Position type:
Non-Exempt during preparation period
Exempt (Administrative) during program period

Employee Type:
Temporary

Position Duration:
March 23, 2026 – July 26, 2026

Work Schedule

Prep Period:
March 23, 2026 – June 14, 2026

• 40 total hours before May 31, 2026, scheduled with supervisor

• 20 total hours between June 1, 2026 – June 14, 2026, scheduled with supervisor and dependent on training requirements

Program Period:
June 15, 2026 – July 26, 2026

• Monday–Friday, 8:30am–2:30pm

• Approximately 40 hours per week

• Occasional additional hours for writing workshops and field trip/event accompaniment

Work Location:
Varies by program site (Ithaca, NY or College Park, MD)

Travel Requirements – Pre-Program Health Training

All Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to complete online health training during the prep period.

Cornell site Graduate Teaching Assistants only are expected to be present in Ithaca, NY for in-person health training on one day to be determined during the week of June 8–12, 2026.

Maryland site Graduate Teaching Assistants only are expected to be available for in-person health training at times to be determined in Spring 2026.

Program Site Requirement:
All Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to be at their program site from June 15, 2026 – July 26, 2026.

Benefits Eligibility:
Not benefits eligible. Sick leave is provided.

Compensation: 
$28.86/hour 
Telluride will pay for travel to and from training and the program site.

About TASS and Telluride Association:

The Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS) offers free summer courses designed to help academically curious high school students sharpen their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Courses also aim to expose students to ideas and content that are not otherwise available in high school. 

TASS’s goal is to foster an intellectual community motivated by curiosity and a love of learning, rather than external rewards. Participants receive no grades or college credit; instead, we emphasize deep inquiry and collaborative exploration. 

As in all Telluride Association programs, TASS students’ tuition, housing, and meals are fully covered. We prioritize the admission of first-generation and low-income students from diverse backgrounds. More information can be found at tass.tellurideassociation.org. 

Key Relationships: Teaching Assistants are supervised by the seminar’s Faculty, and collaborate closely with the Camp Director, Factotums (a position similar to camp counselors), health staff, and other site staff.

Qualifications

If you believe you would excel in this role despite not meeting every qualification, we welcome your application. Please explain in your cover letter what and how you would contribute.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree. 
• At least one year of study toward a terminal graduate degree.
• Currently enrolled in a program leading to a terminal graduate degree.
• Academic background in a humanities or humanistic social science subject. 
• Ability to foster a strong working relationship with seminar faculty.
• Experience in a teaching assistant role.
• Experience in teaching undergraduate writing. 
• First aid training or the willingness to complete it.
• Ability to meet travel requirements of the position.
• Ability to meet acceptable background check standards.
• Ability to work flexible hours which may include evenings and/or weekends.
• Teaching Assistants are required to be a minimum of 18 years of age as they are supervising minors. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Black students and/or populations, students of color, working class students, LGBTQIA+ students, and/or other students of marginalized backgrounds and diverse educational preparation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and flexibility.
• Proficiency in office software and Google Classroom. 
• Teaching or mentoring experience in summer programs, summer camps, and/or other residential education settings.
• Academic background in specific seminar topic. 
• Interest in and commitment to Telluride Association’s mission.

Responsibilities

Training and Policies - 20% 

• Complete mandatory online training during the prep period. 
• In-person health training:
  • All Graduate Teaching Assistants are expected to complete online health training during the prep period.
  • Cornell site Graduate Teaching Assistants only are expected to be present in Ithaca, NY for in-person health training on one day to be determined during the week of June 8-12, 2026.
  • Maryland site Graduate Teaching Assistants only are expected to be available for in-person health training, location TBD, at times to be determined in Spring 2026. 
• Read and abide by the Telluride and TASS policies and procedures. Contact supervisor promptly with any questions or concerns.
• Participate in an all-staff orientation meeting led by your Camp Director.

Academic Seminar Support - 45%

• During the program, accompany students to and from seminar and supervise TASSers during seminar Monday-Friday, approximately 8:30am-12:30pm.
• While supervising TASSers, represent the interests of Telluride Association, enforce TASS policies, and ensure the welfare of the students entrusted to your care, in accordance with the Telluride and TASS policies.
• Assist seminar faculty before,during, and after the program as needed. 
• Provide teaching and tutoring support to students during lab hours.
• Share timely information about program activities and student needs with faculty, including TASS schedule, student challenges and questions about seminar, and other information.
• Co-lead lab hours with faculty, adapting to student needs and seminar learning objectives. 
• Hold weekly office hours for TASSers.
• Interact with students informally outside seminar to facilitate intellectual community (for example, joining students for lunch) while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Serve as backup for Faculty in the event that they are unavailable.

Program Prep and Administration - 30%

• Review program budget, syllabus, and TASSer information.
• During the prep period, assist seminar professors in ordering books and assembling course packets.
• Assist seminar professors with setting up digital course materials and course website, both during the prep period and during the summer program. 
• Work with the faculty to ensure that the cost of all requested materials, guest lecturers, and field trips do not exceed the budget.
• Assist faculty with scheduling and coordinating logistics for seminar guest lecturers, including working with admin staff to complete any required background checks well in advance. 
• Assist faculty with scheduling and coordinating logistics for field trips. Work with Camp Director and other site staff to ensure that field trips are scheduled well in advance and in accordance with the safety plan and supervision requirements. 
• Accompany students on seminar field trips.
• Attend regular meetings:
  • Weekly whole-site staff meetings 
  • Weekly Faculty and GTA planning meetings
• Track faculty budgets, retain receipts for all expenditures, and maintain contact with the Financial Manager throughout the program for support. Log all receipts. 
• Share timely information about seminar and planned events with Camp Director and other site staff.
• Work closely with the Camp Director and health staff to ensure safety, manage risk and respond to or escalate emergency situations.

Program Reports - 5%

• Collaborate with faculty to write an end-of-summer report and individualized evaluations for each TASS participant, with all reports due by August 2. GTAs receive a $300 completion bonus for fulfilling this responsibility. 

Other Responsibilities

• Enact Telluride Association’s commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in all activities and duties.
• Support Telluride Association to maintain a safe working environment. Act proactively to prevent accidents and injuries and communicate hazards to supervisors when identified. 
• Abide by the policies and guidelines of the Telluride Association and all local, state, and federal laws. Failure to do so may result in suspension or termination of employment. Relevant Telluride policies include:

• Safety Plan and Policy on Working with Minors: Ensure the safety and well-being of minor program participants. See policy for specifics.

• Confidentiality: All TASS students’ application materials, evaluations, and similar documents must be kept confidential. Faculty should not disclose any of this information without explicit authorization from the TASS Committee.

• Non-harassment: The Telluride Association does not tolerate sexual or other unlawful forms of harassment. Please see the Non-Harassment Policy.
• Non-discrimination: The Telluride Association does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical disability, or any other protected category.

• Support the general activities of Telluride Association and carry out other duties as assigned.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Essential physical requirements: Position requires use of computer, phone, and office equipment. Position requires travel and evening/weekend work. Position requires walking students to and from class five days per week. 
• Visual: normal concentration
• Hazards: limited exposure

About Telluride Association

The mission of Telluride Association is to prepare and inspire promising students to lead and serve through free, transformative educational experiences rooted in critical thinking and democratic community. In addition to the TASS program, the Telluride Association runs two Branches for students at Cornell University and the University of Michigan, and programs for alumni. To learn more about the Telluride Association and all its programs visit our website: www.tellurideassociation.org