Assistantship Mentoring Program

What is AMP?

The Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP) creates the space for students and mentors (faculty/staff) to engage in intellectual creativity and collaboration through a semester-long position in one of the following roles:

  • Teaching Assistant (TA): Become a confident, experienced academic who is prepared for graduate school and/or positions of leadership.
  • Research Assistant (RA): Develop skills in research design, methodology, and analysis alongside a faculty mentor.
  • Program Assistant (PA): Create, design, implement, and evaluate programs and projects under the guidance of a faculty or staff mentor.

AMP is funded through Community Work and Learning student employment dollars. AMP Assistants are paid $14.45 for the 2021-22 academic year, working approximately 10 hours per week during the course of a semester. AMP is supported by Sarah Gerdes, Manager of Student Employment & Leadership. General AMP questions can be directed to amp@stkate.edu.

To see examples of past AMP projects, take a look at the virtual symposium site.

To be eligible for AMP, students must:

  • Be a sophomore, junior or senior status (undergraduate) or enrolled in Adult College or Graduate programs by spring 2022
  • Be enrolled at least half-time at St. Catherine University. For Undergraduate and Adult College: (6 credits, for Graduate students: 3 credits)
  • Work approximately 10 hours per week
  • Have completed the course or a course equivalent (for Teaching Assistants)

How to Apply: Deadline Monday, November 15 @ noon

 

*Note the process for applying for AMP has changed, please read carefully. 
Applications are currently open for the spring 2022 semester! There are two AMP postings available for students to apply on KatieCareer by Handshake. You will see one posting for new applicants and a separate posting for returning applicants. 

Step 1: Click on the “spring 2022 Application Questions” drop down menu below to view the long-answer questions that will be asked on the Google Form. Assistant/Mentors will work together to answer the questions for either New Applicants or Continuing AMP applicants. 

Step 2: Assistant logs into KatieCareer by Handshake and clicks on the appropriate AMP position:

  • #5413282 Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP) - New applicants
  • #5413229 Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP) - Continuing applicants

Step 3: The Assistant copies and pastes the team's answers into the Google Form found on the Handshake AMP posting by Monday, November 15 @ noon. Students will upload their resume within the Google Form.

Step 4: Assistant/Mentor teams will be notified whether they are accepted by the end of the semester or sooner (December 15)

If you would like assistance with your application materials please contact Career Development at: Askcareer@stkate.edu, CdC 210, 651-690-8890. Individuals with a disability who believe they may need any reasonable accommodations should contact the O'Neill Center for initial review: oneill_center@stkate.edu.

Note: If you have questions regarding this application process, please email amp@stkate.edu.
No emailed applications will be accepted.

5 photos showing students with their mentors
Frequently Asked Questions

New Applicant- Project/Course/Research- Questions

To be answered jointly (Mentor/Assistant)

  • Project Title
  • Please provide an overview of the AMP project/course/research? Include 2-3 anticipated outcomes of the work. *Overall please provide at least 2-3 descriptive paragraphs. 
  • Describe the anticipated role and responsibilities of the AMP Assistant within this work. Explain why this would be an impactful collaboration. 
  • As Mentor and Assist, what strengths do each of you bring to your individual role?
  • Through your AMP work, are you planning to work with a community organization? If so, name the organization(s) and the way you plan to collaborate. *This information will be used for internal purposes and does not impact whether or not you will be accepted into AMP.

To be answered by the Assistant

  • Describe your interest in the Assistantship Mentoring Program (AMP) and how you will contribute to the AMP scholarly community?
  • How will working on this project/course/research with your mentor help you pursue your academic, personal, and professional goals (ie. career readiness skills)?
  • As you fit AMP into your work/life/school schedule, what can we (CWL) do to best support you?
  • Assistants are required to attend a monthly professional development workshop each month. Students can choose between either the first Tuesday (12:00-1:00pm) OR Thursday (6:00-7:00pm) of each month. Please list 2-3 topics that are of interest you, which we will take into consideration when designing the workshops.

Continuing AMP- Project/Course/Research- Questions

To be answered jointly (Mentor/Assistant)

  • Project Title
  • Please describe in detail how the two of you intend to continue your Assistantship Mentoring Program project/course/research and include 2-3 new anticipated outcomes of your continued work
  • Please describe the AMP assistant’s anticipated responsibilities as you continue working together.

To be answered by the assistant

  • How has working on this project/course/research with your mentor helped you pursue your academic, personal, and professional goals (ie. career readiness skills)?
  • Describe what skills you have gained from your AMP experience thus far. What additional growth opportunities/skills do you anticipate working towards?

 

How do I find a mentor/mentee?

Students can invite a faculty or staff to apply with them, or a mentor can invite a student. Due to the large number of applicants that apply to AMP, each AMP team is limited to one mentor and one mentee. If there is interest in collaborative work, each team must contain one mentor and one mentee. 

Qualifications for being an AMP Mentor?

  • Be employed by St. Catherine University (can be faculty or staff, full time, part time or adjunct)
  • Commit sufficient time to providing a meaningful learning experience for student assistant
  • Mentors can only apply to work with one AMP project per semester (TA, RA or PA)

What are the commitment expectations of mentors and assistants?

  • Assistants are required to attend a monthly professional development workshop. Students can choose between either the first Tuesday (12:00-1:00pm) OR Thursday (6:00-7:00pm) of each month
  • New AMP teams attend orientation
  • Complete a mid-semester evaluation
  • Attend a Final Symposium 

 

AMP Position Options

Teaching Assistants (TA): Teaching Assistants must have successfully completed the course (or equivalent) for which they will be the TA prior to beginning an assistantship. TAs should also have the capacity to lead group discussions and learning activities, and possess the ability to work on-on-one with members of a diverse student body. TAs meet regularly with faculty mentors to collaborate in course preparation, instructional strategies, and classroom activities. Assistants also learn how to give feedback on papers and coursework, as well as facilitate lectures and class discussions.

Research Assistants (RA): Research Assistants must have an extensive foundation of knowledge in the area of inquiry and be able to perform high level work with the help of their mentors. RAs must possess basic research skills, the capacity to learn and engage in research methods necessary for the project, and the ability to complete projects in a timely manner. RAs work both collaboratively and independently while expanding skills in research design, methodology, and analysis. RAs collaborate with mentors throughout the entire research process, from the development of a research question to the presentation of findings. Assistants are encouraged to present their research results on campus, in the community or at a professional conference.

Program Assistants (PA): Program Assistants must be able to function autonomously at times and possess the capacity to learn and engage in program development. Assistants should also have the ability to plan and implement projects in a timely manner. Program Assistants gain the necessary skills to support and maintain a program or project from creation to completion. Assistants also learn how to work collaboratively with staff or faculty mentors to create, design, implement and evaluate programs and projects. Program Assistants meet regularly with their mentors, connecting theory to action in their field while leading and influencing in a joint intellectual effort.