Faculty Alpha Group Leaders Needed

Each year, faculty are chosen to lead a group of 10-15 new students during our Orientation Weekend. It is a fun, informative weekend with general and small group sessions that culminates with the Plunge — our large community service event.

Faculty leaders are given lesson plans along with a trained student mentor to facilitate the small group sessions during the Orientation Weekend. In addition, each group will continue to meet on Thursdays for five weeks with their faculty and student leader. Each faculty will also be assigned a Moodle class session where they can accept assignments from their group members, communicate with students, and submit a grade for the class. The classes are graded as pass/fail based on completion and participation. All students are required to attend NSO, Thursday sessions, and the Plunge.

If you would like to be considered for an Alpha Group Faculty Leader, please complete this form: Faculty Alpha Group Application

FAQ
Is this a paid position?
Yes, faculty are given a $500 stipend for their time and participation.

Is there training for Faculty?
Yes, faculty meet the day before move-in to review the schedule and meet with their mentor to create a plan for the weekend.

How much time is involved?
Last year, faculty invested approximately 15 and a half hours during the weekend and 1-2 hours during the next 5 weeks with students. In addition, some time is needed to grade assignments.

Why is this important?
Pillar one of our strategic plan is to increase belonging for our students. Students who connect in the first few weeks of attendance will adjust better than those who do not. In assessments taken of new students the connections they make with faculty and student mentors have made a huge impact on their sense of belonging at HU. This is fun, relaxed students’ engagement that makes a huge impact on our students. Besides all that, it’s just fun!

Are student mentors trained?
Yes, all mentors are trained to know the curriculum and be able to lead parts of the group sessions. They will also be responsible for continuing support to new students throughout the first semester. Faculty and mentors are asked to work together as a team to connect with our students. Mentors should not be relied upon as the primary leader of the sessions. Both positions are considered equally important in the role of onboarding students.

Do I get to choose who my student mentor is?
Faculty are assigned a mentor in most cases; however, a faculty member can encourage qualified students to apply for the mentor position and refer them to the Dean of Student Engagement for the position. This is a great way to bring a dynamic team together!

Can I lead students in my major?
Yes, teams can be created that are major specific if there are at minimum 12 students in that major. This is designed to keep the groups similar in size for the student mentors who work with the group all semester.