GT 1000, Georgia Tech’s first-year seminar course, supports the retention and success of first-year students. The course meets one hour a week and is taught by faculty and staff volunteers. The Office of Undergraduate Education is looking for instructors for fall and summer. March 26 is the deadline for instructor applications.
On average, GT 1000 needs about 100 instructors every fall and 40 instructors each summer. GT 2000, a similar course to help incoming transfer students adjust to Tech’s curriculum and campus culture, usually has 10 instructors. The Office of Undergraduate Education is accepting instructor applications for both courses until March 26.
The GT 1000/2000 instructor role is a volunteer position, and applicants must have approval from their supervisor. To be a solo instructor, a Tech faculty or staff member must have earned a master’s degree or higher. Staff with bachelor’s degrees may apply to co-teach with an instructor who has a master’s degree. Applicants must have at least one year of service as a Tech employee. Classes usually have a maximum of 20 students. Each instructor is assigned a team leader (TL), an upper-class student who helps facilitate the class.
“We are looking for people who are committed to helping first-year students succeed and become part of the Georgia Tech community,” said Lacy Hodges, assistant director for Academic Transition Programs. She estimates the total time commitment for instructors ranges from two to four hours per week, including the 50 minutes of weekly classroom time.
All instructors receive one full day of training, which will be held this summer. The Office of Undergraduate Education partners with the Center for Teaching and Learning and other groups across campus to give instructors, particularly those new to teaching, strategies for working with students and managing the classroom.
For those interested in becoming an instructor, an information session will be held Wednesday, March 17 at 3:00 pm via BlueJeans. Those ready to apply can fill out the instructor application here.
Teaching is Rewarding
Faculty and staff who teach GT 1000 or 2000 often say the courses allow them to interact with students in a way that they normally would not. “It’s a different environment,” Hodges said. “It’s a way for students to get to know faculty and staff better, and for faculty and staff to get to know students a little better. The interaction can only bring our community closer together.”
De’Angelo Neely, the winner of last year’s GT 1000 Instructor of the Year Award, agrees with Hodges. “Teaching GT 1000 is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” said De’Angelo, Financial Administrator III for the Office of the Provost and Academic Coach for Undergraduate Advising & Transition. “I love being able to enrich our students with tools and resources to help them start their journey at Tech. Teaching GT 1000 is a learning experience not just for our students but for the instructors as well. I would encourage staff to sign up to teach GT1000 so they can see the student-facing side of Tech and also become an ally to our new students. They can always use the support and good energy.”
Teaching GT 1000 or 2000 can also present new opportunities for growth and professional development. “As a result of the great work we do teaching GT 1000, I was invited to work as an Advising Coach,” De’Angelo continued. “This new role will allow me to assist our students to navigate through each semester here at Tech. My work as a coach will help our students reach their goals, provide resources to students in need, and just be a listening ear for intense academic moments. I am excited to start this advocacy work because our students need our support and deserve any help we can provide.”
GT 1000 and 2000 are programs within the Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE). To learn more about OUE, follow us on @GTOUE on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook or visit our web page at oue.gatech.edu.