One of the best ways to get involved on campus at Stony Brook is to become an Undergraduate College Fellow! Stony Brook University is unique in its practice to place first year students into learning communities based on personal interests, regardless of major. First year students all take the First Year Seminar 101 during their first semester of college, where they are exposed to the resources the campus has to offer. The class is taught by a professional staff member, and most of the time will feature an Undergraduate College Fellow, who serves as a teaching assistant for the class. I have the pleasure of being an Undergraduate College Fellow for Leadership and Service- and it’s been one of my favorite extracurricular activities so far at Stony Brook. If you’ve seen your Fellow in action and thought, “I want to do that!” then keep reading and see why I think becoming a Fellow is worthwhile.
1. Connection to Resources
Being a Fellow brings you closer to all of the resources on campus. You learn about the inner workings of Stony Brook, and get to find out about everything this campus offers to students, from the Academic Success and Tutoring Center, to the room concierge service, and the mindful meditation programs at CAPS. You’ll know how to help other students, but you’ll also know what’s out there if you ever need anything for yourself.
2. UGC 275
LDS 275 has been one of my favorite classes that I’ve taken at Stony Brook so far. It’s a required class if you’re in the curriculum, and prepares you for everything you’ll need once you’re actually standing in front of a class of first year students. In the class, you’ll become familiar with all Stony Brook resources and learn how to direct students to the appropriate areas if they need help. You’ll be trained in mediation and conflict resolution in all aspects of college life to help as much as possible, which will help outside the classroom, too.
3. EXP+ credit
All students from the class of 2018 and far beyond are on the Stony Brook Curriculum system, which is our own version of gen-eds. If you’re looking for a way to get your EXP+, experiential learning, in the Pursue Deeper Understanding Category, consider being an Undergraduate College Fellow. It’s TA experience that you can have as a sophomore, so you get it out of the way earlier. If you’re a New York State resident, it also counts as degree progress, so if UGC 276 is your twelfth credit, you’ll still have your tuition covered (another +)!
4. Icebreakers
I’m a rare breed because I love icebreakers. Maybe it’s the camp counselor in me, but nothing gets me more excited than making a group of hesitant kids get up and get their energy flowing. I love watching kids get to know each other better, through laughter and bonding over fun activities. As a part of the UGC 275 class, each week we had to do an icebreaker activity. If time permits in my class, I do one of them, and it makes the students much more engaged throughout the lesson.
5. Fellows Retreat
One of my favorite parts of my freshman year was the Fellows retreat. Yes, it’s another training day, but you get to spend hours mingling and interacting with Fellows and professional staff from other Undergraduate Colleges. We learned about different teaching and leadership styles, and participated in fun activities that sparked meaningful discussions about our role on campus and in the community. After the retreat, my cohort really came together and felt more like a family, which made the remaining classes we had together much more special.
6. Resume Builder
One of the perks of being a Fellow is that it helps you build your resume early on in your college career. Especially within Stony Brook, being known as an Undergraduate College Fellow proves that you are a student leader. Employers on campus know that you are capable, respected, and have a variety of transferrable skills to bring to any area. It’s a great learning experience and makes you look much more desirable as a candidate.
7. Program Planning Experience
One of the components of being a Fellow is being able to successfully plan and execute programs. This is an invaluable skill that will help with any future student leadership positions. In the UGC 275 class, students have to form groups and create a program. Students are encouraged to pay attention to campus needs and follow the program planning model. Fellows take note of budget, resources, and advertising limitations in order to bring the most effective and successful programs to school. This helps with planning small and large scale programs outside of the Undergraduate College sphere to promote your club or organization and accomplish all goals.
8. Changing the Curriculum
A lot of students complain about the first year seminar curriculum. If you feel that there are ways that the class can be improved, becoming a Fellow is a great idea. The Undergraduate College Team asks the Fellows for feedback and opinions on how to change the class to appeal to more students. We give advice on the book, what resources are highlighted in the syllabus, and how to motivate and connect students to their Undergraduate College.
9. Orientation and Opening Weekend
If you’re a Fellow, you may very well be one of the first faces a new student will see when they come to campus. Fellows assist during orientation and lead icebreakers and answer questions, reassuring students that Stony Brook was the right choice. During Opening Weekend, when everyone is nervous and hesitant, it is the job of the Fellow to facilitate conversations and activities, helping students bond with other members of their UGC. They’re energetic, bubbly, and knowledgeable about all things Stony Brook, so they’re the perfect people to motivate students for a successful first year.
10. Teaching Experience
The essence of being a Fellow is being a teaching assistant for the first year seminar. Fellows learn how to use BlackBoard, present information clearly, and check on students’ progress. It teaches time management in making sure all lessons are adequately prepared for, and communication and public speaking skills, as you have to stand in front of a class once a week for an hour and articulate all the material effectively. Being a good TA, or Fellow, requires taking an active interest in the lives of the students and checking up on them. I notice when my kids aren’t in class or when they’re not paying attention and I ask them about it. I follow up, because I want them to know that if they need help or are having a tough time, I am a resource for them. That’s my job.
11. Finding a Mentor in your 101 Instructor
After your UGC advisor has gotten to know you better, over the summer you’re paired with a 101 instructor to teach. I was fortunate enough to be assigned to work with my freshman year residence hall director. She’s made my teaching experience great so far. We have similar work ethics and the same ideas about how to split up the material. All 101 instructors are great- but I’ve been extremely lucky in that I’ve been matched with an individual that goes beyond her assigned role. She’s become my mentor and truly cares about how I’m doing, whether it’s in regards to school or my personal life. She offers me advice and connects me to resources when I need it. After working directly with first year students, having my 101 instructor as my mentor has been the most rewarding part of the Fellows program.
12. Working with First Year Students
By far my favorite part of being a Fellow, and the reason I wanted to become one in the first place, is that I get to work with the first year students. The highlight of my week since the semester started has been getting to teach my class. I might be biased because I have been gifted with an incredible class, but interacting with the students gives me so much hope and pride. I’ve seen my class blossom over the course of a few lessons, watching some start participating more and by reading their weekly journals, I’ve gotten to know a few of their struggles and see how far they’ve come through their transition into college. One of the best moments for me so far has been interacting with my students during a Fellows interest meeting and having a student in my class ask me to write his recommendation letter to become a Fellow. I feel such a sense of accomplishment in pride in my work in the classroom, and I’m so proud of my students and hope I continue to inspire them to become leaders on campus.
If any of these sound like good enough reasons to you to want to become a Fellow, I encourage you to attend an informational session and apply! Good luck!
