Description ​​​

The Academic Learning Assistant is a live-in, peer mentorship, student staff position. ALAs work an average of 15 hours a week within the Residence Halls on the Oregon State University Corvallis Campus. There are 14 ALAs, one assigned to each of the residential communities.

ALAs provide an array of services to support residential students in the adjustment to the academic rigors of Oregon State University. ALAs work to cultivate strong academic habits and college knowledge, promote engagement with university resources, and assist students in navigating the university landscape. These services range from one-on-one meetings with students to hall-wide programming initiatives. Academic Learning Assistants are primarily supervised by the Area Director for Academic Initiatives within UHDS and will receive ongoing training and programmatic support from the Academic Success Center staff and the supervisor of their assigned Residence Hall.

Minimum/Required Qualifications

A successful candidate must:

  • Be a full time OSU student or degree partnership student with an OSU or
    • Accumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher by start date
  • Maintain good academic and conduct standing with OSU & UHDS
  • Demonstrate the ability to engage with and cultivate relationships with individuals with diverse experiences and backgrounds
  • Demonstrate the ability to work independently with a high level of self-direction and initiative
  • Demonstrate the ability to learn about social justice principles and concepts
  • Demonstrate the ability to balance multiple priorities through effective time management
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in written formPreferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience in a leadership or peer mentoring role on or off campus.
  • Demonstrated ability to proactively cultivate and maintain relationships with diverse groups of people.
  • Demonstrated commitment to diversity and social justice education, initiatives, and programs.
  • Experience with presenting information to others, leading discussions, or facilitating large group workshops.
  • Ability to remain in the position for the duration of the 2025-2026 academic year.
ALA Compensation
  • Furnished residence hall room. ALAs may be assigned roommates on a temporary basis as part of the UHDS Temporary Housing Plan.
  • All ALAs receive a Student Staff Meal Plan for Fall (14 weeks including Training and OSU Welcome), Winter Term (11 weeks) and Spring Term (11 weeks)
  • ALAs receive a $1,320 stipend for the academic year that is distributed in increments each month of their employment

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin filling out the ALA application, be sure to read over the full Academic Learning Assistant Position Description.

Please take some time to make sure you have all of the materials needed to complete your application. Materials include:

References

There are no letters of recommendation or references required for the ALA position.

Resume

You will need to have an up to date resume for your application. Please submit your resume in a PDF file. If you would like to know more about creating a resume, please contact the Career Development Center.

Essay Questions

You will be required to answer the following essay questions when applying for this position. Please read over and draft your responses to the essay questions prior to beginning your application.

  • Please describe why you are interested in becoming an Academic Learning Assistant at Oregon State University. What aspects of the role excite you, and how do you believe your skills and experiences will contribute to your success in this position?
  • As an ALA, you will have the opportunity to build meaningful connections with students in your hall and provide individualized support. Share an example of a time when you intentionally built a relationship with someone to offer them help or guidance. What did you learn from that experience, and how will you apply that knowledge in your approach to connecting with students in your role as an ALA?
  • How would you approach a situation where a student you are working with feels excluded or marginalized due to their identity (e.g., race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.)? What steps would you take to make them feel valued, supported, and heard?

Once you have all of this information ready, you can begin filling out the ALA application.

Apply

Log in to the OSU Jobs website to apply for an ALA position.

Apply now!

 

Application Timeline
  • 2025-2026 ALA Application opens January 6, 2025
  • Application Closes on February 2, 2025 at 5 p.m. PST
3 Ways the Career Development Center Can Help!
  1. Improve your resume. Use Oregon State’s online resume reviewer, Vmock, to get instant, personalized feedback before you submit your application to UHDS. Based on tips from Vmock, improve your resume to boost your odds of getting hired.
  2. Practice interviewing. Use an interactive video platform, Standout, to practice your interviewing skills in your own space. Hear how you sound out loud and see how you present yourself to an interviewer.
  3. Get help with your cover letter and other career topics one-on-one. The Career Development Center offers consultations with career assistants who can answer your questions about resumes, cover letters, Handshake, and finding a job on campus. If you have additional questions, such as about career exploration for your major, make an appointment with a college-specific career advisor through Handshake.

QUESTIONS

For questions about the ALA position at the Corvallis campus, contact us here.