The Grainger College of Engineering
The Grainger First-Year Experience

Engineering Learning Assistants

Engineering Learning Assistant (ELA) positions

GFX offers paid opportunities for students to engage with peers as leaders and mentors in orientation courses (ENG 100, 300, or 398) and major exploration (ENG 101).

General ELA applications are due on Thursday, October 31.
Head ELA and Lead ELA applications have closed.

Apply online now! 

Grainger First-Year Experience (GFX) seeks to hire several General ELAs in fall 2025. A General ELA is a trained, advanced undergraduate who facilitates the instruction of ENG 100 or 101 and serves as a peer mentor to the students in their section of ENG 100 or 101.     

Responsibilities

  • Facilitate one section of ENG 100 or 101 (with about 20 students) in the fall semester following lesson guides and slides provided
  • Provide direction, guidance, and mentorship to ENG 100 or 101 students  
  • Attend weekly meetings with other departmental / class ELAs and provide feedback on class and curriculum to Lead ELA
  • Refer students to GFX Leadership (departmental Lead ELAs, Head ELAs, and GFX Associate Director) and campus resources when needed
  • Assist with any (optional) GFX workshops for ENG 100 or 101 students; these can range from social events to resume reviews

Qualifications

  • Current undergraduate engineering student in good academic standing who will graduate no sooner than December 2025 and is eligible to work in the US / on campus 
  • Effective communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills
  • Demonstrated ability to empathize and work well with others from diverse backgrounds
  • Documented involvement in their department and Grainger  
  • Familiarity with and understanding of resources in their department, Grainger, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Must be available for all of the following training and programs:
    • SP 2025: ENG 377 (1 hr), a 12 week course aimed to train students how to teach and mentor first-year students (class times vary)
    • FA 2025: Launch! (Friday, August 22); at least one section of ENG 100 or ENG 101; required weekly meetings with the Lead ELA and other ELAs in student’s department  

Compensation

  • $15/hour

Time Commitment

  • 6-10 hours/week in fall 2025

Apply online now!

Grainger First-Year Experience (GFX) seeks to hire several General ELAs in fall 2025 to assist with teaching, mentoring, and coordinating social programming for international exchange and ZJUI students.  

Responsibilities

  • Facilitate one section of ENG 398 (with about 20 students) in the fall semester following lesson guides and slides provided
  • Provide direction, guidance, and mentorship to international and ZJUI students enrolled in ENG 398
  • Attend weekly meetings with other ENG 398 ELAs and provide feedback on class and curriculum to Lead ELA
  • Refer students to GFX & IPENG Leadership (departmental Lead ELAs, Head ELAs, GFX Associate Director, and IPENG staff) and campus resources when needed
  • Assist with coordinating and delivering regular social events for international exchange and ZJUI students in fall semester  
  • Available to regularly lead Grainger Study Abroad 101 workshops for fellow Grainger students  

Qualifications

  • Current undergraduate engineering student in good academic standing who will graduate no sooner than December 2025 and is eligible to work in the US / on campus 
  • Effective communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills
  • Demonstrated ability to empathize and work well with others from other cultural or national backgrounds
  • Documented involvement in their department and/or Grainger   
  • Familiarity with and understanding of resources in their department, IPENG, Grainger, and UIUC 
  • Must be available for all of the following trainings and programs:
    • SP 2025: ENG 377 (1 hr), a 12 week course aimed to train students how to teach and mentor first-year students
      • Note: Students who will be studying abroad are eligible and encouraged to apply to serve as an ENG 398 ELA 
    • FA 2025: Launch! (Friday, August 22); at least one section of ENG 398; required weekly meetings with the Lead ELA and other ENG 398 ELAs 

Compensation

  • $15/hour

Time Commitment

  • 6-10 hours/week in fall 2025

 

GFX seeks to hire 2 Head ELAs in fall 2025. A Head ELA is a trained, advanced undergraduate who helps oversee the ELAs and ENG 100 activities and curricula for all departments. They are the main point of contact for the GFX Staff (Associate Director, Program Coordinator). 

