Recruiting, Training & Supervising Outstanding SI Leaders

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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/

4. 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

5. 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

6. Overview: Recruiting SI Leaders • Application Process • SI Leader Referral • Faculty Referral • Campus Promotions • Recruiting Outreach • Interviewing

7. 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

8. 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)

9. 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

10. 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

11. Recruiting: Structured Interview • Establish rapport • General introduction to position • Prepared Questions • Position Information & Questions • Position Overview & Interview Questions • Close on a positive note

12. Recruiting: Post-Interview • Informing applicants of hiring decision status: • “Reserve Applicant” notification • “No Offer” Letter

13. 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?

14. 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

15. SL/GA Training • Background • Selection • Role • Training process • Observation process • Feedback & relationship building • On the job training

16. Facilitator Training • Review training goals & structure • Workshops test run • Have dialogue around best facilitation practices • Designate workshop facilitators • Begin building team cohesion

17. New Leader Training • Day 1: Orientation • Goals/History/Results of SI • SI model • Important relationships • Ideal SI Sessions

18. 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

19. New Leader Training cont. • Day 3: Administrative • Agenda • Review important program and university policies • SI Leader Duties • Establish weekly team meetings

20. 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

21. 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)

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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?

25. Overview: Supervision • Team Structure • Weekly Leader Meetings • Session Observation Process • Tracking Performance Measures • Disciplinary Policy / Process • Promotion / Staff Development

26. Weekly Leader Meetings • Our expectations • Weekly contributions • Debrief • Administrative report • Summary Report • Paperwork submission • Marketing/Session promotion efforts • Communication with faculty

27. 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

28. Tracking Performance Measures • Meeting Attendance • Office Hour Attendance • Session plan / Sign-In sheet submissions • Weekly session attendance measure / average session attendance • Tracking Spreadsheet

29. 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

30. 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

31. Access Electronic Resources CRLA Online Teaching & Learning Wiki http://onlineteachingandlearning.wikispaces.com/ SIspotlightcrlacasp2012 Wiki http://sispotlightcrlacasp2012.wikispaces.com/

32. 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