Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

Swarthmore’s Department of Engineering provides an ABET-accredited general Engineering major, with faculty distributed across the subfields of computer, electrical, mechanical, and civil/environmental engineering. Like the College at large, we value academic rigor and place a strong emphasis on undergraduate research. The department is housed in a brand-new science building. Additional information is available at https://www.swarthmore.edu/engineering/.

The opportunity:

The Academic Support Coordinator manages the Engineering peer instructor program, tracks outcomes of students in core first- and second-year courses, and provides help for introductory course material as needed.

The Coordinator is required to regularly attend early morning classes starting at 8:30 AM and occasionally attend evening help sessions ending at 9PM. Hours can be made flexible to accommodate this schedule in consultation with the Engineering Department Chair.

This is an exempt, benefits eligible, 10-month position (paid over 12 months), expected to work from August through May.

Essential Responsibilities  

• Recruits and hires student workers to serve both as “Wizards” (academic peer instructors in the Engineering department) and graders; establishes work schedules for student workers to conduct problem/review sessions for classes, as well as teaching team meetings with faculty instructors, reserving campus spaces as needed.
• Provides orientation and training for new student workers to discuss course syllabi, expectations, responsibilities, etc. Attends college-wide training workshops held for academic student workers.
• Attends introductory core classes to monitor student performance and to keep informed about course content, as well as regular teaching team meetings with faculty instructors and student workers to help mediate their interactions.
• Attends evening problem/review sessions as needed to provide additional assistance to students and to evaluate the performance of student workers.
• Monitors student attendance and grades in introductory courses to identify struggling students as early as possible; identifies struggling students to faculty instructors and works with faculty to determine the next steps to support them.
• Meets with students by request of students or faculty instructors to provide additional tutoring or support in courses.
• Reviews dossiers of admitted students to match up prospective Engineers with faculty advisors in the department.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Approximately 15-20 part-time student workers per semester

Who you are:

• Motivated to work with promising undergraduates
• Have a supportive and helpful demeanor
• Strong listening and observational skills
• Eager to apply fundamental STEM knowledge and skills in working with students in introductory Engineering courses.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• B.A. or B.S. in Engineering, Engineering Science, or a related field (e.g., Physics).
• Recent experience applying STEM-based skills professionally and/or academically.

Preferred Qualifications

• B.S. in Engineering from an ABET-accredited program.
• Prior experience as a teacher, teaching assistant, or academic support staff member.
• Experience with basic circuits, basic programming (any language), computer-aided design, and 3D printing are all helpful but not required.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and cover letter, by May 15, 2024.

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Review the 2024 Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.