Peer Learning Advisors: Freshmen Interest Group program (FIGs)

MU Freshmen Interest Group Program (FIGs)

FIG Peer Learning Assistant (PLA)

The MU FIGs program is hiring student leaders who are passionate about Mizzou and their majors to serve as Peer Learning Advisors (PLAs) for the Fall 2025 term! Serving as a PLA offers students an excellent way to build their resumes, expand their professional networks, and earn college credit. Our PLAs work directly with campus faculty and staff to offer a one-credit-hour FIG seminar to incoming freshmen in the fall. PLAs serve as invaluable mentors to incoming freshmen by helping them navigate their majors, Mizzou, and by helping them forge bonds that often last a lifetime. If you are knowledgeable about resources and opportunities at Mizzou and enjoy connecting with students in a fast-paced environment, apply now!

Preferred Qualifications:

• Have a desire to build your leadership toolkit and professional portfolio.
• Have a major/minor that fits with one of the more than 50 FIGs available.
• Have an excellent academic record.
• Have a natural desire to lead and mentor your peers while growing as a leader.
• Be respectful of your peers, colleagues, and supervisors.
• Be well organized and a clear and effective communicator.
• Wish to make a strong, positive impact on others.
• Work well in a team setting and diverse environment.

Job Duties

• The position runs from the first week of classes (8/25/25) to the last day of coursework (12/12/25) during the fall semester. During this time, the PLA will work with a faculty/staff mentor (AKA co-facilitator) to deliver a weekly, 50 minute seminar to incoming freshmen designed to introduce freshmen to Mizzou and their chosen field.
• The position will entail an average weekly commitment of three hours, including time preparing weekly seminars, delivering those seminars with your faculty/staff mentor.
• The day/time of your fall FIG seminar will be set in coordination with your faculty/staff FIG mentor (AKA co-facilitator).
• The PLA position is no longer tied to Residential Life. As such, you can now serve as a PLA without living on campus or serving as a Residential Advisor.

Compensation and Benefits

• The position pays an honorarium of $850 paid at the end of the semester
• Building your personal and professional networks on campus and beyond
• Opportunity to demonstrate simple grant-writing success by securing FIG mini-grant for course development/enhancement
• Opportunity to earn FIG Excellence in Leadership Award to bolster the impact of your resume

How to apply:

Please submit a cover letter indicating which FIG you are interested in leading and a resume that includes your major/minor and GPA through Handshake. Below are the FIGs for which we are hiring. If you have any questions, please contact Professor and Director of the FIGs program, Dr. Jerry Frank at provostfigs@missouri.edu .

Animal Science

Art and Art History

Business Accounting 

Chemistry

Debate

Design Your Mizzou Experience with Architectural Studies 

Discovering Science Biochemistry 

Discovering Science Biology

Economics and Social Problems

Education 

Engineering 

Engineering Computer Science 

Exploring Business 

Exploring Communication: Media, Inquiry and Careers

Film and Digital Storytelling

Global Crossroads: Language, Culture, and Your Future

Graphic Design

Health Sciences 

Honors Engineering

Honors Journalism

Honors Kinder Institute Democracy Lab

Honors Pre-Medicine 10

International Business

International Studies

Journalism and Innovation 

Journalism Scholars 

Kinder Institute Democracy Lab 

Love, Relationships, and Family

Medical Careers 

Natural Resources 

Nursing 

Pre-Medicine 

Psychology 

Public Policy & Social Problems

Public Relations and Journalism

Social Justice

Sports Journalism 

Sports Management

Storm Chasers

Student Success in Business

Trail Blazers: First Generation College Students

Undergraduate Research 15

Wealth Management 11

You and the Study of Government