Facilitated Study Groups
Penn State College of Engineering is committed to providing access to programs and opportunities to all qualified students without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
Facilitated Study Groups bring together small groups of first- and second-year engineering students, who are enrolled in the same courses, with an upper-level engineering facilitator. Study group members meet with the facilitator about once a week in order to go over homework problems, discuss conceptual questions, study for exams, and help students succeed in their courses.
Join a Group
The benefits of joining a facilitated study group include the ability to ask questions in a small group setting, making friends with other engineering students in the same class. You can also work on homework and study for exams weekly with your group(s).
Lead a Group
The benefits of leading a facilitated study group include helping the members of your study group not only succeed in the class that you are helping them with but also develop much-needed study skills that will benefit them in the future as well. Gaining leadership skills to add to your résumé and enhance your marketability. Get a refresher on first- and second-year course concepts. Facilitated group leaders are compensated on an hourly basis.
Facilitator selection is based on the grade you earned in the course, the number of students demonstrating need in that course, an interview, and the degree to which your availability matches that of the students.
Facilitator duties include:
- Working with your group to determine when, where, and how long the group will work during the week.
- Meeting with your group at least once a week.
- Preparing a weekly update of your progress and hours in the form of a short email.
- Signing a contract outlining the duties of a facilitator.