Department of Computer Science

Grade Enhancement Program

The Grade Enhancement Program is a program funded by the Department of Education to improve student performance in our gate-keeping courses: COSC 112, 113, 214 (for undergraduate students), COSC 503, 504 (for graduate students) and MATH courses.

Participants are assigned a peer mentor and a grade enhancer (see below). Undergraduate students who register for the program will receive a stipend of at least $1,000 for participating in the program, improving their grade and participating in requested activities. A web-based book with auto grading and debugging features will be provided as part of the program.

We are recruiting peer mentors, mentees, and grade enhancers. These are paid opportunities.

For more information, please email Dr. Rosemary Shumba at rshumba@bowiestate.edu or Staphord Eliphace Bengesi at sbengesi@bowiestate.edu.

Grade Enhancers

Responsibilities

  • Arrange the weekly meeting with the assigned students
  • Develope and distribute teaching materials to supplement classroom lessons, including study guides
  • Assist students with homework, projects, test preparation, without doing their work for them
  • Monitor the progress of each assigned student
  • Generate a weekly report of each assigned student
  • Provide student with positive and constructive feedback
  • Work with students to help them understand key concepts, especially those learned in the classroom
  • Conduct practice tests to track progress, identify areas of improvement, and help set goals for exam preparation
  • Attend weekly grade enhancer meeting

Qualifications

  • Must be a graduate student or possess a BS in Computer Science with a GPA >= 3.0
  • Must demonstrate a good understanding of C++ and other programming languages
  • Must possess excellent communication skills, teaching skills, mentoring and interpersonal skills, patience, tolerance, value for diversity, and caring
  • Must demonstrate the ability to use various online tools
  • Must demonstrate the ability to conduct group review sessions

Apply

All successful candidates will be contacted via email to schedule an interview.

Apply to be a grade enhancer

 

Peer Mentors

Responsibilities

  • Serve as an energetic and enthusiastic volunteer to their mentee to succeed
  • Ensure their mentee attends all the meetings on time with their grade enhancer
  • Make sure their mentee accomplishes all the assignments
  • Develop and maintain relationships with and provide assistance and support for their mentees
  • Serve as a resource for their mentee
  • Participate in training, programs, and activities
  • Attend individual and group meetings.
  • Serve as a positive role model

Qualifications

  • Rising sophomore, junior or senior or graduate with a GPA >= 3.0
  • Good academic and social standing
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills
  • Genuine desire to help their peers succeed
  • Demonstrated leadership potential
  • Self-motivated with a positive attitude
  • Ability to use various online tools

Applying

Please apply via the button provided below. After shortlisting, all successful candidates will be contacted via email to schedule an interview.

Apply to be a peer mentor

 

Mentees

Recruitment of program participants takes place before school opening. Invitations to join the program are sent by email. Prospective mentees are asked to provide information about their academic needs to match them with a compatible peer mentor and grade enhancer. Mentees will be required to download and sign a participation agreement form (pdf) and upload it when registering for the program

Apply to be a mentee