Pace University

This Peer Leader position is open to undergraduate students on the Pace University Pleasantville campus.

On behalf of the Office of First-Year Experience (FYE) at Pace University, you are invited to apply for the University (UNV) 101 Peer Leader position for the Fall semester!

UNV 101 is a course for first-year Pace students to help ease the transition into college. UNV 101 introduces students to college life at Pace and plays a role in the social and academic adjustment period for new students.

Peer Leaders play an integral part in helping new students get acclimated by acting as role models both inside and outside of the classroom. This is an experiential learning position that requires Peer Leader participation in the classroom. The Peer Leader works with an assigned faculty member for the UNV 101 course and assists that instructor with connecting an assigned cohort of first-year students to Pace, educating them with the tools to succeed, and helping them to feel cared about and part of a UNV 101 community. Peer Leaders act as peer mentors for their UNV 101 students for their first semester. In addition to assisting with welcoming students to campus, Peer Leaders will present programs to enhance academic success, and provide appropriate support and guidance to first-year students. Peer leaders will also play an important role in helping all new students to develop a Pace Path Plan to make the most of all that Pace has to offer. The position is supervised by the New Student Experience Office and the Office of the First-Year Experience (FYE).

Applicants must be full-time Pace undergraduate students attending the Pleasantville campus.

General Responsibilities:

1. Co-facilitate one section of UNV 101 in collaboration with a First-Year Instructor/Advisor

2. Initiate contact with students after Orientation, get to know them, and maintain contact throughout the fall semester

3. Promote enthusiasm for Pace events appropriate for UNV 101 students.

4. Collaborate with other peer leaders, student leaders, UNV 101 Instructors, and FYE to welcome new students to Pace, help with move-in, help with bulletin boards, and participate in convocation.

5. Help UNV-101 instructors set up the classroom, take attendance, conduct presentations, facilitate icebreakers and group team-building exercises, and reset the classroom after class.

6. Guide and assist all students to submit Pace Path Plans on the Pace Path web form.

7. Prepare presentations offering the student perspective on topics of the class with guidance from the UNV 101 instructor and FYE.

8. Motivate all students of the UNV 101 class to submit all assignments and in-class worksheets/exercises to the UNV-101 instructor via the Classes platform or the preferred modality of the instructor.

9. Participate and assist the instructor with the technology of the course: zoom, Pace Portal, the Classes platform, Excel, Microsoft Word, the Pace Path Web-form, the Pace website, PowerPoint, Scheduler Explorer, the student views of the registration platform, and email.

Student Outreach:

1. Create a personal connection with each student in your cohort by knowing their first and last name, major/career path, interests, campus involvement, and concerns about college

2. Outreach to students throughout the semester to ensure that they are successfully transitioning to Pace academically and personally

3. Assist students with questions and concerns and be able to refer them to the correct department

4. Promote the use of academic success skills and related resources such as the library and Learning Commons

5. Encourage involvement in campus events and organizations

6. Meet with each of your students individually at least twice during the semester

7. Discuss any concerns you may have about a student with your assigned First Year UNV 101 Instructor and as appropriate the First Year Experience/ Office of New Students and Transitions Offices.

8. Make sure all students understand how to access and effectively use technological resources of the class such as Pace Portal, zoom, the Classes platform, Pace email, Scheduler Explorer, the Registration Platform, PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and the Pace Path Web-form.

Leadership:

1. Serve as an example of what it means to be part of a scholarly community by actively participating in learning both in and out of the classroom while demonstrating an appreciation of Pace’s commitment to diversity and academic integrity.

2. Participate in training throughout the year to develop skills in classroom facilitation, presenting, fostering connections, and leadership

• Must be a full-time Pace PLV undergraduate student with at least one completed semester at Pace by the position start date
• Must have a 3.0 GPA before the Fall semester starts and maintain this grade point average through the duration of the position
• Must be available to arrive 5 min early and participate in every UNV 101 class meeting, in person and virtually, for the entire Fall semester
• Must be available to work two additional hours a week outside of the two hours of UNV 101 class time (in the First-year Experience Office, New Student & Transition Office, preparing with the UNV 101 instructor, and/or mentoring as needed)
• Must be available for Peer Leader Training tentatively scheduled during the spring, summer and for one week before the fall semester starts
• Must be available before classes start to assist with creating welcome bulletin boards, helping with new student move-in day, participating in the pre-convocation UNV 101, attending convocation, and promoting the Week of Welcome events.
• Available to attend Peer Leader meetings
• Peer Leaders must be free of any current University judicial sanctions at the date of application. Additionally, Peer Leaders must remain in excellent disciplinary standing throughout the period of employment. Random judicial sanction checks will be done at the discretion of the Office of First-Year Experience. Past judicial history will also be a factor in the hiring process
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Zoom, the Classes platform (Brightspace), Pace Portal, Scheduler Explorer, the registration platform, and the Pace Path Web form.
• Must be able to handle confidential information in a discreet manner
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Reliable and patient with guest presenters, students, and faculty
• Ability to take initiative
• Ability to both work independently and as part of a team
• Strong presentation, customer service, and organizational skills
• A desire to help new students navigate Pace successfully
• A dedication to learning about and sharing all the opportunities Pace has to offer
• Ability to thoroughly guide students working on the assignments of the class, registration, and their Pace Path Plan.