Become a First-Year Leader
Are you an outstanding upperclassman? If so, consider becoming a First-Year Leader, where you’ll have the opportunity to team up with a Rhet 1101 instructor to teach the course.
What is a First-Year Leader?
First-Year Leaders are students who have been trained to offer educational outreach to freshmen. Their mentoring helps new UT Dallas students succeed in the classroom and elsewhere on campus.
"...the most effective teachers on a college campus are usually other students, a fact that drives the success of many peer educator programs."
— The Hazen Report
Criteria for First-Year Leaders
- Minimum GPA 3.0
- Prior student leadership and/or involvement in campus life
- Interest in community service
- Enthusiasm for the University
- Junior standing or above as of fall semester
- Interest in working closely with a Rhet 1101 instructor
- Completion of the leaders training workshop
Duties and Responsibilities
- Advocate for the interests, needs and rights of first-year students
- Facilitate academic, co-curricular and leadership involvement
- Help students adjust and become academically successful
- Attend all Rhet 1101 classes and all scheduled First-Year Leader meetings
- Help plan syllabus and course content
- Assist in facilitating class discussions
- Communicate regularly with Rhet 1101 students
- Serve as liaison between students and instructors
- Assist in the evaluation of student work
Benefits and Rewards
- Experience in leadership, moderating classroom discussion
- Involvement in creating a successful learning environment for first-year students
- Increased knowledge of group/classroom dynamics
- Satisfaction of helping other UT Dallas students
- Opportunity to explore a career in teaching or higher education
- References and resume building
Updated:
April 1, 2008
