Teaching Assistant Position Description

The TA positions are critical to the success of PAYS. TAs support PAYS participants and their co-TAs with math and critical inquiry courses, as well as community building activities. TAs and their students attend Math and Critical Inquiry classes M-Th, assist on Friday Field Trips, teach an elective, and in the afternoons/evenings assist students with their homework. 

Some of the TA's time will be spent coordinating daily study sessions and grading/evaluating all math and critical inquiry work assigned by faculty.

The TA is a role model and mentor to all PAYS participants. For this reason, it is critical that the TA maintains professionalism and always exhibits good judgment. The TA must remain on campus in their designated Walker Hall room and sub-free throughout PAYS. Due to the intensive, residential nature of the program, Teaching Assistants are not permitted to hold additional employment during the PAYS Summer Experience.

Successful applicants will demonstrate academic preparedness, strong communication skills, and a commitment to supporting high school students. Educational experience is especially helpful.

After the PAYS Summer Experience, the TA 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. 

Teaching Assistant Responsibilities

The responsibilities of a PAYS TA are both challenging and rewarding. As a teaching assistant, you will be expected to fulfill the following responsibilities:

• Participate in a two-week training and pre-program preparation from June 8^th - June 19^th. Opening Day is Sunday, June 21^st. The program ends on Friday, July 17^th. 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 PAYS experience.
• Mentor, engage, and socialize with a diverse group of students, encouraging students to build community among their own TA group and grade group, as well as across grade levels (especially during the evenings) as appropriate and consistent with the College’s relevant policies, including the Minors on Campus Policy.
• Hold responsibility for a group of ~16 students
• Grade and provide feedback on math and critical inquiry assignments in alignment with faculty guidance
• Check-in and/or meet with your respective faculty members to ensure completion and understanding of course materials for TA group
• Conduct mental, social, and emotional check-ins with each of your PAYS students
• Assist and tutor PAYS students with homework assignments (math and critical inquiry)
• Teach an elective for (7) non-consecutive days throughout the summer experience
• 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
• Encourage PAYS students to work collaboratively instead of individually
• Support the Community Advisors (CAs) with the organization, cleanliness, and maintenance of the Community Advisor Room
• Support as a lead on Friday field trips and/or activities/events
• 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 and wellbeing of 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 8^th and June 19^th. 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 21^st – July 18^th. The regular hours for the PAYS Summer Experience are 2:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday – Thursday. Friday schedules may vary. Holiday, weekend, and evening work hours may be required.

Mandated Reporter Disclosure and Background Check Notification

The TA 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 TA position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter. Further, the TA 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.