The Math Tutor position supports a specific cohort (~33) PAYS participants and PAYS Academic Assistants. The Math Tutor attends math classes M-Th on a rotating basis and supports study sessions. On a typical day, the Math Tutor will spend 1.5 hours in the classroom and the afternoons supporting PAYS students with homework assignments. Some of the Math Tutor’s time will be spent preparing for homework sessions by completing all grade levels’ homework assignments. The Math Tutor is expected to participate in community building activities throughout the entire summer.
Successful applicants will demonstrate academic preparedness, strong communication skills, and a commitment to supporting high school students. Educational experience is especially helpful.
The Math Tutor is a role model and mentor to all PAYS participants. For this reason, it is critical that the Math Tutor maintains professionalism and always exhibits good judgment. The Math Tutor must remain on campus in their designated Walker Hall room and sub-free throughout PAYS. Due to the intensive, residential nature of the program, the Math Tutors are not permitted to hold additional employment during the PAYS Summer Experience.
After the PAYS Summer Experience, the Math Tutor may choose to volunteer for PAYS in various ways, including, but not limited to, 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 throughout the academic year. Math majors and students who have served as Math Mentors are strongly encouraged to apply and will be given preference.
Math Tutor Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Math Tutor are both challenging and rewarding. As the Math Tutor, you will be expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Participate in a two-week training and pre-program preparation from June 8th - June 19th. Opening Day is Sunday, June 21st. The program ends on Friday, July 17th. Inability to attend training 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., model clear behavioral expectations for students, and monitor student behavior throughout the course.
- Teach an elective for (7) non-consecutive days throughout the summer experience
- Attend TA-led afternoon study sessions on a rotating basis
- Check-in and/or meet with each math faculty member to ensure completion and understanding of math material for each cohort
- Assist PAYS students and TAs in solving math problems
- Be readily available to lead and/or support study and tutoring sessions after 6:00pm
- 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 collaboratively instead of individually
- Mentor, engage, and socialize with a diverse group of students, encouraging students to build community across grade levels (especially during the evenings) as appropriate and consistent with the College’s relevant policies, including the Minors on Campus Policy.
- Support the TAs with grading of math homework
- 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, Assistant Director of Educational Outreach, 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, Assistant Director of Educational Outreach, PAYS Coordinator, and/or Post Bacc Fellow for Educational Outreach at least twice during the summer
- Ensure the safety, security, and wellbeing of all PAYS participants, including but not limited to following established policies and procedures for reporting incidents and prohibited conduct (as defined in the College’s Minors on Campus Policy and relevant sexual harassment/sexual misconduct/Title IX policies.
- 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!
Required Dates and Hours
The dates of the PAYS experience are June 8, 2026 – July 18, 2026. PAYS Training will happen between June 8th and June 19th. The regular hours for the PAYS Training will vary up to 6 hours a day, Monday – Friday. Our PAYS Summer Experience will happen from June 21st – July 18th. The regular hours for the PAYS Summer Experience are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday – Friday. Holiday, weekend, and evening work hours may be required.
Mandated Reporter Disclosure and Background Check Notification
The Math Tutor position requires the direct supervision of minors under the age of eighteen (18) without the presence of a legal guardian. Accordingly, under California’s Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), the Math Tutor position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. Further, the Math Tutor will be considered a Supervising Adult as defined under Pomona College’s Minors on Campus Policy. The selected candidate will be required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect as defined by CANRA. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background and/or sex offender registry check and signed statement of acknowledgement of responsibilities as a Mandated Reporter. For additional information, please refer to the Pomona College Minors on Campus Policy, available here: https://www.pomona.edu/administration/human-resources/policies/minors-campus-policy.