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate with their co-head ELA to prepare for and lead weekly meetings with Lead ELAs
  • Meetings should focus on: community development among Lead ELAs, communicating ENG 100 expectations and updates with Lead ELAs, and soliciting constructive feedback from Lead ELAs about ENG 100 activities and curriculum
  • Communicate regularly with GFX Associate Director and coordinate timely updates and improvements on the ENG 100 curriculum
  • Facilitate one section of ENG 100 (with about 20 students) in the fall semester following lesson guides and slides provided
  • Provide direction, guidance, and mentorship to Lead ELAs and ENG 100 students 
  • Refer Lead ELAs and first-year students to GFX Leadership and campus resources when needed
  • Assist GFX AD with training ELAs in SP 2025 and FA 2025
  • Coordinate with Lead ELAs and GFX Associate Director to offer optional events and workshops for ENG 100 

Qualifications

  • Current undergraduate engineering student in good academic standing who will graduate no sooner than December 2025 and is eligible to work in the US / on campus 
  • Have taught at least 1 orientation course (ENG 100, 101, 398) before spring 2025
  • Effective communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills
  • Demonstrated ability to empathize and work well with others from diverse backgrounds
  • Documented leadership and involvement in their department and Grainger  
  • Familiarity with and understanding of resources in department, Grainger, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign 
  • Must be available for all of the following training and programs:
    • SP 2025: ENG 377 GLT (1 hr), Global Leadership Training from 8-8:50am or 9-9:50am on Fridays; occasional meetings / trainings with co-Head ELA, Lead ELAs, and GFX staff  
    • FA 2025: Launch! (Friday, August 22); at least one section of ENG 100; 3 weekly meetings: with GFX Associate Director, with Lead ELAs, and with departmental Lead ELAs  

Compensation

  • $17/hour

Time Commitment

  • 10-15 hours/week in fall 2025

Grainger First-Year Experience (GFX) seeks to hire ~15 departmental Lead ELAs in fall 2025. A Lead ELA is a trained, advanced undergraduate who oversees the ELAs within their department.  

Responsibilities

  • Prepare for and lead weekly meetings with their department’s general ELAs in the fall
  • Meetings should focus on: community development and communicating ENG 100 expectations and curriculum with General ELAs
  • Communicate regularly with GFX Leadership team (Head ELAs and GFX staff) 
  • Coordinate with GFX Leadership team on developing and implementing department-specific activities in ENG 100: department day, group projects 
  • Facilitate one section of ENG 100 (with 20 or fewer students) in the fall semester following lesson guides and slides provided
  • Provide direction, guidance, and mentorship to General ELAs and ENG 100 students 
  • Refer General ELAs and students to GFX Leadership and campus resources when needed
  • Assist GFX Leadership team with training ELAs in SP 2025 and FA 2025 
  • Coordinate with GFX Leadership team on optional events and workshops for ENG 100 

Qualifications

  • Current undergraduate engineering student in good academic standing who will graduate no sooner than December 2025 and is eligible to work in the US / on campus 
  • Have taught at least 1 orientation course (ENG 100, 101, 398) before spring 2025
  • Effective communication, presentation, and critical thinking skills
  • Demonstrated ability to empathize and work well with others from diverse backgrounds
  • Documented leadership and involvement in their department and Grainger  
  • Familiarity with and understanding of resources in department, Grainger, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
  • Must be available for all of the following training and programs:
    • SP 2025: ENG 377 GLT (1 hr), Global Leadership Training from 8-8:50am or 9-9:50am on Fridays; occasional meetings / training with other Lead ELAs and GFX Leadership team 
    • FA 2025: Launch! (Friday, August 22); at least one section of ENG 100; weekly meetings with Heads and other Leads; weekly meetings with department ELAs  

Compensation

  • $16/hour

Time Commitment

  • 10-12 hours/week in fall 2025