Recruiting, Training &
Supervising Outstanding SI
Leaders
Pre-Conference Workshop
2012 CASP Conference
Maggie Floyd, Director SI
Bonita de Leon, Assistant Director SI
Tomás 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 &
Interview Questions
• Close on a positive note
Recruiting: Post-Interview
• Informing applicants of
hiring decision status:
– “Reserve Applicant”
notification
– “No Offer” Letter
Collaborative Activity
In 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 Assessment
2011-2012 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 Activity
In 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 Resources
CRLA Online Teaching & Learning Wiki
http://onlineteachingandlearning.wikispaces.com/
SIspotlightcrlacasp2012 Wiki
http://sispotlightcrlacasp2012.wikispaces.com/
Contact Us
• SIspotlightcrlacasp2012 Wiki
• Maggie Floyd, Director SI
margaret.floyd@utsa.edu (210) 458-7116
• Bonita de Leon, Assistant Director SI
bonita.deleon@utsa.edu (210) 458-7089