Summer Bridge Program Course Assistant
Summer 2012

Overview

A Summer Bridge Course Assistant (CA) position is a part-time, eight-week position within The Summer Bridge Program for undergraduate University of Michigan students.

For those CAs assigned to provide assistance in English 125 (College Writing) and Writing 100 (Transition to College Writing), the CAs receive supervision from the individual Summer Bridge Program instructor teaching a section, or sections, of these courses. 

In Mathematics, within the Workshop setting, all CAs receive their supervision from the Summer Bridge Program (SBP) Coordinator of Mathematics. A Mathematics CA, just like his/her counterpart in English, is also assigned to an individual instructor of Mathematics 103 and receives additional supervision from the individual instructor of the section to which s/he has been assigned.

Responsibilities: Daytime and Evening

CAs can work a total of 15 hours per week. A Course Assistant is expected to attend the class meetings of his/her assigned course as appropriate each week to better understand each assignment as well as the pedagogy of the course. Also, a CA is responsible for working with students in a workshop setting on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., or in the case of Mathematics, on Mondays and Wednesdays between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

• In Writing 100 (Transition to College Writing), the CA position involves consulting with students to facilitate their transition to college-level thinking and writing, helping them to become stronger and more confident writers. With guidance from the instructor, duties may include: meeting with individual students, brainstorming topics and ideas with students, attending class, providing information about student progress, facilitating technology applications, meeting weekly with the instructor and monthly with fellow CAs, and other tasks as determined by the instructor.  WRITING 100 emphasizes an intensive one-on-one approach to teaching writing, provides individualized attention to key features of college writing—analysis in addition to summary; revision for focus and clarity; development as well as generation of ideas; style built on a solid grasp of conventions of grammar and punctuation—develops students’ skills and confidence, and prepares students for the type of writing most often assigned and valued in University classes. Creation of an electronic portfolio enables students to integrate technology into their learning and reflect upon their development as writers.  For more information about WRITING 100 and to see examples of student electronic portfolios, visit
  http://www.lsa.umichedu/sweetland/coursesminor/courses/writing100
• In English 125 (College Writing), the CA position involves consulting with students to facilitate their transition to college-level thinking and writing, helping them to become stronger and more confident writers. With guidance from the course instructor, duties may include: attending class, i.e., English 125 which meets either 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., or 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., meeting with individual students, brainstorming topics and ideas with students, and providing information about student progress. English 125 CAs will meet weekly with the course instructor and monthly with their fellow English CAs. A CA will serve as an intellectual role model for each student who receives academic support and is expected to provide advice for essays, analysis of texts and/or any other types of written work the instructor assigns.
  
• In Mathematics the CA will help students with math problems and math homework in the workshop setting based on the direction of the SBP Mathematics Coordinator. S/He will serve as an intellectual role model for each student who receives academic support and is expected to provide academic support for the mastery of all intermediate algebra problems, Gateway exam problems and mathematical concepts. A Course Assistant is also expected to attend the class meetings of his/her assigned course as appropriate each week to better understand the problems being assigned and the concepts covered during class time.

Supervision

For those CAs assigned to provide assistance in English 125: College Writing, the CA receives supervision from the individual Summer Bridge Program instructor teaching that section, or sections. In Mathematics, supervision is received from the Coordinator of Mathematics for the Summer Bridge Program. The Coordinator of the Summer Bridge Program (SBP) supervises all academic positions in the SBP.

Qualifications

• A student must be in good standing in the College of LS&A with at least a 2.5 or better GPA.
• A student should have earned Bs or As in all  courses for which s/he provides academic support, i.e.,  English or Mathematics
• A student should be able to verbalize what s/he knows about the subject matter of the course.
• A student (preferably) should have taken CSP courses in Mathematics and/or English.

Compensation

Compensation is $9.50 per hour.  This position requires 10-15 hours per week from June 27, 2012 – August 17, 2012.

Deadline

Applications are available on the CSP/Summer Bridge Program (SBP) website (see below) and are due by May 1, 2012.

Application Information

The online application can be found here: CA Application

Dr. Ralph D. Story
Coordinator / 2012 Summer Bridge Program (SBP)
Associate Director
Comprehensive Studies Program
1145 Angell Hall
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1003
rdstory@umich.edu