University College Senior Program Leader (Student)

American University•Washington, DC

11d•$19 - $19•Remote

About The Position

This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Senior Program Leaders (SPLs) are in an elevated position of leadership within University College. In addition to working with their own CP seminar as a UC PL, SPLs will meet virtually with other UC SPLs and UC staff throughout the summer, attend monthly cohort meetings with faculty and UC staff, report back updates to the UC PL group, and attend a bi-weekly, 1-hour, UC SPL Meeting with the University College Program Staff. SPLs will report out on UC PL progress, successes, and concerns in the weekly team meeting and via weekly update emails, compile and send regular cohort progress reports to share with University College Program Staff and Faculty, and coordinate a weekly team meeting with a small group of UC PLs. SPLs will facilitate discussions or activities as determined in University College staff meetings, participate in discussions regarding training, job responsibilities, program structure, student experience, and other related topics to inform decisions for the UC Program, and actively participate, and encourage their small groups to participate, in "other duties as assigned" (admissions events, UC PL recruitment and interviews, etc.). SPLs are paid to work virtually with the UC program in the summer. The SPL summer will begin June 1, 2026 and conclude on August 18, 2026. UC SPLs will work anywhere from 4 - 6 hours per month. Some of your responsibilities will include: participating in monthly faculty cohort meetings (as necessary and if scheduled), participating in regular SPL meetings as scheduled by the Assistant Director or designee, and participating in ongoing SPL training opportunities as scheduled by the Assistant Director or designee. This may include virtual sessions, online modules, discussions, etc., participating in UC Kickoff and UC PL training planning, participating in Summer engagement opportunities for UC students, sending communications to your PL group prior to training in August, and other responsibilities deemed necessary by the Assistant Director or designee.

Requirements

Must be an enrolled American University student.
Must apply through their employee Workday account if a current American University employee.
Attend and be on time for all Complex Problems seminar meetings; prepare for seminar appropriately.
Participate in on-going training throughout the fall semester (in-services).
Attend weekly team meetings with Senior UC PL.
Attend planning/one-on-one meetings with assigned faculty member.
Utilize AU email account and check email/Slack daily for correspondence regarding PL role.
Communicate regularly, maintaining positive relationships with faculty, Senior UC PLs, and UC Staff.
Be available to their students and inform students on when they are available for meetings at the beginning of each semester.
Provide information in a timely manner for the UC newsletter.
Support and develop positive relationships with faculty/staff through on-going communication.
Support and develop positive relationships with Housing & Residence Life staff members, working most closely with the Resident Assistant(s) where their cohort is housed.
Serve as a liaison between students, faculty, and UC staff.
Create an academically supportive climate for students by encouraging study groups and creating space for class questions, concerns, etc.
Respect any policies and procedures outlined by the faculty member for the CP seminar and assist with facilitating class discussion when applicable.
Create opportunities for students to think critically about the concepts and themes learned in their CP seminar, helping students process classroom materials as needed.
Advise and/or refer students within the limits of the PL’s training and ability concerning academic matters, applying knowledge of university resources when appropriate.
Promote acceptance and consideration in the attitudes and behaviors of students in the class.
Facilitate the development of a positive community for their cohort based on the mission/vision statements and learning outcomes, while also helping to integrate the cohort with the larger community in the residence hall.
Assist faculty with opportunities to interact casually with students through office hours, co-curriculars, etc.
Adhere to UC co-curricular expectations and requirements (four co-curriculars, creating a variety of co-curricular opportunities that help to increase engagement in their co-curricular. Three Co-curriculars focused on an experiential learning activity engaging the academic content focus. One of the three need to be facilited by the cohort in collaboration. One Co-curricular can be focues on social engagement and community building.
Participate in the planning and execution of UC-Wide events (events for all students a part of the programs) which will take place 2-3 times per semester or as determined by the UC staff.
Attend the Kickoff event in August and the End of Semester event in December.
Engage each of their seminar students in a 1:1 discussion the first 6 weeks of the semester, noting any of their goals, apprehensions, questions, etc.
Advise and/or refer students within the limits of the PL’s training and ability concerning personal and/or social matters, applying knowledge of university resources when appropriate.
Engage in the development of the UC assessment plan which includes but is not limited to surveys and focus groups.
Encourage student participation in UC’s assessment plan.
Assist the UC staff in reviewing information gathered from surveys and focus groups, providing recommendations for improvement to the UC program.
Understand that all actions of a UC PL (including those engaged outside of the classroom) are observed by students, other UC PLs, and staff members.
Hold themselves accountable to university policies, regulations, and procedures.
Be mindful of appropriate boundaries of the UC PL-student relationship.
Report concerns and violations of published University policies, regulations, and procedures in an accurate and timely manner to UC Staff.
Abide by FERPA and American University professional and ethical standards of conduct, maintain confidentiality, and not release private information regarding staff and/ /or students.

