 and is based on the program model developed by University of Colorado Boulder. Additional information about the origins and impacts of the Learning Assistant model is available on the University of Colorado Boulder’s website.

Contact Us


Contact LA Program Staff
The College of Science Learning Assistant Program is administered by staff at the Center for Science & Mathematics Education.

Karie Christopher, Education Director, Karie.Christopher@utah.edu
Kendall Van Horssen, Program Manager, Kendall.VanHorssen@utah.edu
Contact all LA Program staff: la@csme.utah.edu
Contact LA Coordinators
The Learning Assistant program is a collaborative project between the College of Science and the Center for Science & Mathematics Education (CSME). For information specific to departments, please contact the departmental LA coordinators:

Biology: Renee Dawson
Chemistry: Michael Gruenwald
Geology & Geophysics: Alan Rigby
Math: Matt Cecil
Physics & Astronomy: Claudia DeGrandi
SRI (Student Research Initiative): Josh Steffan