Being a PASS leader

Role

The PASS leaders are key to the success of the program. They are responsible for guiding students through the unit content, concepts and study skills. Leaders need to create the right environment for effective group learning, that is:

  • supportive
  • inclusive
  • focused on the needs of the students

It's important to emphasise that the PASS leader is not an expert and does not take the role of teacher by providing answers. The role of the leader is to help students answer their own questions using the lecture notes, textbooks and other students.

A new PASS leader will usually run two one-hour sessions per week. Experienced leaders will often run three sessions per week.

Benefits

PASS leaders are paid and have the opportunity to participate in the program for several semesters. Experienced leaders have the opportunity to train and mentor new leaders and to present papers on PASS at events held at Monash and externally (e.g. Monash Employability Symposium, National PASS Forum).

Being a PASS leader helps you develop the skills most highly valued by employers (2007 Monash Graduate Employers Survey):

  • oral and written communication skills
  • teamwork and leadership
  • problem solving
  • time management
  • ability to learn new skills
  • ability to cope with pressure.

Becoming a PASS leader

The University recruits PASS leaders by inviting applications from students who are enrolled in or have recently completed the target units.
To be invited to become a PASS leader, you must:

  • be an undergraduate
  • have successfully completed at least 48 credit points of your Monash degree
  • be available to be a PASS leader for at least two semesters
  • have a weighted average mark (WAM) of 60 or more
  • have a distinction or higher for the relevant PASS unit(s)
  • commit 4-5 hours per week during semester, to the program
  • attend the PASS Leader Training Program (usually held during O'Week).

Leaders must also have excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills. Experience in tutoring, coaching, customer service and leadership roles in clubs, societies, teams or at high school will help to demonstrate these skills. Preference is given to students who have regularly attended a PASS program.

Selection

At the end of semester, we will contact students who have completed the target units with strong results and invite them to submit an expression of interest (EOI). By the closing date, students need to provide a:

  • curriculum vitae/resume
  • covering letter
  • copy of an unofficial academic record (from WES)

We will select and contact applicants for an interview and notify all applicants of the results.

Training

All leaders must attend a training program delivered by a Monash PASS coordinator. The program covers topics such as:

  • strategies to facilitate groups
  • session planning
  • class management and dealing with challenging behaviours
  • learning styles and strategies
  • working with diversity
  • providing feedback to students

PASS leaders present a mock session and receive constructive feedback based on their performance.

Resources

Feedback

If you have been involved in the program and would like to provide feedback, please email pass.feedback@monash.edu.

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