two students working on their laptops and smiling with many other students working at other tables in the background

Learning Assistants

Become a Learning Assistant

group of four student sitting at a table laughing

If you are interested in becoming a Learning Assistant, please fill out the appropriate application:

LA Application
LA Mentor Application
Introduction to Honors LA application

What Do Learning Assistants Do?

Learning Assistants create and foster relationships with their faculty mentor through weekly meetings. During these meetings, mentors discuss the upcoming week's material while LAs provide feedback related to their own experience with the material. Since they will be revisiting the course material from a different perspective, they gain a better understanding of the course content.

LAs also attend a weekly pedagogy seminar where they learn how to facilitate productive conversations and discuss their struggles and successes with other LAs from around campus. LAs complete weekly readings or projects related to their LA Experience. LAs who are earning DHC credit for their experience will present at an end of semester poster showcase in the DHC lobby. The poster showcase is held on the last Thursday of the semester at 4-5 PM. LAs earn 1-3 upper-division, education credits depending on their LA commitments. The LA seminar is on Tuesdays at 2-2:50 p.m. or 5-5:50 p.m.

Some other duties related to being an LA could include:

  • Meeting with faculty mentors on a regular basis to discuss content and help design course activities or questions that encourage discussion.

  • Attending regularly scheduled labs or lectures per mentor’s schedule.

Returning LAs are LAs who complete the LA seminar and their first semester as an LA. They are student employees and earn $15/hour for their time in the classroom and meeting with their faculty mentor. Returning LAs do not attend the weekly pedagogy.

 

Become an Introduction to Honors LA

The Introduction to Honors instructor and Davidson Honors College Dean, Dr. Tim Nichols, is recruiting 25-35 Learning Assistants in HONR 120. DHC LAs introduce a group of HONR 120 students into the DHC and help guide them through their first semester at UM. You will get to work closely with Dr. Nichols, the other LAs, and Josh Herring, the Director of UM's LA Program.

During weekly meetings, we will discuss research-based practices for facilitating a collaborative and productive learning environment, strategies for building a vibrant DHC community, and how to become a leader at the DHC and UM!

The HONR 294 seminar counts towards your Honors elective or experiential learning requirements.

Become a Learning Assistant Mentor

Learning Assistant Mentors are experienced Learning Assistants who are passionate about mentoring current LAs and expanding the Learning Assistant Program. They are asked to: 

  1. Attend and help facilitate the weekly LA Pedagogy Seminar on Tuesdays at 5-5:50 PM
  2. Mentor a subset of LAs, answering questions related to LA concerns and expectations
  3. Learn how to observe LA practices and provide feedback
  4. Assist with recruitment and selection of the next set of LAs