The Writing Tutor position supports all (~90) PAYS participants and PAYS Teaching Assistants. The Writing Tutor attends the senior writing workshop classes M-Th and holds late afternoon and evening homework sessions, including setting up their own calendar of availability. On a typical day, the Writing Tutor will spend 1.5 hours in the classroom and the afternoons and evenings supporting PAYS students with homework writing assignments. Some of the Writing Tutor’s time will be spent reviewing, editing and providing feedback on the writing assignments of the PAYS students. The Writing Tutor is expected to participate in community building activities throughout the entire summer.
Successful applicants will have a strong academic record and an open spirit that makes their contribution uniquely powerful. It is also preferable that the Writing Tutor have an interest in and/or experience working with high school students. Educational experience is especially helpful.
The Writing Tutor is a role model and mentor to all PAYS participants. For this reason, it is critical that the Writing Tutor maintains professionalism and always exhibits good judgment. The Writing Tutor must remain on campus in their designated Walker Hall room and sub-free throughout PAYS. Only one job is permitted during the duration of the PAYS Summer Experience.
After the PAYS Summer Experience, the Writing Tutor may choose to volunteer for PAYS as a college advisor to seniors and/or by participating in college planning workshops during the fall and spring semesters. There might also be opportunities to tutor PAYS students. Preference will be given to applicants who can offer this important continuity. Students who have served as Writing Fellows or those with an ability to foster growth in creative and formal writing are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given preference. Applicants for the Writing Tutor position must submit a Recommendation Form from a faculty/staff member that can speak on your writing abilities.
Writing Tutor Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Writing Tutor are both challenging and rewarding. As the Writing Tutor, you will be expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Participate in a two-week training and pre-program preparation from June 8th - June 20th. Opening Day is Sunday, June 22nd. The program ends on Friday, July 18th for the high school students and Saturday, July 21st after 5:00pm for YOU. Inability to attend training and stay for the staff closing will disqualify you from holding this position.
- Provide a mature, professional influence to all members of the PAYS community, including students, staff, faculty, community partners, etc.
- Attend weekly PAYS staff meetings and any other meeting(s) asked by the Director and PAYS Coordinator
- Attend senior writing workshop classes M-Th and TA-led afternoon study sessions on a rotating basis
- Check-in and/or meet with each critical inquiry faculty member to ensure completion and understanding of writing assignments for each cohort
- Assist PAYS students and TAs in reviewing and providing feedback on written work
- Be readily available to lead and/or support study and tutoring sessions after 5:00pm
- Create, prepare, organize and lead (2) two writing workshops for 45-minutes in the evening on any topic deemed necessary and important for the PAYS students
- If no study and tutoring sessions are happening, you must be supervising students inside and outside of residence hall
- Congregating of staff should be kept to a minimum
- Create, provide, and share your calendar of availability with TAs and PAYS students to schedule individual sessions
- Encourage PAYS students to work in phases rather than in one sitting
- Mentor, engage, and socialize with a diverse group of students, encouraging students to build community across grade levels (especially during the evenings)
- Support the TAs with reviewing of written homework
- Prepare, organize, and support the Community Advisors (CAs) with community meetings
- Provide one writing exercise of the week to present and facilitate at a community meeting per week
- Support the Community Advisors (CAs) with the organization, cleanliness, and maintenance of the Community Advisor Room
- Support the Community Advisors (CAs) with Room Checks
- Support as a lead on Friday field trips and/or activities/events.
- Provide support on Opening Day, Closing Day, and for the staff closing the day after Closing Ceremony
- On Opening Day, be readily available to support the Director, PAYS Coordinator, Post Bacc Fellow for Educational Outreach, and/or the Community Advisors as needed
- For Closing Ceremony, prepare to distribute certificates to PAYS scholars
- Check-in with the Director, PAYS Coordinator, and/or Post Bacc Fellow for Educational Outreach at least twice during the summer
- Lead a self-designed elective course for a total of seven (7) days.
- Ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of all PAYS students
- Assist in disciplinary and emergency situations or where conflict resolution is required
- This is a time-consuming position that takes up days and nights (and sometimes weekends – for planning). The job requires sincere and sustained commitment, but it is also FUN and rewarding!