ULA Program
Undergraduate Learning Assistant Program
The Undergraduate Learning Assistant Program engages undergraduates in classroom teaching and learning while helping them develop their leadership, and interpersonal skills. The program is designed to improve retention and student success in large enrollment (>50 students) undergraduate classes, where faculty are employing evidence based active-learning techniques.
The WSSU ULA program follows the national standard set by the Learning Assistant Alliance and is designed to benefit 3 distinct groups; faculty mentors, undergraduates employed as learning assistants and the students in courses that are supported by ULAs. ULAs can assist in the classroom in several ways, including facilitating discussions and group activities during class time. ULAs may also provide support to the faculty member via grading student work and to students by holding office hours.
Minimally, Undergraduate Learning Assistants must attend all class periods, attend weekly staff meetings led by the faculty teaching the course, and participate in professional development workshops. There are upfront and ongoing professional development opportunities for ULAs.
Undergraduate Learning Assistant's pay will be variable depending on class meeting times and other factors but they can expect to be paid around $1,500 each semester they participate in the ULA Program.
Interested faculty members can complete a Faculty Request for Undergraduate Learning Assistant support. Support will be allocated based on the following preference criteria:
- Course Enrollment of 50+ students
- Faculty plan to employ evidence-based active learning strategies in the course
- High-stakes Gateway Course (PSY 1301, MAT 1311, SOC 1301, BIO 1313)
- Additional courses with traditionally high DFW rates
Learning Assistance Alliance
If you are interested in working with undergraduate LAs please join the LA alliance (There is no membership fee.) .
General information:
- How to Use Learning Assistants
- Weekly Content Prep Sessions
- Assessment, Research & Results
Students interested in serving as ULAs should have a conversation with a professor in one of their large-enrollment classes. Prospective LAs should also complete an Student-ULA application.
ULA Professional Development
Undergraduate Learning Assistants participate in on-going professional development throughout their participation in the ULA Program.
- New ULAs will attend 8 hours of professional development (over a weekend) at the beginning of their first semester.
- ULAs attend weekly staff meetings with faculty, course instructors, and other ULAs in their assigned course
- Every semester in the program, ULAs are observed in their lecture, recitation, or study group assignment as part of their formal job evaluation.
- The ULA program at WSSU has develop a formal professional development learning community for ULAs which meets 2-hours each week.
