Preceptors serve as a bridge between the instructor and students promoting academic success both in and out of the classroom. They assist students with both the understanding and comprehension of the academic content of the class. They function as instructional assistants, student mentors and guides but they do not serve as content experts. Both in and outside of the classroom, preceptors should serve as a role model for other students.

The preceptor should maintain frequent communication with the course instructor. As an instructional assistant, preceptors should participate in planning and coordinating class experiences to meet the course objectives, should comply with program policies and procedures (e.g., abiding by FERPA confidentiality regulations with respect to students and grades), and attend applicable preceptor training classes or workshops. Comments and/or recommendations from preceptors to improve or enhance the experience are encouraged.

In-Class Assistance
Preceptors serve as additional classroom managers and mentors. Many instructors have preceptors sit throughout the lecture hall to model good classroom behavior and obtain feedback on what students do and do not understand.

With guidance from their supervising instructor, preceptors may lead small group discussions and/or laboratory experiments within the courses. Some instructors find that preceptors offer an efficient means for administering these activities. Preceptors are also encouraged to work with their instructors in delivering presentations or in-class activities on either course material or specific skills necessary for success in the class (i.e., writing, math, time management).

Out-of-Class Assistance
Preceptors often hold office hours or one-on-one tutoring sessions with students in order to help them with course concepts or assignments. Since they are not the providers of knowledge, but merely guides, they can offer a type of assistance different from what an instructor offers. Preceptors may not always know the answers, but their expertise as students allows them to offer personal strategies for learning the material and their own process for reaching the answer. In this respect, they also serve as mentors and help other students with skills applicable to future courses. Preceptors also may hold exam review sessions outside of class without having access to specific exam questions. Finally, preceptors can also hold workshops to help students who may be deficient in certain skills (math, reading, writing, time management, etc.), which in turn helps even out the skill levels in many first and second-year courses.

Preceptors may perform supervised grading of homework assignments, quizzes, or exams following grading rubrics provided by the instructor. Preceptors cannot manage regrading requests.

Students who are interested in becoming preceptors are expected to agree to the following general terms:

1. I agree to prepare diligently to be able to assist students with understanding the course material. This may include review of the textbook, lecture, or additional resources and completing class assignments on an accelerated schedule. I understand that it is critical that I understand the course material and that this will be one measure of the fulfillment of my preceptor contract.

2. I understand that I must attend a mandatory preceptor training in the first week of the semester, which will highlight good preceptorship practices, teaching standards, and ethics.

3. I will treat those involved with the course with courtesy and respect.

4. I understand that students may not seek or want assistance, and they are free to make this decision.

5. I understand that my role is not to provide answers but to help students find their own solutions to problems.

6. I understand that sometimes I will not know how to address student questions. For situations beyond my level of expertise, I will ensure that students have the opportunity to speak with a graduate teaching assistant (TA) or the course instructor.

7. I understand that the instructor and TAs are committed to making the preceptorship an educational and rewarding experience for me. I will reciprocate by using every opportunity to make my experience as a preceptor a positive learning experience.

8. I understand that each unit of credit corresponds to three hours of activity per week (equal to 45 hours per semester).

9. I understand that I need to communicate in a timely manner with the instructors including advanced notice of any missed lecture attendance and delays in completing my assignments.

NROS/CGCS 491: Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study. Credit varies, 1-3. Grades available: S, P, F

NROS/CGCS 491H: Honors Preceptorship
Specialized work on an individual basis that is demonstrably different to a regular preceptorship, consisting of instruction and practice in actual service in a department, program, or discipline. Teaching formats may include seminars, in-depth studies, laboratory work and patient study. Requires faculty member approval, preceptor application on file with department. Credit varies, 1-3. Grades available: A, B, C, D, E See also Honors College Guidelines for Preceptorship: https://frankehonors.arizona.edu/academics/honors-courses/honors-college-courses/course-policies

Credit limitations

1. Students can enroll for only one preceptor course in any given semester

2. Students may enroll in a maximum of 6 units for a given preceptor course or complete the preceptor course twice.

Determination of credit

1. Each unit of credit requires a minimum of 45 hours of work per semester (on average, 3 hours of weekly activity including class contact hours). Actual weekly hours vary due to exam reviews, grading, etc.

2. The number of credits for a Preceptorship must lie within the approved credit range listed in the catalog course description.

Late Registration
If registration for a Preceptorship course occurs after the 21st day of the regular semester, after the first two days of Winter Session or Pre-session, or after the first week of a Summer Session, the department head (or designee) must sign the Change of Schedule form, in addition to the instructor.

Grade of Incomplete
If a grade of Incomplete is awarded for a Preceptorship course at the end of the term, another Project Advisor must be identified who agrees to evaluate the student’s work, should the original Project Advisor become unavailable.

1. Notify the course instructor to discuss your interest in becoming a preceptor and complete the |preceptor contract| together.

2. Complete the form for the preceptor contract, obtain the signature of the instructor of record and forward the contract no later than the 21st day after the start of the Fall/Spring semester to the NSCI/NSCS Program Coordinator |Maria Rodriguez| either in person (Gould-Simpson, room 624) or by email.

3. The FERPA tutorial for “Instructors and Instructional Support Teams”, must be completed online. The completion certificate must be attached to the completed Preceptor Application (please see the Forms Page). You will not be enrolled without the successful completion of this training. To access the training, click on Tutorial at the following website: www.registrar.arizona.edu/privacy-ferpa/ferpa-training.

4. The preceptor training must be completed before or after enrollment in the first week of classes. Students enrolled in the preceptor program will get an email notification detailing time and location of this 2-hour long training session, which provides guidance for good preceptorship practices, teaching standards, and ethics.

5. The enrollment fee for Preceptorship credit is calculated at the same rate as for other credit courses.

6. Students should enroll within a week after the term commences. Students must complete the required 45 hours of course work per credit unit before the last day of the term. The last day to register for Preceptorship in Fall and Spring Semesters without incurring a late charge is the same as for all other courses; see https://academicadmin.arizona.edu/university-fees and https://bursar.arizona.edu/.

7. Honors students requesting Honors Preceptorship and the faculty who agree to supervise them should consult the Guidelines for Honors Preceptorship (https://frankehonors.arizona.edu/academics/honors-courses/honors-college-courses/course-policies).

In addition to the guidelines for preceptors, honors preceptorships should reflect a depth and intensity of work that exceeds the scope of a non-Honors preceptorship, as indicated by receipt of a regular letter grade upon completion. Whether assisting during a lab course, running study sessions, or supporting a professor directly, Honors preceptors should be required to exceed the standard preceptor duties, primarily by the addition of an intellectual, academic or research component. In addition to the preceptor’s standard duties, Honors preceptorships might include the following components:

· An assignment that includes both research into and analysis of information relevant to the assigned duties.

· An assignment in self-reflection, which might include a portfolio or journal.

· An in-depth study into a specific area of the discipline upon which the course is based, requiring the Honors student to engage more intensely with the material than the non-Honors preceptors.

· Engagement in the study of theory appropriate to the discipline.

· Assessment of the learning outcomes from the assignments listed above would occur through an individual presentation to the class where the preceptorship is conducted, a panel presentation by several preceptors to the class, or a report submitted to the instructor.

· Additional research or reading from which the student writes a paper that relates to the preceptorship experiences.

· Regular meetings with the faculty member in charge of the course in order to assist students in self-reflection and self-assessment.

Link for policy file

Link to preceptor contract (in development)