FAQs for Prospective Team Leaders
How long does a Leadership Program last?
The leadership programs run year-round. Team Leaders use the program to start their team-based projects, and they are supported by the resources offered through the program. As a result, the length of anyone participant’s involvement is ultimately their decision.
Do I pick my own team members?
Yes. Aggie Collaborate is designed to be an authentic leadership experience. Team Leaders address challenges associated with all stages of the team-development process, from candidate recruitment and selection, to training retaining your team members.
Must I identify a faculty mentor before registering a project?
Only if you are a student or postdoctoral scholar. In this case, faculty mentors must be identified and consulted before registering.
What are the Team Leader Meetings?
Team Leaders will inevitably encounter challenges that provide opportunities for them to better their team and grow as a leader. The Team Leader meetings are where participants discuss common challenges, debate solutions, and identify best practices.
How long are the weekly progress reports?
Weekly progress reports are designed to take less than 5 minutes.
What is the “Best Practices” report?
Leading teams often require decisions to be made quickly with limited guidance from your personal experiences or from more experienced peers. Some challenges you face as a team leader require rigorous approaches to not only plan interventions but to honestly evaluate their effectiveness. Rigorously documenting “best practice” you have improvised, tested, and refined provides 1) evidence of excellence in leadership to earn certification, 2) material that can be disseminated to peers, and 3) archival material for future letters of reference attesting to your abilities as a leader and your value to the program.
FAQs for Prospective Team Members
I’d like to register for a team, but I don’t see any open slots. What should I do?
Sometimes our teams fill up entirely before we have a chance to register new projects. The best thing to do is to check back regularly, especially if you are looking towards the end of the semester in preparation for the next semester.
Must I have a certain requirements to become involved?
Aggie Collaborate itself does not have any requirements for previous experience, discipline, classification, minimum GPA or degree attainment. However, each team may develop its own set of qualifications. In general, potential team members prove their potential for productivity by joining the team and being productive. Those who show potential may be asked to continue.
How do I join a team?
Once you find a project that you are interested in, contact the Team Leader and inquire about available positions. If selected as a new team member, you will be notified by email and will be sent a registration form from Aggie Collaborate. Team Leaders may accept you into their teams at any point in the year, although teams of students usually join before the beginning of the semester.
Will I have the opportunity to obtain letters of recommendation?
Participants are expected to interact with their team in a meaningful way that allows Team Leaders to write meaningful recommendations. Of course, it is wise to ask for recommendations well before a deadline!
Are participants paid or can they earn academic credit?
Aggie Collaborate does not provide paid opportunities to participants.
How many hours per week will I have to dedicate to service?
Each project has a different hour requirement, set by the Team Leader. Please contact the Team Leader of the project of interest for more information on time expectations.