First Year Experience (FYE) Office Graduate Assistantship
Main Focus: Strategies for Success (SLS 1501) and FYE Programs
Start Date: Summer (May) 2016
Position Description
The Office of First Year Experience (FYE) combines orientation with extended first year transition
programs including UCF's official Welcome Week (Pegasus Palooza), LINK, and the Strategies for
Success (SLS) Program. FYE assists entering freshmen and transfer students with their transition to
UCF by providing information about student services, campus life, academic support, academic
advising, and registration.
SLS 1501 is a 3-credit hour freshman seminar designed to assist students in their transition to the
University of Central Florida (UCF). SLS 1501 provides first-year students with significant
academic, study skills, exposure to conducting peer reviewed research, and life skills that promote
self-efficacy.
Responsibilities of the FYE SLS 1501 Graduate Assistant will include, but are not limited to:
 Recruit, interview, select, and schedule SLS Peer Mentors for Summer, Fall, and Spring
 Plan and lead SLS Peer Mentor trainings in Summer, Fall, and Spring
 Organize regular SLS Peer Mentor seminar meetings to provide mentors with training on
academic, personal, and leadership topics in accordance with CRLA guidelines
 Develop lessons, activities, or training materials for SLS Peer Mentor meetings
 Act as the liaison between SLS Faculty and SLS Peer Mentors
 Evaluate SLS Peer Mentor performance and troubleshoot any complications
 Maintain frequent communication with SLS Peer Mentors and follow up with SLS Faculty
 Conduct One-on-One meetings with SLS Peer Mentors at least once per semester
 Work with SLS Academic Coordinator on strengthening SLS marketing and promotional
materials
 Research and evaluate the SLS Program in conjunction with the SLS Academic Coordinator
measuring programmatic outcomes
 Continuously develop new and innovative initiatives to further the SLS 1501 Program
 Attend SLS Faculty Training to promote the effective utilization of their SLS Peer Mentor
 Read the SLS textbook and supplemental materials and facilitate sections of SLS 1501 as
needed
 Assist SLS Academic Coordinator in observing SLS class sections
 Attend all SLS Steering Committee meetings and SLS Faculty workshops through year
 Attend all FYE staff meetings, trainings, and retreats
 Work alongside professional staff to implement other FYE programs such as LINK, Family
Weekend, Pegasus Palooza, and Orientation.
 Participate in weekly meetings with SLS 1501 Academic Coordinator
 Other duties as assigned by SLS 1501 Academic Coordinator
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General FYE Responsibilities
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Maintain regular weekly office hours (20 hours total)
Position responsibilities will require occasional evening and weekend hours
Co-present Pegasus Parent Programs session at orientation in collaboration with other FYE
GAs
Other FYE duties as assigned
Qualifications and Preferences
Applicants must currently be pursuing graduate course work at the University of Central Florida.
The ideal candidate will possess the following skills:
 Professionalism, Punctuality, and Patience
 Teamwork, Creativity and Initiative
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills
 Discretion as it relates to privacy and student confidentiality
General Information and Compensation
The FYE Graduate Assistant will work 20 hours at $10.63 an hour per week. The position begins
summer (May) 2016 and continues each consecutive term of their tenure in the office. Preference
will be given to applicants whom can remain with the program a full two years. A tuition waiver
will be provided as well as graduate student health insurance through UCF. The tuition waiver
covers full-time (9 hours in fall and spring and 6 hours in summer).
Supervision
The FYE SLS Graduate Assistant will be supervised by the FYE Academic Coordinator.
Application
Please submit a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and contact information for two
professional references to Dr. Jamil D. Johnson at jamil.johnson@ucf.edu Or submit a printed
application ATTN: Dr. Jamil D. Johnson (First Year Experience, SLS 1501) to the Office of First
Year Experience front desk in 216 Howard Phillips Hall. Review of applications begin as
received.
For more information or questions please contact:
Jamil D. Johnson, PhD
Academic Coordinator, SLS 1501 Program/First Year Experience
407-823-5543
Jamil.johnson@ucf.edu
http://fye.sdes.ucf.edu/sls
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