the Informer

[caption id="attachment_1727" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="COURTESY OF UHAWEB.HARTFORD.EDU"][/caption] Students who are looking to help other students with their work and become a benefactor towards a faculty member should look in to becoming a preceptor for a class. The university has a preceptor program for students with advanced academic and leaderships skills to help faculty members provide more options to get students to succeed. This program allows professors to seek for an advanced student who works past their limits and creates a suitable environment. These students are sought to assist other students throughout their courses. A preceptor is an undergraduate student who is chosen by a professor because their hard work and effort in previous encounters. Normally, a student will be chosen for an introductory level course for one academic semester, and typically they are chosen individually by the professor of the course. The professor then puts the student through a workshop in the upcoming semester to undertake their duties. The workshop could include academic authority, ethical considerations, peer writing instruction, methods of stimulating active learning and other instructive issues. These duties will allow the preceptor to undertake any challenge or situation that might arise in the future course. Preceptors can help students with any work they might struggle with. Students can set up appointments with their preceptor if the professor is not available or they feel more comfortable talking to another student. In becoming a role model for students, the preceptor will gain many responsibilities. They can become a tutor for students in the certain subject, become a writing coach or even make weekly meetings to discuss assignments one might not understand. Though preceptors do not grade any student accounts, the preceptor will be in the class at every session to help the professor and the students, while they themselves take notes. The main reason for the preceptor program is to help students who want a better feel for the course from a student perspective. They also provide help for the professors; they act as messengers for any issues due to grading standards or a personal problem associated with the students. Furthermore, the preceptor is around to assist the professor with any preparations for the class and the course workload. The university has created this program to give more opportunities for the students to create more educational situations for themselves, the faculty and other students. These preceptors can be seen at any time when spoken to with any question according to the material. For more information on the university’s preceptor program, students and professors can speak with Dr. Mark Blackwell, the director of the university honors and preceptor programs at blackwell@hartford.edu or at extension 4941.