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Work or volunteer at The Office for Study Abroad

Become a Peer Adviser

Peer Advisers provide information about study abroad programs and procedures to UI undergraduate students by staffing the Office for Study Abroad's resource room and participating in activities related to the promotion of study abroad programs. Up to seven students will be hired, each with slightly different responsibilities.

We typically hire several new Peer Advisers at the beginning of the academic year. (Occasionally there is an opening in January; please inquire before submitting an application.) Applications are accepted until the positions are filled. Finalists are interviewed in August just prior to or immediately after the start of classes. 

Shared Responsibilities

1. Staff the Study Abroad Resource Room
   • Advise students about study abroad procedures and/or specific programs
   • Make follow-up phone calls/e-mails to interested students
   • Organize and shelve Resource Room materials
2. Promote Study Abroad To Prospective Students
   • Staff information tables at the IMU and elsewhere
   • Recruit and organize study abroad "alumni" on campus to promote study abroad
   • Assist with events organized for prospective students (e.g. Hawkeye Visit Days)
   • Write articles for publication in the DI and other publications
   • Help organize the Study Abroad Fair
3. Help Outbound Students
   • Create/assemble predeparture orientation materials
   • Assist with predeparture orientation programs for student going to "your" country/program
   • Assist in organization of and attend 'TIPS' orientation workshop twice yearly
4. Other duties as assigned (we're open to creative ideas!)

Individual Responsibilities

1. Publications
   • Coordinate the development of handouts to promote study abroad programs
   • Provide graphic design support
   • Assist in the development of a newsletter to UI students abroad
2. Outreach
   • Organize and/or conduct information sessions in the International Center, IMU, residence halls, sororities, fraternities and other venues on campus
   • Organize presentations to classes about study abroad
   • Create and distribute publicity materials for direct mailings, campus bulletin board displays, and selected departments/offices
3. World Wide Web
   • Maintain, update and expand the Office for Study Abroad's web site as needed
4. Program Administration
   • Develop/update orientation materials/program handbooks
   • Organize information and orientation sessions for selected programs
   • Assist program adviser with administrative tasks

Qualifications

• Undergraduate status at the University of Iowa
• Previous participation in a study abroad program and demonstrated interest in promoting international education
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills
• Other skills or experience required as related to the individual responsibilities:
  • Publications Assistant - writing, graphic design and desktop publishing experience
  • Outreach Assistant - public speaking skills and experience
  • WWW Assistant - extensive familiarity with the Web/excellent computer skills
  • Program administration - demonstrated organizational and clerical skills

Terms of Appointment

Hours

8 - 15 hours per week while school is in session. Scheduled time will include hours when the Resource Room is open to student traffic (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) and additional hours to complete other assignments, such as outreach activities, weekly staff meetings and resource room maintenance. All peer advisers will occasionally be asked to take part in weekend or evening activities.

Salary

$8.50/hour

Application procedure

Applications may be downloaded below or may be picked up at the Office for Study Abroad, 1111 University Capitol Centre. The largest number of vacancies for peer advisers is usually in August, though we sometimes have openings in January as well.

Peer Adviser Application

Volunteer for Study Abroad

The Office for Study Abroad has many opportunities for returned students to help out with program promotion and preparing students for overseas experiences. Contact Lori Eiserman, our outreach coordinator for details.