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FAQs for Undergraduate TAs

 

What is the role of Undergraduate TAs?  

You will be a mentor to students as they adjust to the college experience and college-level coursework. You will be a role model, demonstrating studentship skills and sharing your college experiences and the strategies you have developed to be a successful Stony Brook student. Students will look to you for guidance and support, and you will make a real difference in their lives as they adjust to life and work on a University campus. 

During the Academy’s 3-week Summer Residency, you will lead discussion sections, helping students to work through the difficult ideas they are learning in class. You will model effective strategies for tackling challenging course material. You will also lead office hours, working with students as their writing and reading coaches to help them develop skills that will benefit them their entire lives. 

You will also have chaperoning responsibilities. In this capacity, you will help students to adjust to the personal and social elements of campus life.

 

What kind of support and training will Undergraduate TAs receive from the Academy of Civic Life? 

The Academy of Civic Life is committed to making sure that TAing is a rewarding and educational experience. So, we have instituted a robust training program to make sure that you feel ready for and excited about your role as a TA. Our Undergraduate TAs are part of the support structure that we have put in place for the high school students in the Academy, but we want to ensure that you are supported as well. 

We are committed to making sure that you have the preparation and experience to feel as comfortable, confident, and effective as possible. During your spring semester, TAs are encouraged to enroll in GLI 402 to learn the academic material the high school students will be studying. In addition to learning the course content, during Summer Session I, Undergraduate TAs will also receive training about pedagogical strategies and effective teaching approaches. 

 

How do I become an Undergraduate TA?

In the fall, we will solicit applications from current undergraduates at Stony Brook University who are interested in democracy, civic engagement, and mentoring students from traditionally disenfranchised communities.

We encourage TA applicants to enroll in GLI 402. GLI 402 covers the academic material that the high school participants will be learning in the summer.

Selected candidates for the TA position will be invited to interview. Offers will then be extended, and the accepted TAs will be asked to make a written commitment to the summer program.

Accepted TAs will complete virtual training during Summer Session I. They will learn essential skills including tutoring, mentorship, and classroom management techniques.

 

When are the TA positions? 

TAs will attend weekly virtual training sessions during Summer Session I. The summer portion of the ACL takes place for three weeks in July, during Summer Session II. During this time, the TAs will live on campus (the ACL pays for housing and food).

 

Still have questions? 

For more information about the application process, please visit our “How to Apply" page.

You can email any questions to academyofciviclife@stonybrook.edu