Instructional Learning Assistants
The goal of the instructional Learning Assistant Program is to increase student persistence and retention rate in STEM disciplines. A Learning Assistant is an undergraduate student who has been trained in pedagogical practices and hired to facilitate active learning among groups of students within the classroom structure of a course they have previously successfully completed. This program is modeled on the LA program established at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Our program will be one of the first LA programs systematically implemented on a large scale at a public research university that is an HSI-MSI with a student body composed of historically underrepresented groups in STEM.
Instructional LAs will be placed in courses are required by most STEM major programs including:
· Biology
· Chemistry
· Math
· Physics
This program is supported by the Dean of the School of Natural Sciences and the Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education. It is organized and managed by SNS faculty in applied math, chemistry, physics, and biology and in collaboration with the Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning.
