Apply Now to work with F&C!
Make a difference in the lives of young adults, gain unparalleled teaching and leadership experience, and tackle the biggest societal questions with some of our city's most inquisitive minds.
Support our alumni as they enter college by coordinating special events and developing mentorships. Plus, help our current students and undergraduate staff achieve a successful summer and academic year!
Job Description:
The fellow works directly with our alumni and current students in planning and executing programming, and performs necessary administrative tasks to support our mission. During the summer, the fellow’s primary responsibility is coordinating programming for alumni of Freedom and Citizenship and Knowledge for Freedom (our national network). In consultation with the Acting Executive Director, the fellow will coordinate an F&C alumni dinner in July for approximately 100 individuals, and set-up a pilot mentorship program for first-year college students in Knowledge for Freedom, which the fellow will oversee in the academic year.
The fellow is encouraged to develop other programming and resources for alumni in the summer and academic year (both virtual and in person). Specific programming will depend on the fellow’s own interests and skills, but might include a reading club, volunteer opportunities, career workshops, or election-related events. The fellow also has the opportunity to support our current students and teaching assistants in the academic year by observing 2 - 4 civic meetings per month and providing guidance and feedback to our TAs.
In both the summer and academic year, the fellow will perform administrative tasks including student onboarding, ordering and distributing supplies, updating our alumni resource database, and working with the Executive Director on program reports and alumni newsletters.
Responsibilities:
- Spring:
- Partner with full-time staff to onboard students in spring and early summer
- Summer:
- Coordinate and execute alumni programming, in person and online
- Develop new resources for alumni
- Recruit and orient alumni for mentorship program that will begin in September
- Academic Year:
- Monitor mentorships for KFF alumni and F&C high school seniors
- Coordinate and execute other alumni programming, in person and online
- (Optional) Observe and provide feedback to undergraduate TAs running civic leadership programming
- Throughout:
- Perform other necessary administrative tasks, such as ordering supplies, reserving classrooms, updating databases, editing reports and publicity.
Time Commitment:
- Summer Prep:
- May – June
- Est. 5 - 10 hrs/week
- Flexible schedule, can be virtual
- Summer Program:
- June 27 – Aug 7
- Est. 10 - 20 hrs/week
- On campus
- Academic Year
- Aug 15 – May 9
- Est. 5 - 10 hours/week
- Some virtual/flexible schedule
Qualifications:
- Must be current Columbia graduate student who will not graduate before May 9, 2025
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Event planning or coordinating experience preferred
- Experience leading or training others
- Prior work with high school students, low-income and/or first-generation students is ideal
- Must be authorized to work in the United States
Compensation:
$35/hr, up to $20,000 per year
Application:
Please submit the following materials
- Cover Letter
- Resume or CV
- References (names and emails of 2 references)
- Unofficial transcript through Fall 2023
- Submit online
If you're looking for tutoring experience, a Classroom TA position may be a good fit for you.
Each day, CTAs observe professors' morning seminars before leading daily 2-hour reading sessions for a group of 7-8 students, guiding students through their daily readings. CTAs also have the opportunity to build personal relationships with students outside of the classroom by leading the students' four-day orientation and running weekly community activities of their choosing. Lastly, CTAs serve as college mentors for 3 of their students throughout the academic year, with introductory mentorship meetings beginning in July.
See our sample daily schedule.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply to be a Civic Leadership TA as well. Civic Leadership TAs work with F&C students throughout the academic year on a civic leadership project of their choice. Groups meet twice a month from September through April.
See a sample academic year calendar here.
Qualifications:
- High proficiency in presenting and communicating complex ideas
- Demonstrated interest in civic or political issues
- Experience organizing or leading others
- Familiarity with college application process, particularly for low-income, first generation, immigrant, and/or New York City students
- Must be a Columbia University sophomore or junior who has taken Contemporary Civilization
- Barnard students and GS/SEAS students who have taken comparable classes are welcome to apply. Please indicate in your cover letter which classes from your transcript best match the F&C syllabus
- Prior work with low-income and first-generation students is desired
Time Commitment:
Approx. 30 hours per week from June 27 - Aug 7
+ 2.5 hours per month Sept - May
- Staff training: June 27 - July 3
- Typically 9:30 - 5pm
- Typically 9:30 - 5pm
- Summer program July 8 - Aug 2, Monday - Friday
- 9:30 - 11:30am Professor Seminar (CTA observes)
- 11:30 - 1:30pm Lunch (provided)
- 1:30 - 3:30pm Reading Sessions (CTA leads)
- 3:30 - 5:00pm Community Building Activities (CTA designs)
-
Staff Wrap-up Days Aug 5 - Aug 7
- College Mentorship: September through May
- TAs meet one-on-one with each mentee for about 1 hour a month to keep them on track with college applications
Compensation:
Up to $4,675 per year
CTAs are paid $22/ hour biweekly, which amounts to around:
- $3,800 - $4,000 for staff training and summer program (June - July)
- $225 per student in college mentorship (Sept - May)
- Opportunities are available throughout the program for extra work and additional compensation
If you want to work with students holistically, teaching essential writing skills while also helping them adjust to the toughest parts of college, the Residential TA position is for you.
