OnRamp Writing Faculty
: Job Details :

Location: Amherst, MA Employment Type: Temporary, Full-time, Exempt, Residential Salary $20,000Benefits: Room & Board and up to $500 travel reimbursementTentative Dates: June 15th - August 2ndThe OrganizationAt Thrive Scholars, we provide high-achieving, diverse, and underrepresented students, including students of color from under-resourced communities, the opportunities they need to thrive at top colleges and in meaningful careers.Our comprehensive and data-driven program model focuses on the key inflection points that can be the difference between graduating from any college and graduating from a top college with the grades, degree, career skills, and network needed to thrive in any career. Thrive Scholars originated in Los Angeles as South Central Scholars ( SCS ) twenty years ago. Over this time, the organization has refined its program model and, in the last five years, has focused on expanding nationally; reaching more high-achieving underrepresented students, growing the number of Scholars we serve; and deepening our program impact. Thrive Scholars has begun to grow its footprint with new summer program offerings in three additional cities, with more to come. The organization has approximately 75 year-round employees and close to 200 summer employees. The Program:OnRamp brings together 25 Black, male, rising high school Juniors for an intensive six-week residential program hosted on the campus of Amherst College; Summer Academy. At its core, Summer Academy is an immersive academic experience. During the program, OnRamp scholars will participate in two college-level courses, where students learn the quantitative and writing skills they need to excel in college and in their preferred majors, with additional time devoted to personal and professional development topics. Outside of class, students participate in various activities, including group-wide discussions, field games, college tours, and excursionsThe Position:We are seeking a Writing Instructor to design and teach a six-week seminar for Thrive Scholars' OnRamp program. This seasonal position involves teaching two writing sections, one for OnRamp students and one for OnRamp students in the 6-Year program, with up to 35 students each. Instructor will introduce critical thinking, academic reading, and writing while helping students craft analytical arguments. By the end of the course, scholars will feel more prepared for college-level writing.Responsibilities include designing and teaching a seminar with weekly instruction. Classes meet for 2 hours and 45 minutes, blending instruction with collaborative work. Instructor will administer pre- and post-course assessments and maintain high expectations for attendance and engagement, fostering a balance of independence and accountability.Instructor must participate in pre-summer onboarding, on-campus orientation, and regular meetings while collaborating with Thrive Scholars staff and campus employees. They will also work with one Teaching Assistant (TA) to support instruction.Expectations:

• Availability: Be present for the entire program, including orientation, training, daily classes, faculty meetings, and up to 4 weekly office hours.
• Course Design and Content: Design courses to introduce specific topics through experiential learning, developed in consultation with the OnRamp Director. Courses should intellectually challenge learners while supporting foundational skills. Incorporate varied teaching methods (e.g., lectures, small groups, discussions, workshops) and leverage campus and community resources. Assignments should scaffold college-preparedness skills, with outside work requiring about one hour of preparation per class.
• Key Project (Summer 1 Writing Only): Guide students through iterative drafting of a Common Application essay, serving as both a post-assessment and a foundation for fall college applications. Provide feedback to help students craft compelling responses.
• Collaboration: Maintain professional, respectful interactions with the Director of Faculty, Academic Coordinator, other faculty, Thrive staff, and campus teams, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Community Engagement: Participate in excursions, para-academic programming, and community-building activities to support scholars' holistic development.
• Evaluation and Feedback: Offer ongoing, constructive feedback to students, addressing strengths and areas for growth. Be accessible during office hours and meetings. Contribute to end-of-program evaluations and provide final feedback letters for each student.
• Flexibility and Adaptability: Adjust to program needs, including schedule changes or unexpected responsibilities. Embrace a solution-oriented mindset, responsiveness to feedback, and commitment to delivering an exceptional scholar experience.
• Pre-Summer Preparation: Attend scholar open house, virtual onboarding, and orientation. Complete the majority of course preparation before the program begins.
• Scholar Assessment: Administer and score standardized pre- and post-assessments aligned with program outcomes.
• Teaching Assistant Management: Support and mentor the assigned teaching assistant, delegating tasks effectively to enhance student learning.
• Technology Requirements: Be proficient with educational platforms such as Canvas and Slack for grading, assessments, and communication.
• Understanding of and commitment to Thrive Scholars' 'North Star': Economic Mobility. Please review our position statement on economic mobility here.

*The list of typical duties & responsibilities is intended to be representative of the tasks performed by this position. The omission of an essential function does not preclude Thrive Scholars from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.Qualifications and Experience: Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in humanities or social sciences, preferably in English, Writing, Literacy, or Communications, from an accredited college or university.
• At least four semesters of teaching experience as the Instructor of Record in a college or university in a credit-bearing course.
• Proficiency using Canvas, Slack, and Google Office Suite or similar platforms
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement learning experiences and exercises that support curriculum goals and learning objectives.
• Advanced proficiency in both oral and written communication.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience with teaching a diverse, historically marginalized community.
• Authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• ABD, Ed.D., or Ph.D from an accredited college or university.
• Current college/university faculty (any rank) with a successful record of teaching writing or mathematics-based courses in a selective college setting.
• Demonstrated success in teaching high school students or first-year college students.

Site and Compensation: Amherst College - Residential

• Tentative Dates: June 15th - August 2nd
• Compensation: $20,000 plus room & board and travel reimbursement up to $500
• Local faculty do not have to stay on campus
• This is a temporary, full-time, exempt position.

Housing: Housing is provided on campus in dormitory-style accommodations, featuring community bathrooms, showers, laundry facilities and shared common spaces. Each faculty member will have a private single room. Family housing is not available. Please expect that there will be no air conditioning and ADA requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.Working Environment & Physical Requirements:The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a seasonal employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this role:

• Frequent sitting, talking and listening and occasional walking, bending, stooping, and pulling
• Handle and operate computers, tools or controls
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• See clearly in an indoor and outdoor environment
• Work in an indoor classroom environment that may not have air conditioning in the summer
• Travel off campus (transportation will be provided and advance notice will be given if required)
• For residential roles - live in a dormitory that may not have air conditioning in the summer

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Thrive Scholars provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status. Knowing their importance to the success of our work, Thrive Scholars is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we aspire to build a diverse staff team and community. We strongly encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.For more information, please visit thrivescholars.org