Challenge START is a year-long peer mentoring and leadership development program designed to support Challenge students during their first or 2nd year at Georgia Tech. Incoming students are paired with a successful upperclassman, or START Leader, who serves as a peer mentor and offers support to help new students acclimate academically, professionally and socially during their first year.

Reports To: Jelani Liddell, M.S.Ed. (Challenge Program Director & Assistant Director, Outreach Initiatives)

Functions

  • To become a role model and a source of information for students.
  • To assist new students in meeting all academic goals deemed necessary by Georgia Tech, OMED, and each student jointly.
  • To positively impact the student’s performance financially, socially, and other areas necessary for success at Georgia Tech.
  • To assist OMED staff in regular office duties.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Provide new incoming students with accurate information about academics and the environment at Georgia Tech.
  • Maintain weekly contact with the students assigned to their team.
  • Be familiar with the individual student’s situations in their team to assist them properly.
  • Attend all meetings and activities by the supervising Assistant Director.
  • Be knowledgeable and adhere to Georgia Tech and OMED policies and procedures.
  • Assist in the coordination, planning, and execution of Challenge START programs and events.
  • Monitor student development and report all occurrences in students’ lives that you deem an emergency situation to the appropriate to OMED staff member.
  • Carry out tasks as outlined by the supervising OMED staff member within the given time period.
  • Maintain continuous communication with the Assistant Director.

Job Qualifications

  • Must be at least a sophomore with a minimum GPA of 2.8 at the end of the most recently completed semester and make a commitment to earn a semester GPA of 3.0 or better.
  • Must be able to commit to both fall and spring semesters.
  • Must be familiar with the different departments on campus.
  • Must be familiar with Georgia Tech’s Honor Code.
  • Demonstrated leadership and/or peer mentoring experience.
  • Must be an outgoing and sociable student, creative, success-oriented, strong initiative and desire to assist fellow classmates, enthusiastic, able to function in a TEAM environment, and able to apply full attention on the job during duty hours.

Compensation

The starting student salaries for OMED are:

  • $8.50/hour for sophomores, juniors, and seniors
  • $10.00/hour for federal work study

Work Hours

10 hours/week (flexible schedule)