Residential Teaching Assistant

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 2
  • 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 1:30pm - 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
• (Optional) Civic Leadership: September through May
  • 5 hours/month to prepare and lead civic leadership meetings

Compensation:

$22/ hour paid biweekly, up to $5,000 per year
+ free housing and meal plan June 26 - Aug 4

• $3,900 - $4,400 for staff training and summer program (June - July)
• $225 per student college mentorship (Sept - May)
• (Optional) an added $850 for civic leadership (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

How to Apply:

Submit the following materials online by February 11, 2024

• Short Answer Questions provided in the application (please indicate if you are also interested in being considered for the Civic TA position)
  • Note: you only need to submit one application to be considered for both jobs
• Resume
• Names and contact information for two references
• Writing sample
• Unofficial transcript

View complete application details here