Undergraduate Course Assistant for Qatar Campus

What is a Course Assistant?

Course Assistants (CAs) are Carnegie Mellon undergraduate students that assist an instructor in the teaching of an undergraduate course on the Qatar campus. Course Assistants will receive their training through Academic Development on the Pittsburgh campus, then spend one semester on the Doha campus (either in the fall or spring semester). Upon return to the Pittsburgh campus, trained Course Assistants will be eligible to work in Academic Development as an SI Leader, Tutor, or Study Group Leader.

What does a Course Assistant do?

CAs may be required to:

• Keep course records—attendance, grades, participation, etc.
• Maintain student confidentiality in all aspects of student interactions and course records
• Help instructor prepare for lectures
• Lead recitations
• Hold office hours to assist students in learning course content and completing assignments
• Attend classes to keep current on course assignments and material
• Grade objective tests (e.g. true/false test with an instructor’s answer key)
• Review rough drafts of papers or problem sets
• Provide technical support for assignments
• Work on average 12-15 hours a week per course including office hours and attending lectures

The benefits of being a Course Assistant on the Qatar Campus:

• Develops leadership skills
• Reinforce and build content knowledge
• Gain satisfaction from assisting the course instructor in teaching the course
• Gain satisfaction from helping other students to learn course content
• Develop an understanding of our sister campus
• Develop an understanding of the culture of students who attend the Qatar campus
• Paid campus position

Qualifications:

• Minimum overall QPA of 3.5
• An "A" in the course you wish to support
• Satisfactory completion of SI training course through Academic Development on the Pittsburgh campus (a nine week, 4.5 unit training course offered in spring semester only)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to helping other students learn

Training:

Selected applicants participate in a pass/fail training course in an interesting and fun setting. Trainees will receive 4.5 units for satisfactorily completing the nine week training course. The course includes training in: study skills, group work, role playing and facilitating SI sessions. Trainees will conduct mock SI sessions to hone their facilitation skills and will have the opportunity to work with experienced SI Leaders.

Selected applicants will be asked to submit an unofficial transcript and to schedule an interview.