Recruiting, Training & Supervising Outstanding SI
LeadersPre-Conference Workshop
2012 CASP ConferenceMaggie Floyd, Director SIBonita de Leon, Assistant
Director SITomás Rivera Center for Student
Success
Overview of UTSA• Metropolitan, Regional University – Tri-Campus• Hispanic Serving Institution. UTSA ranks fourth in
total number of undergraduate degrees awarded to Hispanics in 2009 (Source: Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine.)
• 59% of UTSA students come from groups underrepresented in higher education. Many are 1st generation college students.
• 66 Undergraduate, 51 Master’s & 24 Doctoral degree programs
• 30,968 Students
Tomás Rivera Center• Academic Advising for Undeclared & Provisional
Students
• COR 1203: Freshman Seminar
• Supplemental Instruction
• Quantitative Skills Tutoring Lab
• Learning Communities
• Undergraduate & Graduate Learning Assistance (study skills workshops and academic coaching)
Visit the TRC online at: http://www.utsa.edu/trcss/
Supplemental Instruction at UTSA• Support for historically difficult core courses at UTSA
since 1996• 38-40 Courses• 376 Course Sections Annually• 11,380 SI Students• 5 Full-time Staff • 6-9 GA/Senior Leader• 150-160 SI Leaders (each semester)
Visit the SI Program online at http://www.utsa.edu/trcss/si/ or www.facebook.com at Utsa SI Program
Overview: The SI Model• Peer-assisted study sessions• SI leader attends class and facilitates 3-5 study
sessions each week• Study Skills – Integrates “how” to learn with
“what” to learn• Distinguished from traditional tutoring and TA
models of academic support• SI Supervisor Training
Visit the International Center for Supplemental Instruction at: http://www.umkc.edu/asm/si/trainings.shtml
Overview: Recruiting SI Leaders• Application Process
• SI Leader Referral
• Faculty Referral
• Campus Promotions
• Recruiting Outreach
• Interviewing
Recruiting: Application Process• Application Intake Year-round
– SI Leader Job Description
• Application File:– Completed SI Leader Application– Faculty Recommendation– Student’s Academic History (from Banner)– SI Interview Worksheet / SI Leader Qualification Sheet– SI Leader Position Overview & Interview Questions– Weekly Course Schedule Planner
Recruiting: Referral Sources• Faculty Referrals
– Faculty Consent Form
• Current SI Leader Referrals– Recruiting Hand Flyer
• Campus Postings & Recruitment Tables– Recruiting Campus Flyer– Recruiting Table Guidelines
• Recruiting Outreach (Email & Telephone)
Recruiting: Outreach• Distribution list of qualified students
• Initial Email Outreach– Email Script
– Course Specific Outreach Email
• Telephone Outreach Process– Training Outreach Training Agenda
– Telephone Outreach Guidelines Worksheet
– Telephone Outreach Script Worksheet
Recruiting – Interviewing• Summer Recruiting Cycle ~ 350 individual interviews
• Assistant Director, Program Coordinator, Student Development Specialists & Selected Graduate Assistants
• Centralized Interview Calendar
• Centralized Coordination through administrative support team and recruitment team leader
• Block Scheduling System
• Interview Tracking System
Recruiting: Structured Interview• Establish rapport
• General introduction to position
• Prepared Questions
• Position Information & Questions– Position Overview & Intervi
ew Questions
• Close on a positive note
Recruiting: Post-Interview• Informing applicants of
hiring decision status:– “Reserve Applicant” noti
fication
– “No Offer” Letter
Collaborative ActivityIn your group, discuss the following questions. Please write your responses on designated Post-It sheet & be prepared share highlights with entire group.
– Beyond objective measures of academic success, what characteristics are you looking for in an SI leader?
– What challenges do you encounter with recruiting quality SI leaders on your campus?
