Peer Leader Application 2015
DUE: February 6, 2015 at 5PM
Position Description:
Peer Leaders are upperclassmen student leaders that serve as mentors, role models, and assist with the
instruction of first-year student classes. Peer Leaders are paired with a University faculty or staff member
teaching Freshman Learning Communities and/or Compass Courses. These courses are designed to help
first-year students adjust to the University, develop a better understanding of campus resources and acquire
essential academic success skills.
A Peer Leader is:
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Engaged in the UA community
Confident in their ability to lead others
Empathetic to the transition issues first-year students experience
Dedicated to helping first-year student success
Able to think on their feet
Able to speak in front of a classroom of peers
Comfortable leading difficult conversations
Prideful in The University of Alabama
Able to create positive partnerships with faculty
A model of the Capstone Creed
Responsibilities:
Serve as a mentor to first-year students by:
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Making an effort to get to know and relate to each student
Connecting to students by sharing relevant experiences
Being active and involved as a member of the Alabama community
Being approachable and available to students inside and outside of class
Creating and maintaining an appropriate professional relationship with students
Withholding judgment and being open to various perspectives and opinions
Serve as a role model to first-year students by:
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Demonstrating integrity inside and outside of the classroom
Setting an example for what a successful students looks like by participating in activities and
contributing to class discussions
Assist with the instruction of the course instructor by:
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Attending all Freshman Learning Community or Compass Course classes
Providing suggestions for topics, presentations, sequencing and course assignments
Being open and accessible to regular meetings and communication with the instructor beginning the
spring prior to service and extending throughout the semester of service
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Providing the student perspective on what it means to be an Alabama student
Sharing knowledge of campus resources and opportunities
Facilitating class discussions/lessons on relevant topics
Providing relevant feedback to benefit the learning environment
Bridging the gap between the instructor and students
Requirements: Peer Leaders must:
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Have completed one full academic year by Fall 2015 with a minimum grade point average of 3.0
Attend the Spring 2015 Training Retreat
Attend three 2-hour workshops in the spring
Attend a Peer Leader and Instructor Workshop prior to first day of fall classes
Attend all Freshman Learning Community or Compass Course classes
Create and sustain positive working relationships with paired instructor
Plan and execute out-of-classroom engagement opportunities for first-year students in their assigned
course
Provide thoughtful feedback to assist with assessment and improvements of the Peer Leader
program
Attend 2 hour bi-weekly fall forum for the evaluation, reflection and processing of the Peer Leader
experience during the Fall 2015 semester. Peer Leaders have the option to register for the fall forum as a 2
credit hour graded academic course (UA 110, Peer Leader Fall Forum) during the fall semester, Thursdays 5-7pm
Benefits of Serving as a Peer Leader:
Some of the benefits of being a Peer Leader include, but are not limited to the following:
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Build upon your out-of-classroom involvement with volunteer and leadership experience
Establish positive relationships with faculty, staff, and peers within the program
Develop and articulate transferrable skills appropriate to your personal and professional goals
Enhance your communication and facilitation skills
Strengthen personal leadership identity
Application and Selection Process:
Step 1: Complete application and submit resume
Fill out the online application at FYE.UA.EDU thoroughly with completed essays, information and resume.
(Once application is submitted, you will be contacted about signing up for an interview time.)
Step 2: Recommendation Form
Have a faculty or staff member complete the recommendation form. Your recommender should receive an email once you provide their contact information in the application. You may want to follow up with them to
be sure the form was submitted appropriately. The recommendation form is due on the same date and
time as the application, February 6 at 5PM. This is your responsibility to be sure it has been completed by
that time.
Step 3: Interview
All eligible applicants must undergo an individual interview process where representatives from campus will
evaluate applicants’ skills relative to the Peer Leader position.
Step 4: Training
All selected Peer Leaders must complete a one-day training retreat to help them prepare for their role in the
coming semester, as well as the three workshops and a refresher course. If selected, you will also need to
build your fall course schedule around the weekly forums held on Thursdays 5-7:00pm as well as the class
that you will be working with. Peer Leaders have the option to register for the fall forum as a 2 credit hour graded academic
course (UA 110, Peer Leader Fall Forum) during the spring semester.
Mandatory Dates
Application Available: January 7, 2015
Application Deadline: February 6, 2015 at 5PM
Interview Day: February 12, 2015
Notify Applicants of Selection: February 19, 2015
Peer Leader Training Retreat: March 1, 2015
Peer Leader Workshops:
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March 10, 2015 5:00pm-7:00pm
March 24, 2015 5:00pm-7:00pm
March 31, 2015 5:00pm-7:00pm
Fall Forum (UA 110) will be held bi-weekly on Thursdays 5-7pm, Fall 2015.
For more information about the Peer Leader position, contact Ronnie Hebert at rhebert@sa.ua.edu
or (205) 348-8404.