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.
Social Work Fellow
If you want to help first-generation students adjust to life on a college campus, apply now for the Social Work Fellowship!
The Social Work Fellow will support staff and students in promoting social and emotional well-being across our community. In June, the fellow will partner with the Executive Director and Program Coordinator to design and lead staff training, which will include guidance on mental and emotional support for teenage students. During the 4-week program in July, the fellow will work afternoons and evenings Sunday – Thursday with the residential staff to help students successfully complete the program. The fellow will work closely with the Executive Director in refining the specific responsibilities and timeline of the position.
Note: Applicants may wish to be considered for the role of residential supervisor, which would expand the above responsibilities to include living in the dorms with students. The residential supervisor position comes with additional compensation plus free room/meals from June 27 – Aug 1.
See our sample daily schedule.
Responsibilities:
Exact details will be worked out with the ED based on the fellow’s specific skills, interest, and experience
- Partnering with Executive Director to design and implement training sessions for undergraduate staff, particularly on social-emotional health of teens (Staff training June 27 - July 1)
- Observing and supporting undergraduate staff during afternoon and evening tutorial and free-time sessions (Summer program July 5 - 29)
- Addressing mental health or well-being related crises, in consultation with the Executive Director
- Collaborating with undergraduate staff to execute programming that promotes a healthy and welcoming community of scholars
- Leading group or 1:1 sessions during free time periods based on student needs
Qualifications:
- Coursework and/or relevant practical experience with teenage mental health
- Prior work with low-income and first-generation students highly desired
- Experience leading, teaching, or training others
- Strong organizational and project management skills
- Experience in summer-camp environments (including orientation programming, residential advising, teen-leadership organizations, etc.) desirable
- Open to current graduate students only, including international students with work authorization.
Time Commitment:
All hours are approximate
- Summer preparation and staff training:
- June 13 – July 1
- Est. 10 - 30 hours/week, Mon - Fri
- Hours between 10am - 4pm
- Summer program:
- July 5 – August 1
- Up to 35 hours/week, Sun - Thurs
- Hours can be between 1pm - 11pm, (you’ll schedule yourself, with ED’s approval)
- See student daily schedule for an idea of how the afternoons and evenings run
Compensation: $35/hour
Application:
Please submit a cover letter, resume, and graduate transcript (unofficial is fine) to Dr. Jessica Lee at [email protected]. Please note in your cover letter if you are also interested in the residential supervisor role. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Academic TA
If you're looking for a full-year commitment and formal teaching experience, an Academic & Civic TA position may be a good fit for you.
During the summer, ATAs lead the program's week-long orientation to get students comfortable with campus life and the type of academic work that will be expected of them. Then, during the 3-week seminar, ATAs attend morning seminars with their students before leading their daily breakout sessions and one-on-one mentorship sessions. On Fridays, TAs chaperone field trips within Manhattan. Saturdays and Sundays are off.
See our sample daily schedule.
In September we're back to work with our civic leadership projects and college mentoring. TAs meet twice monthly with each of their summer mentees to support them in college applications. TAs also lead a small group of students following the F&C civic engagement curriculum in researching and advocating for the topics of their choice. Check out our ongoing projects. Groups meet every other week from September through April.
See a sample academic year calendar here.
Qualifications:
- Strong writing and editing skills
- 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:
About 25 hours per week from June 23 - July 23, and then an average of 2.5 hours per week Sept - May
- Staff training: June 28 - July 1
- Typically 9:30 - 4pm
- Typically 9:30 - 4pm
- Summer program July 5 - July 29, Monday - Friday
- 9:30 - 11:30am Professor Seminar
- 11:45 - 12:30pm ATA Breakout sessions
- 12:30 - 1:00pm One-on-one mentorship meeting
- On Fridays, we take students on field trips, ending around 4pm
- Monday, August 1 is a staff day, 9:30 - 4:00pm
- Civic leadership: September through May
- TAs lead a two-hour civic leadership meeting every two weeks (4 hours per month)
- TAs lead a two-hour civic leadership meeting every two weeks (4 hours per month)
- College Mentorship: September through May
- TAs meet one-on-one with their mentees every other week for for 20-30 minutes (approx. 5 hours per month)
Compensation:
$4,200 per year*
- $2,625 for staff training and the summer program (June - July)
- $1,575 for civic leadership and college mentorship (Sept - May)
- Opportunities available throughout for extra work and additional compensation
*Yes, this is higher than what's on our printed advertisements!
Residential TA
If you want to work with students holistically and help them adjust to the toughest parts of college, the Residential TA position is for you.
The RTA is a summer-only position perfect for people who require campus housing. RTAs live on the floors with students and work with them between the hours of 12:45pm and 11pm. Responsibilities include everything from leading gym and recreation periods to study skills, time management and intensive reading and writing assistance. Study sessions are informal and can be catered to individual student needs. Overall, this is your chance to make a young person recognize that she or he belongs on a college campus.
See our sample daily schedule.
Qualifications:
- Strong interpersonal and leadership skills
- Editing or tutoring experience
- 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:
- Staff training: June 27 - July 1
- Typically 9:30 - 4pm
- Typically 9:30 - 4pm
- Summer program July 5 - July 29, Monday - Friday
- 35 hours per week maximum
- Monday - Thursday RTAs are typically scheduled during the hours of 12:30pm - 11:30pm with occasional breakfast shifts and late-night hallway checks.
- On Sundays, students begin returning to campus at 6:30pm.
- RTAs are off from 9:30am Friday - 6:30pm Sunday
- 35 hours per week maximum
- College Mentorship: September through May
- RTAs may elect to continue mentoring students on college applications during the academic year. College mentorship takes place through one-on-one meetings with mentees every other week for 20-30 minutes per session. RTAs would be paid $21/hour for mentorship in the academic year.
Compensation:
$3,225 for summer 2022*
- Free housing and full meal plan June 27 to Aug 1
- note: dining halls are closed Saturdays and Sundays
*Yes, this is higher than what's on our printed materials!
- note: dining halls are closed Saturdays and Sundays
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.









Undergrad TA Application
Please submit the following by email (as a single pdf document) to the program’s Executive Director, Dr. Jessica Lee, at [email protected] by 11:59pm on March 8.
Cover Letter
Explain your interest in the program and your most relevant experience. We especially welcome applicants who are FGLI and encourage such students to identify themselves in their cover letters, as appropriate. Please make sure to indicate whether you are applying for the ATA or RTA position or if you would like to be considered for either.
Resume
Include the name and contact information for two references, either academic or professional.
Writing sample of no more than 500 words
Please choose a paper written for CC. If you have not taken CC please select a paper written on one of the texts from our syllabus. You may submit excerpts from a longer paper, just make sure the paper's thesis is included in your sample.
Unofficial transcript through Fall 2021
A screenshot or printout of your SSOL record is sufficient as long as it is legible and converted to PDF format. If you are still missing grades, send what you can and update us when your grades are posted.