RTAs live in suites with our students and lead evening Writing Tutorials, teaching key writing skills to our students and running writing workshops. In all, RTAs work with our students between the hours of 1:30pm and 11pm. Other RTA responsibilities include everything from leading recreation periods to teaching general study skills and time management. Overall, this is your chance to help a young person recognize that she or he belongs on a college campus and in a college seminar. RTAs additionally serve as college mentors for 3 students throughout the academic year, with introductory mentorship meetings beginning in July.
See our sample daily schedule.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply to be a Civic Leadership TA as well. Civic Leadership TAs work with F&C students throughout the academic year on a civic leadership project of their choice. Groups meet twice a month from September through April.
See a sample academic year calendar here.
Qualifications:
- Editing and/or Tutoring experience
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
- Must be a Columbia University sophomore or junior who has taken Contemporary Civilization
- Barnard students and GS/SEAS students who have taken comparable classes are welcome to apply. Please indicate in your cover letter which classes from your transcript best match the F&C syllabus
- Demonstrated ability to work well as part of a team
- Experience organizing or leading others
- Prior work with low-income and first-generation students is desired
Time Commitment:
Approx. 35 hours per week from June 27 - Aug 7
+ 2 hours per month Sept - May
-
RTA Move In June 26
- Staff Training June 27 - July 3
- Typically 9:30 - 5pm
- Typically 9:30 - 5pm
- Summer Program July 8 - Aug 2, Sunday - Friday
- 35 hours per week maximum
- Staff are typically ON during the hours of 12:30pm - 11:00pm (with occasional wake-up/breakfast shifts and late-night hallway checks)
- Staff are OFF Fridays 5pm - Sundays 5pm (when students return home for the weekends
-
RTA Move Out Aug 4
-
Staff Wrap-up Days Aug 5 - Aug 7
- College Mentorship: September through May
- TAs meet one-on-one with each mentee for about 1 hour a month to keep them on track with college applications
Compensation:
Up to $5,000 per year
+ free housing and meal plan June 26 - Aug 4
RTAs are paid $22/ hour biweekly, which amounts to around:
- $3,900 - $4,400 for staff training and summer program (June - July)
- $225 per student college mentorship (Sept - May)
- Opportunities are available throughout the program for extra work and additional compensation
- Free housing and full weekday meal plan June 26 to Aug 4
- note: dining halls are closed Saturdays and Sundays
Turn political thought into action by leading students on a yearlong civic engagement project
We put theory to practice in our civic engagement and leadership program during the academic year. Civic TA partners co-lead twice-monthly after-school lessons for a group of 10-12 students. Pre-written lessons and a tested curriculum provide students with the skills and building blocks to research a civic issue, educate others about it, and advocate for change. The program culminates in May with Civic Night presentations to the incoming class of F&C scholars. You can see past civic engagement projects here.
See a sample academic year calendar here.
Because the civic leadership project is a continuation of the summer's activities, Civic Leadership Teaching Assistants must also work with our students in the summer as either Residential TAs or Classroom TAs.
Qualifications:
- Same as those for Residential TA or Classroom TA, plus...
- Experience leading group projects, clubs, or events
- Some knowledge of the civic issues relevant to NYC youth
- Some familiarity with the structure of NYC government and political process
- Ability to commit to the full academic year (see below)
- Must be a Residential TA or Classroom TA in summer 2024 to serve as a Civic TA in the 2024-2025 school year.
Time Commitment:
5 hours per month Sept - May
- 2 hour meetings every other week, typically 5:25 - 7:25pm
- Must be able to commit in advance to the meeting day for the fall semester
- CLTAs do not work over school holidays or winter break
Compensation:
$850 per year
- $22/hour for meetings, prep time, and trainings
Application
To apply, please gather the following materials and submit them with the F&C Staff Application Form by March 31
Cover Letter
Resume
References
Names and email addresses of two references, academic or professional.
If you are invited for an interview we'll contact your references to schedule a short phone call with them.
Unofficial transcript through Fall 2023
A screenshot or printout of your SSOL record is sufficient as long as it is legible. If you are still missing grades, send what you can and update us when your grades are posted.
Submit
Please submit all materials using the F&C Job Application Form
Student Voices
The Difference a TA Makes
Our TAs encourage students' intellectual growth, foster their academic independence, build their reading and writing skills, and support their college applications. Read below what our students think of this important work.
