Peer Learning Strategist

Make a difference at one of Florida's premier institutions for education in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).
Florida Polytechnic University, ranked the No.
1 public college in the region by U.S. News and World Report, offers a unique working environment that encourages faculty and staff to be part of a culture that prizes collaboration, innovation, and the willingness to go above and beyond to ensure our students and University succeed.
Florida Poly offers a small campus academic environment where students form connections with their faculty and peers as they pursue high-value degrees in engineering and applied sciences.


The University is equipped with cutting-edge facilities and equipment and two award-winning, architecturally distinct academic buildings.
Its evolving curriculum, designed to meet the needs of industry and provide a life-long educational foundation for students, has helped the institution grow in prominence since its opening in 2014.
Florida Poly's deliberately small classes, affordability, and outstanding graduate outcomes have helped it earn recognitions such as being named a top value school, in the top 25 nationally for affordability, and in the top five best universities in the South for tech students.
Accredited by ABET and SACSCOC, Florida Poly is educating some of the brightest minds in Florida and attracting standout talent from across the nation.


JOB TITLE

Peer Learning Strategist

JOB DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The University is initiating a new student learning project as part of its Reaffirmation of Accreditation with SACSCOC.
This project, or "quality enhancement plan" is called Florida Poly PEER for "engaged education project" that looks to successful students to be leaders in supporting younger peers on their academic journey.


A chief role in this project is that of the Peer Learning Strategist.
The Peer Learning Assistant (PLS) is an undergraduate student, who has attended Florida Polytechnic University for at least one semester or more, who has a cumulative GPA of 3.0, maintains a semester GPA of at least 2.75, and has successfully passed key freshman courses with a grade of B- or better.
The PLS will have demonstrated strong study skills and time management techniques with potential for successfully organizing student study groups and leading learning strategy sessions.
The PLS will work closely with identified course coordinators to ensure consistency and clarity of message to students in the course.

JOB DESCRIPTION What IS and ISN'T a Peer Learning Strategist

The purpose of Peer Learning Strategists is to assist students in having effective study groups.
They are not subject matter experts, TAs, or tutors.
Their job is to encourage habits of mind that enhance real learning.
PLSs teach students how to integrate course expectations with reasoning and study skills to increase their performance.
The PLS approach is an active approach to learning that supports students toward academic success by integrating "what to learn" with "how to learn."


What the Peer Learning Strategist is Expected to Do

As a PLS, students are expected to:

Hold, at a minimum, weekly Guided Learning Sessions (GLS) with students for the assigned course, and where appropriate facilitate smaller learning groups within GLSs.
Meet weekly with assigned course coordinator for the purpose of learning the coming expectations for the course and serve as a feedback loop to the course coordinator about particular difficulties students have expressed about the course.
Engage in regular, on-going training and professional development guided by our Principal Learning Strategist and key University staff through a dedicated Canvas course.
Support faculty with some periodic grading of low-level assignments.


Guided Learning Sessions

A guided learning session is not a tutoring session, but a workshop where PLSs who have been trained in learning skills methods will assist students in forming better approaches to coursework practice such as homework, exams, projects, and other deliverables.
The GLSs may sub-divide into smaller groups where students work out the strategies in an effort to study the material and complete course assignments.


The Peer Learning Strategist' guided learning sessions enable students to

Get to know classmates.
Develop study and learning strategies.
Succeed academically through conscious examination how you produce what is expected from a course.
Support each other in critical content knowledge and skill acquisition.
PLS sessions start around the second week of class.
Each PLS typically sets up two or more review sessions per week.
Course students are encouraged to participate regularly in Guided Learning Sessions; however, statistics show that the more often students attend, the better their grades.


Commitment and Compensation:

The Peer Learning Strategist is expected to commit between 10 and 20 hours per week to this role accordingly: Up to two 1:15 minutes Guided Learning Sessions.
Up to one-hour with course coordinator.
Up to one-hour in professional development activity.
Approximately 30 minutes of related preparation and assorted responsibilities related to the role.
30 minutes: provide session reports to designated Course Coordinator.
Duties may include up to 5 hours/week of course grading assistance.
Other duties as assigned.


$14.05 hourly at a max of 20 hours per week.


This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute §435.04.


SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING ATTACHMENTS:

Required attachments are listed on each posting.
Please be sure to attach all required documents in the Resume/CV field before continuing through the application. Once your application has been submitted, no changes may be made and additional attachments will not be considered.


An unofficial copy of the degree/transcript is acceptable during the application process.
For positions requiring a degree, the official transcripts are required upon hire.


Foreign Transcript: Transcripts issued outside of the United States require a equivalency statement from a certified transcript evaluation service verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA.
This report must be attached with the application and submitted by the application deadline.


All document(s) must be received on or before the closing date of the job announcements.


DIVERSITY STATEMENT:

Florida Polytechnic University is an equal opportunity/equal access institution.
It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to provide equal opportunity for employment and educational opportunities to all (including applicants for employment, employees, applicants for admission, students, and others affiliated with the University) without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or genetic information.


This position requires a background check, which may include a level II screening as required by the Florida Statute §435.04.