Learning Assistant Positions
Learning Assistant
Primary Responsibilities
Learning Commons Learning Assistants (LAs) work in a small team with faculty members to implement application-based teaching approaches, often in large-lecture classrooms, to promote active learning and transform course curriculum. Common in-class LA responsibilities may include facilitating group discussions, guiding student groups through problem sets, and addressing student questions through redirection and collaboration.
Outside of class, Learning Assistants hold drop-in weekly office hours to promote engagement outside of class and attend regular meetings with faculty and other LAs for their own professional development.
Learning Assistants are NOT required to be subject-matter experts in the course they support, as the main goal is to be an approachable and relatable problem-solving partner to the student. Training is provided to support Learning Assistants in asking guiding questions, using the student’s resources and open resources (like course materials and the Internet), to find the answer to a question when they do not know the answer themselves.
Unlike Supplemental Instruction Leader positions, Learning Assistant position openings are based on faculty requests for support in specific courses. Below is a list of courses commonly supported by LAs. Other courses may have openings for LA positions based on faculty requests:
- BIOL 1081/82
- BIOL 2001C/02C
- CHEM 1020
- CHEM 1030/31
- CHEM 1040/41
- MATH 1061/62
- MEDS 2030C
- MEDS 4052C
- PHYS 1051/52
- PHYS 2001C
This list is subject to change based on faculty requests. If you are interested in supporting a course not listed above, you are encouraged to reach out to the faculty of the course you are interested in supporting for more information. You are also encouraged to visit the Supplemental Instruction Leader Position page for additional opportunities.
Students comfortable supporting multiple courses and/or faculty increase their opportunities to be placed in an LA position. In their application, students should indicate ALL courses that they are comfortable working with and qualified to support (must have completed the course prior to the start of their LA position).
Competitive Learning Assistant applicants will have:
- Completed at least one full year of college (by the start of employment)
- 3.0 GPA or above is required (and must maintain a 3.0 University GPA and a 3.0 Term GPA in order to remain eligibly employed)
- B+ or above in the select courses connected to the position
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Final LA placement decisions will be made based on faculty requests, candidate availability, Learning Commons needs, and final budget approvals. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we work to provide on-campus COOP opportunities to as many candidates as possible.
Applicants invited to interview days will be asked to submit at least 1 reference.
References from faculty, especially those who teach in the subjects that applicants are looking to support, are welcome. For example, if you are applying to be a Learning Assistant for CHEM 1040 or BIOL 2001C, it is recommended to request a reference from a faculty member who teaches one of those courses.
Other professional recommendations should be solicited from former employers for relevant positions or from individuals who have overseen the applicant during ongoing and substantive community service or other projects. Recommendations from personal or family friends or other UC students will not be accepted.
How to Apply
Once you have reviewed the position responsibilities and qualifications, go back to the Student Employment main page and apply. You are able to select more than one position you want to apply for within the application, but you should not select all positions.
Questions? Contact the Learning Commons Front Desk at (513) 556-3244 or email the professional staff member supervising the position. Go to the Learning Commons Professional Staff page for details on the supervisor you should contact.
Learning Assistant/Content Review Leader
The Learning Assistant/Content Review Leader position carries the same responsibilities as the Learning Assistant position but carries some additional Content Review related responsibilities.
Primary Responsibilities
Learning Commons Learning Assistant/Content Review Leaders (LACRLs) work in a small team with faculty members to implement application-based teaching approaches, often in large-lecture classrooms, to promote active learning and transform course curriculum. Common in-class LA responsibilities may include facilitating group discussions, guiding student groups through problem sets, and addressing student questions through redirection and collaboration.
Outside of class, LACRLs hold drop-in weekly office hours to promote engagement outside of class as well as structured content review sessions. Content Review Sessions are 55-minute weekly meetings where groups of 15-23 students review material for the target course through collaborative learning activities, facilitated by the LACRL. LACRLs are provided with course-based activity instructions and answer keys, which they can adapt to meet their students’ needs through facilitation and other strategies learned through Content Review Leader training.
LACRLs also attend regular meetings with faculty and other LACRLs for their own professional development.
Competitive Learning Assistant applicants will have:
- Completed at least one full year of college (by the start of employment)
- 3.0 GPA or above is required (and must maintain a 3.0 University GPA and a 3.0 Term GPA in order to remain eligibly employed)
- B+ or above in the select courses connected to the position
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Applicants invited to interview days will be asked to submit at least 1 reference.
References from faculty, especially those who teach in the subjects that applicants are looking to support, are welcome. For example, if you are applying to be a Learning Assistant for CHEM 1040 or BIOL 2001C, at least one of your references should be from a faculty member who teaches one of those courses.
Other professional recommendations should be solicited from former employers for relevant positions or from individuals who have overseen the applicant during ongoing and substantive community service or other projects. Recommendations from personal or family friends or other UC students will not be accepted.
How to Apply
Once you have reviewed the position responsibilities and qualifications, go back to the Student Employment main page and apply. You are able to select more than one position you want to apply for within the application, but you should not select all positions.
Questions? Contact the Learning Commons Front Desk at (513) 556-3244 or email the professional staff member supervising the position. Go to the Learning Commons Professional Staff page for details on the supervisor you should contact.