Description:
Service Learning Assistants (SLAs) are paid student leaders who help coordinate and support service learning courses at KPU. SLAs are exceptional student-learners, helping to ensure service learning projects are transformative, meaningful, and reciprocal. SLAs are typically assigned to support 3 service learning courses per semester, working with faculty, students, and community partners. This pilot program is adapted from the Service Learning Assistants program at Tulane University. SLAs typically support 2-3 service learning courses per semester (8-15 hours a week), working with faculty, students and community partners for planning, presentations, orientations, reflections and logistics.
Key Responsibilities
- Ongoing problem-solving, mentoring and logistical support for student peers
- Assisting with end-of-term wrap up, including communication with community partners
- Assisting with special projects and programs (liaising with community and partnerships)
- Collecting and documenting relevant service learning course documents
- Chronicling special events, ongoing projects, student success and partner communication
- Assisting with student placements and scheduling
- Developing and maintaining files on issues related to the current project
- Conducting library and online research as required (e.g. review current literature, statistics, legal research, academic journals, surveys, online databases, etc.)
- Assisting with photocopying, typing, filing, and overall organization of these materials
- Leading orientations as needed
- Participating in monthly or bi-monthly leadership development with other SLAs
- Communicating with faculty, peers, relevant internal and external partners as directed by faculty
- Researching, collating, and assisting in planning relevant events
- Preparing summary reports including headings and information which can be subsequently used to
- Drafting briefing notes or craft power point presentations
Qualifications
- Must be enrolled, or intend to be enrolled, as a student at KPU during their placement
- Must be in good academic standing for the term prior to selection
- Must maintain at least a cumulative GPA of 3.0
- Students must be nominated prior to submitting an application form (students can self-nominate). Nominated students, if chosen, will be asked to submit a full application
- Students must demonstrate experience in service learning or community service; and commit to participate in required orientation and ongoing training
- Students are expected to be available the week prior to classes that term, for training and to learn about their placements
- Ability to follow directions with minimal supervision
- Ability to demonstrate professionalism and email etiquette
- Awareness of needs around student and partner confidentiality
- Demonstrated strong attention to detail and quality deliverables
- Ability to use MS Office tools, including databases
- Comfort with technology, familiarity with online collaborative tools and platforms
- Ability to work on a variety of initiatives, flexible and adaptable
- Good interpersonal, organization, research and written skills
- A professional and positive attitude
- Preference, in some cases, may go to students who have already completed a service learning course (e.g. worked with community partners)
- Preference, in some cases, may go to students who speak additional languages
- Preference, in some cases, may go to students who have familiarity with Canva or similar poster-making platforms