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Home > Peer Instructors
Learning to Teach. Teaching to Learn.
What does it mean to be Peer Instructor?
 FIGS Peer Instructors are committed student leaders who want the experience of planning and leading their own class while serving as mentors to first-year students. Teaching a FIGS comes with a lot of responsibilities, but the rewards are endless!
Based on major or academic interest area, Rutgers juniors or seniors with outstanding academic records (at least 3.0 GPA) are welcome to apply to be Peer Instructors (PI) early in the Spring semester. Once selected, Peer Instructors attend 2 two-day training sessions (May and August) and are provided with the tools to prepare for his/her class. Each seminar is offered once per week, for 10 weeks during the Fall semester only. During the summer, each PI develops his/her own syllabus for FIGS utilizing the 12 required FIGS elements and advice from a faculty mentor. The PI coordinates each class topic, including discussion topics, guest speakers, class trips, etc. Peer Instructors also maintain class records, including attendance and grades, and make final grade recommendations (Pass/No Credit) to the FIGS Program coordinators.
Even more important than planning a syllabus and preparing for each class period, Peer Instructors are mentors to first-year students. Much of the time in FIGS is spent aiding students in adjusting to college and understanding the many resources available at Rutgers. This is perhaps the most rewarding aspect of serving as a Peer Instructor.
Amrita Purohit, a former Peer Instructor summarizes her experience of teaching:
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The most memorable part of teaching FIGS was that I was able to pass on information I learned in the last 4 years at Rutgers to freshmen in a fun 10 week course, giving them an edge. My students seemed to appreciate all the information because it was coming directly from someone who was in their shoes just a few years ago. The experience challenged me and gave me a chance to reflect on my undergraduate career. |
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Benefits of being a FIGS Peer Instructor:
- Improve time management and critical thinking skills
- Sharpen your communication skills
- Gain valuable leadership skills that will prepare you for any career
- Serve as a mentor to first-year students
- Make a difference in the Rutgers community
- Receive 3-credits for completing Peer Instructor Education (Fall semester)
Peer Instructors in Learning Communities
Several of our FIGS courses are affiliated with a learning community offered at Rutgers. In the Discovery House and AIMS programs, students have the benefit of sharing three courses in common (one being their FIGS) which leads to greater connection with peers in the classroom and in residence and high levels of academic success. In the Rosalind Franklin Program, students share a common residential experience along with their FIGS course. The added responsibilities for the Peer Instructors in Learning Communities are minimal. PIs will be asked to participate in monthly meetings with members of the Learning Community Team consisting of Learning Community Peer Instructors, Peer Mentors, professional staff and faculty and will be required to sponsor a fall event for your students in collaboration with other Peer Instructors and Peer Mentors. The Peer Instructors who lead the Learning Community FIGS have the added benefit of mentoring these unique groups of students while providing valuable feedback to staff on the students’ development during their first semester. Please read below for more information regarding the Discovery House, Achievement in Math and Science and Rosalind Franklin Learning Communities. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, please indicate your interest on the application.
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Discovery House & FIGS
In its third year, Discovery House is a unique Rutgers University Living-Learning Community housed on the Livingston campus. Small, select groups of SAS first-year students enjoy the benefits of sharing common residential and academic experiences while making new friends, exploring common interests and being a part of a close community of peers. Discovery Houses are available in four interest areas: Business, Heath & Medicine, Law & Leadership and Psychology. Students in Discovery Houses take a FIGS, Expository Writing and a content course together (i.e., General Biology, Law & Politics, etc.). All Discovery House FIGS classes are held on the Livingston campus.
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Achievement in Math and Science (AIMS) & FIGS
Achievement in Math and Science (AIMS) is a learning community for SAS/SEBS first-year students considering studies in science, math or technology. Students in this program enjoy the benefits of sharing common academic experiences, making new friends, exploring common interests and being a part of a community of peers. In its second year, the AIMS program offers both residential learning communities on Busch and Cook and commuter-based learning communities. Students benefit from special meetings, trips and events with faculty, alumni, and upper-class students who will share information about scientific innovation that will profoundly affect our lives. Students in AIMS take 3 classes together: FIGS: Exploring Careers in the Sciences, Expository Writing, and Precalculus College Mathematics or Intermediate Algebra.
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Rosalind Franklin Living-Learning Community & FIGS
Rosalind Franklin is a living-learning community for female SAS/SEBS first and second year students interested in pursuing a major in the sciences or math. Students in this program enjoy the benefits of making new friends, meeting graduate students and faculty in informal meetings, and having peer mentors in their residence halls. First-year students will take a common FIGS located on Busch campus and taught by a female upper-class student majoring in a STEM discipline. Fall 2009 will be the commencement of this learning community. We will be looking for a FIGS Peer Instructor to create a strong precedent for future FIGS PIs to follow.
Summer Institutes 1 & 2
Peer Instructors participate in 2 two-day training sessions held in May and August. During these sessions you are provided with background and in-depth information on the FIGS Program as well as the tools needed to prepare for your class. You will also spend time getting to know the other Peer Instructors, learning about many university resources for first-year students and sharing ideas on ways to structure your class. Attendance at the Summer Institutes is mandatory for your successful development as a Peer Instructor.
Peer Instructor Education Class
In addition to leading a FIGS for 10 weeks, Peer Instructors must register for and attend Peer Instructor Education (3 credits). This class meets once per week for the entire Fall semester. The course runs during the same semester that the FIGS is taught. Therefore, if selected to be a PI, you must schedule around this class. During Fall 2009 there will be 3 sections of PI Education held on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, 9:50 AM – 11:10 AM on College Avenue. NOTE: Peer Instructors will have the opportunity to rank their preferences for the day of week in which their PI Education course will be held. In addition to time spent preparing for your FIGS class each week, you should expect to complete assignments (readings, papers, presentations, etc.) for this course.
Qualifications to be a FIGS Peer Instructor:
- Rutgers University full-time undergraduate student
- Grade point average of 3.0 or higher (at time of application and at the start of the fall semester)
- An upper-class student (upcoming junior or senior, at least 54 credits completed at the beginning of the fall semester of teaching)
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Rutgers University
- Exhibit leadership abilities through campus & community involvement
- Exhibit strong knowledge of the discipline you plan to instruct through your academic and extracurricular pursuits
- A positive attitude about Rutgers and a strong willingness to be a mentor to first-year students
- Demonstrated ability to work well independently and in a team
- Attendance at all training sessions
- Registration for one section of Peer Instructor Education (01:090:320) in Fall 2009 (either T, W, or Th, 9:50 AM – 11:10 AM). A special permission number will be provided by the FIGS coordinators during the Fall registration period.
For general information about FIGS, please visit either our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or Contact Us pages.
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