Learning Assistant Program at CSU

Join Our Team!

Learn More About Becoming a Learning Assistant!

Are you interested in becoming a Learning Assistant (LA)? Discover the ins and outs of this paid position, gain perspectives from current LAs and faculty instructors, and explore how being an LA can benefit your academic and professional journey through the information provided during a recent information sessions. 

Whether you’re considering applying or simply want to learn more about the LA experience, don’t miss out on this opportunity to engage with our academic community. For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to our LA Program Coordinators at Stacey.Clark@colostate.edu or Jennifer.Roche@colostate.edu.

LA Program Information Session Slides

NOW Hiring LAs for the Fall 2024 Semester!

Click below for the job descriptions from each course for the Fall 2024 semester
ART 100
BZ 110
LIFE 102
CHEM 107
CHEM 111
CHEM 113
MATH 120

Check your email for an invitation to apply & complete the online application.

Priority deadline: Sunday, April 14th 11:59pm

What do LAs do?

Learning Assistants (LAs) are undergraduate peer educators who help to facilitate students’ learning both in & out of class. The LA experience involves practice, preparation, and pedagogy to support students’ success and LA’s success within the role.

CSU’s Learning Assistant (LA) Program is based on an evidence-informed model of peer-to-peer academic support, and research strongly indicates that implementing the LA model with fidelity positively impacts all students (and positively impacts students from underrepresented & minoritized backgrounds even more). Our data shows that LA-supported sections of courses have higher student success rates.

Alongside course instructors, our LAs work to make learning accessible and engaging for students, contribute to students’ success, and have a great time throughout it all.

On average, LAs work about 6-10 hours per week, spending their time:

  • Working with the instructor and fellow LAs at weekly prep meetings to strategize how to support students best.

  • Attending lectures (and recitations) to facilitate active learning activities & address students’ questions

  • Offering drop-in support to students during group learning sessions in TILT’s Great Hall

  • Strengthening students’ knowledge and skills through small group tutoring

  • Helping students prepare for upcoming exams through exam review sessions

  • Reviewing course materials to further their own knowledge of course content

  • Sharing their perspective and offering suggestions to improve students’ learning and experience in the course

What do LAs get?

  • Pay rate of $16/hour
  • Lots of flexibility in determining how many hours they are interested in working throughout the semester
  • 1 academic credit for successful completion of the pedagogy course in their first semester (IU 274: Learning Assistants in Higher Ed)
  • A strong network of connections with other students, faculty, and staff across CSU
  • Valuable experience & skills

What does it take?

  • Successfully completing the course previously
  • Ability to attend lectures & weekly prep meetings
  • Ability to facilitate out-of-class learning activities
  • Completion of pedagogy course during first semester in the role
“The LA role definitely gives you an experience that will last a long time after this job. Working with the students – helping them progress through the course and figure out a lot of those things that maybe you struggled with when you took the course – it's really cool. And you get to build relationships with your students & your LA team - it’s a really fun experience.”
AlexCHEM 107 LA
“You build a lot of relevant skills and career competencies early on in the LA job. You gain an understanding of what the LA model is & in learning teaching skills, you become better at a lot of other things you never would have expected. Something I've noticed is that, for me personally, I’ve become more social, more communicative, better at public speaking, and more outgoing. I can't express it enough: it's just such a great job. It’s awesome.”
McKennaBZ 110 LA
“My favorite part of this job is how much you learn from it. You would expect that, as a peer educator, you would spend your entire time teaching others, but as an LA, I have found that this program has taught me so much. You grow as an educator, but you also grow as a student and as a person.”
EmilyLIFE 102 LA
“One reason I love being an LA is because of the connections I have made with students, fellow LAs, and professors. Being an LA has also taught me how to step out of my comfort zone in many situations - and I will take those skills with me long past college.”
LaurenLIFE 102 LA
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