SLTAs assist faculty with the service-learning component of a course, up to 5 hours/week. In this capacity, TAs might help recruit community partners, facilitate and grade reflection, or assist with project management. For international SL courses, TAs may also travel with the students. Most typically, SLTAs facilitate discussion and critical reflection, helping students to connect their service or community-engaged work to the learning goals of the course. Students earn academic credit for this service-learning work through enrollment in an independent study (see below), or receive a stipend depending on experience.

SLTAs are required to:

• attend weekly SLTA training sessions; materials includes SL practice & pedagogy, critical reflection, assessment, cross-cultural understanding, project management, and more.

• meet with their supervising faculty and a CELO staff member, in order to prepare an official job description of their specific TA responsibilities

• attend 2 additional professional development opportunities during the semester of service

• provide a photo, bio and student work or other materials from the semester of service

CELO is able to award a small number of stipends for SLTAs, depending on experience levels. SLTAs can also receive academic credit by enrolling in an independent study in their home department, or in the department of the SL course department. CELO can help facilitate that process.

Receiving credit or a stipend requires SLTAs to attend weekly training sessions in addition to the work within the course they are TAing.

SLTAs who have already been through the SLTA training are eligible for stipends if they choose to work as SLTAs in subsequent semesters.

SLTAs fill out an application, which includes information about service-learning background, reason for seeking the positions, and a resume. 

Faculty often encourage students to apply who have previously taken their SL course; if the faculty specifically requests that student by name, we will usually accept the student immediately. Please speak with a service-learning faculty member if you are interested in serving as an SLTA for his/her course!

Applicants should fill out the application form and contact Tom Wilson (trwilson@uvm.edu) as soon as possible, in order to set up the program for the following semester.

We no longer match TAs with SL courses based on their interests and experience level, but encourage faculty to work recruit students with whom they have an existing relationship. The best way to be an SLTA in a specific course is to speak with that course's faculty member(s) about the possibility.

If you are eager to become an SLTA, there are some ways you can increase your chances of being matched with a course.

• Talk with professors of existing SL courses about your interest in advance. Professors may request specific students to serve as TAs.
• Fill out the application with as much detail as possible, and respond promptly to any communications from the CELO Office regarding possible placements.