Nice To Haves

Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions.
Participate in the planning and execution of student recruitment events, and other necessary orientation and recruitment events throughout the academic year as determined by the UC staff.
UC PLs are encouraged to show enthusiasm for learning and to take advantage of the opportunity to be part of a Complex Problems class.

Responsibilities

Meet virtually with other UC SPLs and UC staff throughout the summer.
Attend monthly cohort meetings with faculty and UC staff and report back updates to UC PL group.
Attend a bi-weekly, 1-hour, UC SPL Meeting with the University College Program Staff.
Report out on UC PL progress, successes, and concerns in the weekly team meeting and via weekly update emails.
Compile and send regular cohort progress reports to share with University College Program Staff and Faculty.
Coordinate a weekly team meeting with a small group of UC PLs.
Facilitate any discussions or activities as determined in University College staff meetings.
Participate in discussions regarding training, job responsibilities, program structure, student experience, and other related topics to inform decisions for the UC Program.
Actively participate, and encourage their small groups to participate, in "other duties as assigned" (admissions events, UC PL recruitment and interviews, etc.).
Attend and be on time for all Complex Problems seminar meetings; prepare for seminar appropriately.
Participate in on-going training throughout the fall semester (in-services).
Attend weekly team meetings with Senior UC PL.
Attend planning/one-on-one meetings with assigned faculty member.
Attend Summer cohort meet-ups and meetings as available (non-paid).
Utilize AU email account and check email/Slack daily for correspondence regarding PL role.
Communicate regularly, maintaining positive relationships with faculty, Senior UC PLs, and UC Staff.
Be available to their students and inform students on when they are available for meetings at the beginning of each semester.
Provide information in a timely manner for the UC newsletter.
Support and develop positive relationships with faculty/staff through on-going communication.
Support and develop positive relationships with Housing & Residence Life staff members, working most closely with the Resident Assistant(s) where their cohort is housed.
Participate in the planning and execution of student recruitment events, and other necessary orientation and recruitment events throughout the academic year as determined by the UC staff.
Serve as a liaison between students, faculty, and UC staff.
Create an academically supportive climate for students by encouraging study groups and creating space for class questions, concerns, etc.
Respect any policies and procedures outlined by the faculty member for the CP seminar and assist with facilitating class discussion when applicable.
Create opportunities for students to think critically about the concepts and themes learned in their CP seminar, helping students process classroom materials as needed.
Advise and/or refer students within the limits of the PL’s training and ability concerning academic matters, applying knowledge of university resources when appropriate.
Promote acceptance and consideration in the attitudes and behaviors of students in the class.
Facilitate the development of a positive community for their cohort based on the mission/vision statements and learning outcomes, while also helping to integrate the cohort with the larger community in the residence hall.
Assist faculty with opportunities to interact casually with students through office hours, co-curriculars, etc.
Adhere to UC co-curricular expectations and requirements (four co-curriculars, creating a variety of co-curricular opportunities that help to increase engagement in their co-curricular. Three Co-curriculars focused on an experiential learning activity engaging the academic content focus. One of the three need to be facilited by the cohort in collaboration. One Co-curricular can be focues on social engagement and community building.
Participate in the planning and execution of UC-Wide events (events for all students a part of the programs) which will take place 2-3 times per semester or as determined by the UC staff.
Attend the Kickoff event in August and the End of Semester event in December.
Engage each of their seminar students in a 1:1 discussion the first 6 weeks of the semester, noting any of their goals, apprehensions, questions, etc.
Advise and/or refer students within the limits of the PL’s training and ability concerning personal and/or social matters, applying knowledge of university resources when appropriate.
Engage in the development of the UC assessment plan which includes but is not limited to surveys and focus groups.
Encourage student participation in UC’s assessment plan.
Assist the UC staff in reviewing information gathered from surveys and focus groups, providing recommendations for improvement to the UC program.
Understand that all actions of a UC PL (including those engaged outside of the classroom) are observed by students, other UC PLs, and staff members.
Hold themselves accountable to university policies, regulations, and procedures.
Be mindful of appropriate boundaries of the UC PL-student relationship.
Report concerns and violations of published University policies, regulations, and procedures in an accurate and timely manner to UC Staff.
Abide by FERPA and American University professional and ethical standards of conduct, maintain confidentiality, and not release private information regarding staff and/ /or students.
Perform other related duties as assigned.