Many institutions use student assistants to assist in their computing labs and provide other technology services at a modest level. A few institutions have built programs that far exceed most others by simultaneously 
- raising the quality and level of technical service within the institution and 
- providing exceptional educational opportunities to the participating students.
These outstanding programs differ in many ways, but share most of these characteristics:

• Demonstrably improve the level and quality of information technology support services at dramatically lower cost than any other option;
• Train many students in technical, consulting and organizational skills;
• Rely on (and develop) the ability of students to supervise, train, and manage other students;
• Include students from both technical and non-technical majors;
• Provide service learning options for participating students; 
• Allow many students to experience the benefits of "learning by teaching";  and
• Enable many technology support professionals to spend more time providing services that make better use of their expertise.

The STA Workbook. This resource contains a variety of worksheets, examples, and forms useful for creating, diversifying, and enriching STA programs. (TLT Group subscribers get a free copy, plus a site license for legally printing as many free copies as they need.) [If your institution is a subscriber, you can download the pdf of the workbook here -- you'll need the subscriber username and password -- or you can make copies of your institution's master copy.]

STA Consulting Services. If your institution needs assistance in moving to the next step, The TLT Group can provide several consulting services. We can do quick assessment of your support services program with an eye towards building an STA Program; in addition we can do a complete implementation where we provide the on-campus leadership to jump-start or improve your STA program.

If you're interested in expanding and diversifying your STA program, your institution should consider subscribing to the TLT/Flashlight Network. The consulting rates are lower, you will have access to the full range of TLT Group materials and assessment tools, and we will help you work with other Network members. STA programs can help stretch resources; a subscription can virtually pay for itself. If you need to write a grant proposal to attract internal or external funding, we can supply some draft text. To contact us, send e-mail to online@tltgroup.org