There are volunteer, course-based, and paid opportunities with the FSG program to develop your leadership skills.
Become an FSG Leader
FSG Leaders are volunteer upper year students who lead weekly 1-hour study sessions using collaborative and active learning techniques. This volunteer opportunity is eligible for the Co-Curricular Record.
At UTM, the FSG program is supervised by the RGASC Learning Strategists and the FSG Program Assistants.
Eligibility
- Current UTM undergraduate student taking courses in the academic year you’re applying for
- Completed at least 4.0 credits
- Minimum CGPA of 2.50
- 80+ grade in the course you’d like to facilitate OR with approval through FSG vetting process
Please note that these requirements are subject to the FSG vetting process which determines if a student is eligible to facilitate for the academic year. The vetting process includes, but is not limited to, checking the applicant’s full academic history. While applicants can indicate their course preferences for facilitation, FSG course assignment is based on factors such as course eligibility and facilitation demand.
“To me, facilitation is a powerful educational tool that enables the student to generate their own knowledge by critically thinking of concepts, rather than memorizing off their textbooks or lecture notes”
The Fall 2024 FSG Leader application form is closed. We will continue to do facilitator recruitment in courses that have more spaces. Our Winter 2025 facilitator recruitment form will become available in November or December 2024. Questions can be sent to fsg.utm@utoronto.ca
Skills you’ll develop
- Teamwork
- Leadership
- Facilitating and Presenting
Your commitments and responsibilities
- Attend initial and in-service FSG training
- Plan and lead a 1-hour FSG session per week
- Advertise your FSGs
- Reflect and build your portfolio
"Being an FSG facilitator gave me the opportunity to pursue a leadership role greater than any other available to undergraduate students. As a facilitator, I was able to help support and guide students in a classroom setting, improve my communicative abilities, and explore how to create sessions to support students of different learning styles."
Victoria Gracie, current FSG Program Assistant
Earn course credit through an FSG placement course
Enroll into EDS325 H5 (Supplemental Instruction in Higher Education: Peer-Facilitated Study Groups) offered through the Department of Language Studies. Course enrollment is completed through ACORN.
In this experiential learning course, you’ll get a deeper dive into the theory and practice of Supplemental Instruction and complete a mandatory placement of developing and leading FSG sessions. Your placement experience will be used to inform your class work and reflections.
The EDS325 H5 course is offered in partnership with the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC). It supports the initial training, in-service training, and placement of students into the FSG program.
EDS325 H5 students who wish to have the FSG experience documented in their Co-Curricular Record must also facilitate through the FSG program in the semester that they are not enrolled in the course in that academic year.
“The EDS325 helped me develop innovative strategies, methods and plans that advanced student learning and harness the power of leadership in my professional and educational development. In addition to developing my personal profile and portfolio, I received help identifying and achieving my personal and professional goals. The course introduced me to the theory and practice of Supplemental Instruction (SI) which fostered my understanding of leadership styles and demonstrated the ability to apply various skills across multiple fields including education, corporate and non-profit sectors.”
Shahinaah Sritharan, previous EDS325 student
Apply to be an FSG Program Assistant
"Being a Program Assistant allowed me to reach my full potential around campus, both in terms of leadership, and in helping others achieve their goals of academic excellence.
The PA role was a paid position, but I would have been happy to volunteer given the priceless skills it allowed me to develop, along with making countless connections and great friends along the way. Communicating with professors and assisting their students exposed me to a side of the professors I was unaware of; their burning desire to help their students succeed, and I’m very thankful that the PA position allowed me to play an instrumental role in that goal."
Nicholas Rea, current Medical Student
We hire students to assist with running the FSG Program in the role of a paid FSG Program Assistant. We typically hire in March to May with contracts beginning in May or September.
- Hiring Period: March to May
- Contract Start Dates: May or September
As part of the Facilitated Study Groups (FSG) program team in the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC), the FSG Program Assistants will work under the supervision of the Learning Strategist and Program Manager to support the FSG program in training facilitators, managing study group scheduling, liaising with course instructors, and collaborating in the program enhancement to support the academic success of UTM students.
The FSG PAs will support training in group facilitation, collaborative learning, and academic skills development strategies, FSG advertising, and on-going professional development for facilitators.
FSG PAs will be responsible for:
- Supervision of a cluster of FSGs, which includes mentoring facilitators, scheduling sessions, and operating as the main point of contact with course instructors.
- Leading the initial and in-service training of facilitators
- Observing, mapping, and providing written and/or verbal feedback on FSG sessions
- Reviewing and providing feedback on session plans and reflections
- Attending Program Assistant meetings
- Updating FSG content on Quercus
- Responding to student, facilitator, and instructor messages and emails
- Providing feedback and recommendations as part of program enhancement
Training will be provided to FSG PAs to support their professional development by participating in activities such as:
- RGASC orientation event
- One-on-one supervisory meetings
- Professional Development workshops
Qualifications
All candidates must:
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Have been a facilitator for at least two semesters through the FSG program at UTM
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Attended all the In-Service Training sessions for each of the semesters they facilitated
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Have had attendance in at least one third of their FSG sessions
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Be in good academic standing (minimum cGPA of at least 2.70)
Preference for hiring will be given to candidates who will continue to be UTM undergraduate students at the start of their Program Assistant contract.
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Familiarity with the UTM community and resources
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Strong verbal and written communication
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Listening and conflict resolution skills
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Experience in group facilitation and/or training
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Strong ability to reflect, problem solve, and communicate recommendations based on a variety of perspectives
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Attention to detail
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Ability to work independently and as a team member
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Experience with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Teams is an asset
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Experience in customer service, training and development are assets
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Successful completion of EDS325 H5 is an asset, but not required
An application form will be posted in March.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview process.