The Learning Assistant (LA) is a Rensselaer sophomore, junior, senior, or co-terminal undergraduate who is responsible for assisting first-year & sophomore-year students in becoming active, independent and successful learners.  LAs are assigned to a specific residence hall where they reside and assume responsibility for interacting frequently with the residents of that hall while providing academically-related programs, information and assistance. The LA provides a direct academic support service and acts as a liaison between Advising and Learning Assistance Center and their undergraduates.  However the Learning Assistant is not a personal tutor for their Hall.  The LA is directly responsible to the Advising and Learning Assistance Center and Residence Life.

The LA applicant must:

• Be a second semester freshmen OR a full-time upperclassman
        with at least one full academic year remaining who is in
        good  academic standing with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.
• Be in good standing with regard to student conduct.
• Be prepared to live in a first-year/sophomore year residence hall (depending on COVID updates).
• Be prepared to serve two consecutive semesters.
• Have knowledge of freshman and sophomore year level courses.
• Possess effective interpersonal skills.

The LA must:

1. Participate in training and orientation.  Dates and times have yet to be determined.
2. Participate fully in all in-service training.
3. Participate in all weekly staff meetings with Advising and Learning
        Assistance Center Staff and all weekly meetings of the
        Residence Life Building Staff.

The LA must:

1. Participate fully in evaluations of the Learning Assistant Program
        and Residence Life Program.
2. Participate in and provide input to the selection of LA staff for the
        following academic year.

The LA must:

1. Maintain residence in the room assigned from the first day of the
        semester to the last day of finals.
2. Be proactive in getting to know all of your residents and helping
        them adjust to RPI.
3. Be sensitive to the needs and issues of students with disabilities.      
4. Respect and maintain confidentiality of students and staff.
5. Make a special effort to be visible and available to the residents of
        your building through the use of rounds and other
        proactive means.
6. Be available to assist students in the hall on an individual or small
        group basis, primarily during weekly office hours (2 hours/week) and
          rounds (2 hours/week) or other mutually agreed upon times.
7. Plan and facilitate workshops in areas trained during the pre-
          semester training period. This involves:
          * Scheduling and publicizing workshops to hall residents
          * Presenting sessions alone or in cooperation with another LA/RA
          * Documentation of student evaluations of sessions held.
8. Publicize the ALAC tutoring program to the First Year and Sophomore Year students, as well as notable
        dates including the drop deadline and the pass/no credit deadline.
9. Serve as a referral network between your students and other
        services available on campus.
10. As need demands, be a resource to the academic community at
        RPI by expressing student concerns. This includes
        updating RA/RD staff as to student concerns at weekly staff
        meetings and following up on Early Warning System (EWS).
        Provide feedback to the Advising and Learning Assistance Center
        as to concerns of students with programs at RPI so that
        the overall student experience can be improved.
11. Meet with residents with EWS warnings within one week, and offer
        suggestions for academic improvement, referring them
        to campus resources as necessary.
12. First Year LA's ONLY* must support students who are in the First Year Intervention Program
        during their Spring semester.
13. Assist the Residence Life Staff in the enforcement of Institute
        policies in your residence hall, when appropriate.
14. Be proactive in helping to improve the LA program.
15. Complete other duties as assigned by professional staff.

The LA must:

1. Be visible, available, and accessible to the residents of your hall.
        Promote awareness among residents of the LA role.
2. Assist students in identifying their academic needs using methods
         learned in LA training.
3. Aid students in developing an increased sense of responsibility for
        their academic success.
4. Know the resources on campus and, when necessary or
        appropriate, make referrals.
5. Serve as a positive role model to all students in their academic and
         social development.

Once you submit the form below, there are two last steps before your application is complete. Please email a copy of your resume and creative piece (described below) to  Arielle Roberts at robera6@rpi.edu.  Also, please have two recommendations completed and returned to: robera6@rpi.edu


Click here to find the recommendation form (Please just have your recommender send this to my e-mail at Robera6@rpi.edu. DO NOT mail form, as I am working remotely)  :

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-MGRslhxICZ72o23F-ByUNi0CLOD1zea/view

Please make a flyer to advertise for a workshop you may be holding. This would be very similar to an advertisement you may have seen your LA post within your building and should fit on regular 8½ x 11 sized paper. Your workshop topic can be any of the following: Time Management, Study Skills, Test Taking, Finals Preparation or any other academically driven workshop you think would be beneficial for first year students. Be Creative! Email this to Arielle Roberts at robera6@rpi.edu. Please include your name and "LA Creative Piece" in the subject line. (ie. Arielle Roberts LA Creative Piece)