Studio Fellows engage with students during interactive, group work or Studio sessions. Along with Preceptors and Graduate Teaching Assistants, they guide students during problem-solving and guided inquiry. Studio Fellows are undergraduate students from a range of majors, who have taken the course in which they are now working as a student leader. For those working with the integrated Biology and General Chemistry (iBC) courses these are students from Biological Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Medical Laboratory Science, and Marine Biology to name a few. Those students working with the Interdisciplinary Physical Science and Astronomy (SCEN101) course are non-science majors, primarily pre-service elementary education majors, but also include other majors such as Psychology, Finance, English, and Fine Arts. These student leaders can be athletes, ROTC, honors, and can be from all years.
Studio Fellows are selected based on a variety of aspects. In addition to having experience as a previous student in the course, grades combined with a relatable personality are key. Students that become Studio Fellows have the opportunity to work with a collaborative teaching team and learn how to recognize a student’s’ learning needs thereby pinpointing the best ways to help them. Studio Fellows are effective peer-mentors that possess excellent communication skills, patience, and empathy.
Studio Fellows acquire both professional and personal growth by gaining experience with active learning. As part of a teaching team, Studio Fellows obtain personal mentors and recommendations. This position also allows the student the opportunity to build on their teaching experience for college credits or monetary compensation.