What to do if your LA is not showing up to class, meetings, or other duties more than once (beyond a one-time emergency)?
- Check on the LA to make sure they are ok. They could be sick or dealing with a family matter. Communication is the best first step.
- Let the LA know they have missed class and ask if they can still fulfill the LA position fully. Set clear expectations at the beginning of the semester or when you first recruit the LA.
- If the LA misses more than two classes, notify them in writing (email) that one more missed class will result in cancelling their position (official warning)
Notify the LA Program as soon as possible for support and contract cancellation.
What is a typical workload for LAs?
New LAs typically work 7 weekly hours and Returning LAs work 6 weekly hours per course: 3 hours (class time, as applies to the course), 1 hour (weekly planning meeting), 1 hour (Individual preparation), 2 hours (LA Seminar, New LAs only), other duties (for returning LAs).
Note: new LAs are expected to take on less duties (e.g., LA sessions) because they take the LA seminar in their first semester of LA work)
What course do new LAs need to take?
The LA seminar, course code SMT3931, is a one credit course and is offered at four times:
Mondays 12:00pm-1:50pm (MMC)
Tuesdays 4:00pm-5:50pm (BBC)
Wednesdays 4:00pm-5:50pm (MMC),
Wednesdays 2-3:50pm (online live)
Note: currently the friday section is not offered.
How can I make sure that my LAs are paid?
If you are concerned about an LAs contract please contact Kiwanie Navarro Velazquez (kinavarr@fiu.edu).
How should I prepare the LAs for class?
Send them the materials at least a week ahead of time and ask them to go over the content and complete the student activities, prior to the planning meeting. At the meeting, LAs take turns solving the problems, asking questions, working together and discussing. Faculty often discuss student difficulties and strategies that can be used to help students. Effective preparation is one that allows LAs to ask questions and make suggestions while developing their knowledge and skills in the discipline. It also sets the tone for the class and shows LAs how they can interact with students. In some courses, LAs actually model the interactions with students after the planning meeting which stresses the importance of setting a collaborative and inclusive meeting.
What information do I need to forward to LAs?
Please forward your class schedule, planning meeting time and information about any other responsibilities. New LAs are required to take the LA seminar the first semester they LA and, thus, need to enroll in one of the available sections.
Can LAs work in two different courses?
Returning LAs can work in more than 2 sections and preferably in the same course (e.g., 2 sections of a lab course). Please make sure your LAs are not overcommitting themselves and stay below the allowed weekly 20 hours of on-campus employment. As an additional safeguard, while interviewing and selecting your LAs, please encourage them to reflect on their time commitment to make sure they understand the extent of the responsibility.
Where can I find more resources about the LA Program and its model?
You can find it here. For additional resources visit the Learning Assistant Alliance.