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GSI Information, ugba-10 Fall 2008 - Spring 2009 |
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GSI Information, ugba-10 Fall 2008 - Spring 2009 |
| ugba-10 Course page | Overview |
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| Current GSIs | The Job | |
| Section times (this semester) | The Pay | |
| Module Schedule | Application | |
| GSI Duties | Selection Process |
ugba-10 is a large 500+ student course taught to the "Lower Division" (i.e. Freshman and Sophomores) undergraduates who are not yet enrolled in the Haas Undergraduate Program (which is the last two years of the BS). It is a general introduction to business and serves two purposes:
[1] For students who will later enter the School, it is designed to introduce them to the techniques of analysis and the vocabulary of the functional areas of business (Accounting, OB, Marketing, etc).
[2] For those who will do no further study of business, it is designed to teach them how business people think, and to introduce them to the skills they should expect to encounter in professional people.
The course is taught in five 3-week modules. Each week the students attend three lectures (taught by Haas faculty) and one Discussion Section, led by a GSI. The size of the discussion sections is about 36 students.
There are many teaching opportunities at Haas in both undergraduate courses and for some of the MBA classes. Our previous GSIs have found the ugba-10 appointment to be particularly rewarding. MBAs who've enjoyed the position have pointed to these benefits:
- It's a great opportunity to integrate learning from MBA core classes and be sharp when interviews come around
- Teaching undergraduates is just plain enjoyable--they are interested in what you have to say, and see you as a role model
- You get a sense of accomplishment. Often a ugba-10 section is the smallest class a Cal undergraduate has each week
- You work as a member of a team. We share ideas and provide support for any problems you encounter.
When we recruit GSIs for Fall semester our expectation is that most
people who work for us in Fall will have a re-appointment for subsequent Spring
Semester.
You will be responsible for two sections of about 36 students and you will get to know them well. Your job is not to go over homework or problems, but to lead a discussion each week. You don't have to attend the main lecture regularly (although we encourage you to visit to get an idea of each lecturer's style). There's a regularly scheduled team meeting each week in which you'll be prepared to teach specific material. We like to balance a clear structure with the flexibility that you can take your own approach and teach in your own style. The team members work closely with one another, co-operate on grading outlines and cover for one another (for example if job-interviews cause a conflict). [We schedule the team meeting by mutual agreement but due to the constraints of the course it is almost always scheduled Monday lunchtime.]
Each week you'll run 2 one-hour sections, meet with the team for one hour and hold two hours of Office Hours. At the end of each three-week module you'll grade 80 papers from your students (an 8 - 10 hour commitment, five times during the semester). Finally, you'll be asked to proctor some exams and you are responsible for maintaining the gradebooks for your sections.
ugba-10 will be a 30 percent FTE appointment to begin; this amounts to about $983 per month, but you are paid for five months for each semester (total estimated to be $4,917) although the work is over 15 weeks. In addition the job comes with tuition remission, if you are eligible. Further information is on the Haas GSI website.
Please make a provisional expression of interest by e-mail to Dave Robinson, the Course Manager. Attach your current resume, and address these issues in your e-mail:
- Marketing
- OB-HR
- Accounting & Finance
- Global Business & Entrepreneurship
- Production & Quality Management
Then we strongly encourage you to meet with any one of the current GSIs to learn more about the job. You are also welcome to visit one of the current sections to see the course in action.
The next stage will be an interview in April. There are two parts to the interview. In the first you'll be asked how you would handle situations that involve fair administration of the course. And in the second, you'll be asked to explain contemporary business events in terms that would be accessible to a very bright, but unknowledgeable undergraduate. Here are some sample questions:
- "What does 'supply chain' mean?"
- "Why do you have to pay higher interest on a second mortgage?"
- "Why has Sharper Image gone bankrupt?"
We select a team with membership is balanced across
functional areas, and those who show the greatest enthusiasm for teaching and
best skills at explaining complex business concepts in simple terms. Previous
teaching experience is not as important as common sense in dealing with course
administration in a reasonable manner. International students are
eligible to be hired; since the job entails grading and correcting papers
written in English, your own English language skills must be excellent.
The formal application process involves online registration at:
https://acadadmin.haas.berkeley.edu/GSIRecruitment/Application.pl