Overview: Training• Senior SI Leader/Graduate Assistant Training
• Pre-Semester SI Leader Training– Facilitator
– New Leader
– Experienced Leader
– Individual
• Weekly Meetings
• Mid-Semester SI Leader Training
SL/GA Training• Background
– Selection– Role
• Training process– Observation process– Feedback & relationship building– On the job training
Facilitator Training• Review training goals & structure• Workshops test run
– Have dialogue around best facilitation practices • Designate workshop facilitators• Begin building team cohesion
New Leader Training• Day 1: Orientation
– Goals/History/Results of SI
– SI model
– Important relationships
– Ideal SI Sessions
New Leader Training• Day 2: Content
– Methods focused• Session Strategies Workshop Agenda• Collaborative Learning Workshop Agenda
– Collaboration with experienced SI leaders
– Afternoon mock sessions • Mock Session Roles
New Leader Training cont.• Day 3: Administrative
– Agenda
– Review important program and university policies • SI Leader Duties
– Establish weekly team meetings
Experienced Leader Training• Day 1: Content Day
– Refresher Quiz– Workshop rotations: semi-conference style
• Mandatory:– Session Planning Agenda– Session Planning Guide– Dependency Cycle
• Options: Various topics
• Day 2: Mentor day • Day 3: Administrative day
Training Assessment2011-2012 Training Evaluations Results
Training Evaluation– Q 2: How prepared do you feel in your ability
to plan and facilitate sessions?• New Leaders: 100% (115)• Experienced Leaders: 97% (88)
– Q 5: Overall, how would you rate the effectiveness of today’s training?• New Leaders: 100% (115)• Experienced Leaders: 91% (83)
Individual Training• Combination of individual processing &
meetings– Individual Leader Training Plan
• Give the SI leader manual • Assign readings & tasks• Establish training times• Flexible yet structured
On-going Training• Weekly Meetings
– Provide weekly training and opportunity to collaborate with peers
– Topics include: time management, note taking, exam preparation, text reading, and stress management
• Mid-Semester SI Leader Training – Provide training around a relevant topic that
affects multiple roles
Collaborative ActivityIn your group, discuss the following questions. Please write your responses on designated Post-It sheet & be prepared share highlights with entire group.
– What is one element of your training you consider to be a “best practice” at your campus?
– What are the goals of your training? What do you hope to accomplish?
Overview: Supervision• Team Structure
• Weekly Leader Meetings
• Session Observation Process
• Tracking Performance Measures
• Disciplinary Policy / Process
• Promotion / Staff Development
Weekly Leader Meetings• Our expectations• Weekly contributions
– Debrief – Administrative report
• Summary Report• Paperwork submission• Marketing/Session
promotion efforts• Communication with
faculty
Session Observation Process• Observations occur 3 - 4 times/semester
– Session Observation Record– Marketing Observation Form
• Feedback focuses on collaborative learning implementation and goal setting– Designed to build leader up – Provides task-oriented suggestions– Encourages leader reflection– Incorporates leader-generated goals
• Observation Summary
Tracking Performance Measures• Meeting Attendance• Office Hour Attendance• Session plan / Sign-In
sheet submissions• Weekly session
attendance measure / average session attendance– Tracking Spreadsheet
Position Guidelines & Progressive Discipline Policy
• SI Leader Position “Guidelines” agreement establishes expectations– SI Leader Performance Guidelines
• Progressive discipline policy cultivates transparency with employment decisions– Progressive Discipline Policy– Verbal/Written Warning Form
Promotion: Cultivating Senior SI Leaders & Graduate Assistants
• The Role of Session Observations• The Role of Contributions in Leader Meetings• Interpersonal Skills / Schedule Availability• Senior Leader Position Description
Access Electronic ResourcesCRLA Online Teaching & Learning Wikihttp://onlineteachingandlearning.wikispaces.com/
SIspotlightcrlacasp2012 Wikihttp://sispotlightcrlacasp2012.wikispaces.com/
Contact Us• SIspotlightcrlacasp2012 Wiki• Maggie Floyd, Director SI
[email protected] (210) 458-7116• Bonita de Leon, Assistant Director SI
[email protected] (210) 458-7089
