PASS Recruitment

Why should you become a peer facilitator?

See the feedback from PASS team members at the end of this web page. However, in addition to the benefits and satisifaction they describe, there are other significant benefits to becoming a peer facilitator such as:

1. Working within a supportive and enjoyable team environment
2. Personal satisfaction through helping others
3. Free professional development in group leadership and communication skills
4. A certificate of recognition when you complete the PASS professional development
5. Improved learning of your course content
6. Improved communication, organisation and time management skills
7. Increased confidence and experience in working within teams, including increased understanding of the dynamics of students teams and experience in leading groups of people from varied cultural backgrounds
8. Widening of your networks on campus
9. Significant experience to enhance your CV such as documented leadership experience

In addition, PASS Peer facilitators will be paid:

1. To facilitate PASS study sessions (2-6 per week, with the average number of sessions being 2-3)
2. To complete one hour of preparation each week
3. To attend various PASS team meetings across semester
4. To re-attend some lectures in the unit(s) they facilitate in

It is anticipated that there will be between approximately 3-6 paid hours of work each week of semester for each peer facilitator. The rate of payment is at HEO 3, Level 1 and is approximately $29.05 per hour. There will be incremental increases to this pay level throughout 2009.

Selection criteria

The purpose of the initial application process is to develop an 'eligibility list' for the PASS professional development that occurs early in 2009. Applicants will undergo professional development to further assess their suitability for the role.

You MUST address the selection criteria below in your 'Selection Criteria Statement'.

Essential

• A Distinction or High Distinction grade in a relevant Unit of Study and a credit average overall in your academic achievement to date
  Note: You can apply to facilitate in a unit of study that you are currently studying in 2009 if you think it is likely that you will achieve a Distinction or High Distinction.
• Good time management, communication, listening and interpersonal skills as well as possession of such qualities as credibility, commitment and approachability
• Ability to identify both areas of student difficulty as well as strategies to help students
• Empathy with the first year experience
• An interest in people and how they learn
• Belief in the benefits of group discussion and peer learning, along with a desire to put this into practice
• A desire to support other people in their learning and encourage their self development
• Capacity to facilitate a group without dominating
• Ability to commit to 3 days of professional development prior to joining the team.
  Note: It is essential that facilitators attend the professional development to be eligible to apply for these positions. The Professional Development is scheduled to occur from the 16-18th February 2010. Applicants who cannot attend will not be considered for the role. The professional development also forms part of the selection process.

Desirable

• Previous experience in PASS as a participant or experience as a Peer Mentor
• A passion for the unit of study you want to facilitate in
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of the PASS peer facilitator role
• Ability to facilitate sessions in more than one Unit of Study (e.g., both ACCT1001 and ACCT1002) and ability to work during both Semester 1 and 2.
• Knowledge of and commitment to complying with EEO/AA principles

What do peer facilitators do?

Peer facilitators need to commit to facilitating 2 -3 PASS groups for at least one semester, and preferably for two semesters. Peer facilitators are supervised and supported by the PASS coordinator. The coordinator also attempts to find the best fit between your own classes and those you are asked to facilitate. PASS sessions will commence from week 2 of semester 1, 2009.

In the weekly sessions peer facilitators will:

• Follow the PASS peer learning model
• Model effective study skills in particular discipline areas
• Facilitate a learner-centred, interactive, engaging and supportive learning environment
• Upload material to the PASS blackboard program on a weekly basis to support students' learning

Peer facilitators do not:

• Re-teach lecture material
• Provide answers
• Spend time in PASS answering, discussing or working on assessable material

Additional requirements of the position

There are additional responsibilities associated with this role. To be successful in this role you will need to be able to commit to the following responsibilities:

• Commit to attend regular weekly meetings with the whole PASS team for ongoing professional development and peer collaboration on materials for PASS (note: facilitators are paid for these meetings and are expected to attend; every effort is made to find a time that is compatible with the team's individual schedules)
• Keep records of attendance of your PASS group(s) and submit them each week to the PASS coordinator
• Keep a learning journal as a formal record of what learning activities occurred during PASS and also as a record of your own learning
• Spend one hour each week preparing for your peer facilitation role
• Complete the administration necessary for your role
• Peer review others in your team and be peer reviewed in turn

How do I apply?

To apply applicants need to complete an application form and submit it in triplicate (i.e., 3 copies of the complete application pack).
Your complete application will include a number of documents:

1. An application form (117Kb)
2. A statement that addresses each of the selection criteria (up to 2 pages in length). Click here for help: For tips on how to write a Selection Criteria Statement (35Kb).
3. A copy of your university results on official university letterhead or a copy of your university transcript
4. A passport style photograph.
   

Applicants need to submit 3 full hard copies of their complete application by the due date to:

PASS
Attention: Jessica Morr
Office of Learning and Teaching in Economics and Business
Faculty of Economics and Business
Room 237, Merewether Building (HO4)
University of Sydney, 2006

Important notes:

1. No late applications will be considered under any circumstances
2. To be considered for these positions, applicants must address ALL the above selection criteria and must follow the application process precisely

Positions are competitive and meeting the selection criteria does not guarantee employment.

Information about your interviews

There will be an interview with a selection panel consisting of 3 Faculty of Economics and Business staff. Interviews will take about 15 minutes and last no longer than 20 minutes.

Confirmed employment in PASS

Employment in the program ultimately depends upon a number of issues such as:

1. Your performance during the PASS professional development
2. The number of student enrolments into the Faculty in 2010
3. The number and breadth of units that PASS will operate in
4. The availability of rooms for the sessions
5. Confirming which units of study that PASS will operate in throughout 2010
6. The 2010 personal timetables of team members and their availability to facilitate sessions

Note: the size of the PASS team reduces in semester 2 resulting in fewer people being employed.

Facilitator feedback

Why would you want to be a PASS facilitator?

Here are some comments from the PASS facilitator team over the last few years about the benefits of working in the PASS team:

• I've made fantastic friendships with the PASS facilitators, whom I most probably never would have met otherwise. Also, one of the best things is knowing that what you're doing is making a difference to some of the first year students and their experience at uni (2008)
• The best thing is that PASS doesn't feel like a job - it's a lot of fun. Being able to help new students is very rewarding. (2008)
• The communication skills that I have developed in PASS are extremely valuable. I never comprehended this until recently when I had to lead a meeting of associates and managers of a bank … I was extremely nervous, but at the end it was like another PASS session! (2006)
• PASS has been amazing experience that has taught me a lot. (2006)
• PASS is a great program! I enjoy the time being a PASS peer facilitator and working with such an excellent team! (2005)
• … PASS has far exceeded my expectations. I have got SO much out of the program. (2005)
• Overall, PASS was a very rewarding experience for me. I felt like a valued member of a very efficient team. …I have become more confident; I have learnt the tool of reflection, which I think will be immensely useful in all facets of my life and I have learnt to be a more efficient student. (2005)

Do you need more information?

For more information or any enquiries, please email pass@econ.usyd.edu.au