Proctors & Tutors

Resident Tutors are valued and important members of the staff of Harvard College who play a vital role in the residential and educational life of undergraduates. Each House in the College forms a small academic and social community in which Resident Tutors and undergraduates live, eat, socialize and study together within the larger context of the College and University. Because of the informal nature of this environment, and the unique character of each individual House, it is important for both Tutors and students to understand Tutors’ multiple roles within the House system as a whole.

Tutors communicate frequently and work closely with the senior staff of the House (Faculty Deans, who supervise them, Resident Deans, and House Administrators). Most tutors also serve as sophomore advisers, and work closely with designated members of the Office of Career Services, Academic Resource Center, University Health Services, the Wellness Center, OSAPR, and Mental Health Services, in addition to other DSO Offices such as the Harvard Foundation and the BGLTQ Office.

Being consistently present in the House and regularly available to students is requisite to successful performance as a tutor. Commitments are often more extensive at the start and end of each term, and tutors are expected to resolve any scheduling conflicts during the orientation, reading, and examination periods in favor of their tutorial responsibilities. As part of their role, tutors receive housing for the year and a meal plan (limited to when the dining halls are open).

Neighborhood or Entryway Responsibilities: Tutors oversee a part of the House (e.g., floor, entryway); they are the College Officer for their designated community. In this capacity, Resident Tutors are expected to:

• Meet with and be available to students on an individual basis;
• Explain the rules of the House and the College;
• Help create and maintain a safe and livable environment;
• Serve as a liaison to the many resources within the College (Office of Career Services, Academic Resource Center, etc.)
• Bring to the attention of the Faculty & Resident Deans students' academic or personal concerns or serious infractions of House or College rules. Tutors work with Deans in helping the students address problems they encounter.

Academic Advising: Tutors play an essential role within the academic advising system at Harvard. Not only do sophomore advisers help students develop and pursue their academic and personal interests, but they also serve as an important source of information to the Allston Burr Resident Dean and the Sophomore Advising Coordinator (SAC) about students who are struggling or in need of additional support.  Sophomore advisers provide academic advising to students throughout the academic year.

Community Involvement: While varying from House to House, the responsibilities of community can be generalized as follows:

• Be in residence in the House during the academic year except for vacation periods and, with explicit permission of the Faculty Dean, an occasional short trip
• Attend College-wide trainings and meetings, and House Tutor meetings; take meals in the dining hall regularly; be available to students during stressful times
• Attend House functions, including sophomore outings, orientations, commencement and other functions designated by the Faculty Dean
• Perform “on-call” duty when required by the House. This includes responding to HUPD and HUHS calls/hospitalizations after hours and on weekends. This would require staying on or near campus after hours and on weekends.

COVID-19 modifications

The University is currently operating in a modified manner resulting from new policies and guidelines related to the covid-19 virus pandemic. All residential staff are subject to a rapid-cadence testing regime and agree to follow a public health-minded social compact.  In the fall of 2020, Harvard College was very successful in keeping on-campus transmission rates very low and maintaining a healthy campus.  Beginning in the spring and beyond, the College will add a color-coded risk phasing system that will determine what kinds of community activities can safely be permitted at any one time.  Given the evolving situation,  tutors are asked to be flexible as regards  duties and role expectations, and the form in which it will take, but they should, at minimum expect that they will be asked to do the following:  Ensure that the students in residence and living in their entryway (or assigned to their entryway and living elsewhere on campus) are aware of, follow and maintain the residential policies and protocols that allow our community to remain safe and healthy during the COVID pandemic, both physically and emotionally. Serve as a resource for all students with questions related to the College’s and University’s coronavirus protocols;

• Advise and support students in the House who are studying off-campus, using online platforms or other forms of communication.

• In addition, the Houses/Community and DSO may need to adjust start dates, moving processes, living arrangements and other aspects of the role as the University’s operational status evolves in response to these factors. We will continue to update you as our understanding of the situation for the summer and fall becomes clearer. We deeply appreciate your patience.

• A bachelor's degree, or equivalent.
   
• Enrollment as a degree candidate in a Harvard graduate or professional school; or a minimum of half-time employment in the University, in an exempt-level position. Exempt-level employees are not covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act concerning hours worked, meaning that they are not paid hourly and are not eligible for overtime.  If you have questions about whether your current role qualifies as exempt, please check with your supervisor or local HR representative. Note that strong preference is given to graduate students. If you are a staff member, you should speak with your supervisor about your plans to apply and obtain their approval.  If you are a graduate student, we recommend you consult with your faculty adviser and obtain their approval.  Please note that this appointment does not include benefits – graduate students or exempt employees will continue to receive those through their other Harvard affiliations.
   
• Evidence of competence, sensitivity, maturity, and judgment in dealings with peers, professional colleagues, and undergraduate students.
   
• Commitment to learning about the academic and extra-curricular opportunities available to upper-level students at Harvard.

The Resident Tutor application is open year-round; however, we hire the majority of tutors between December and early April.  Please make sure to submit all of your application materials by January 25, 2021 so your application is reviewed for the annual hiring process.  Applications for the 2021-2022 academic year will launch on December 18. Each House manages its own hiring process for Resident Tutors.

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Proctor Role Description - Academic Year 2021-22 Hiring Cycle

A first-year proctor holds an appointment within the First-Year Experience Office (FYE). As a residential role, the position is responsible for supporting new students as they transition from high school to college and enter the Harvard community.

Proctors are valued members of the FYE team. They live in the first-year dorms, and work under the direction of a Resident Dean of First-Year Students and the Senior Assistant Dean of Residential Life and First Year Students to create an academic and social community among 20 to 40 first-year students and provide academic counseling to approximately eight to ten individual students.

As members of the FYE residential community, they are crucial partners in building a safe, healthy and inclusive environment for all first-year students. Typical proctor responsibilities include academic advising, community building, and enforcement of College rules. Proctors are appointed for the academic year, and the appointments are reviewed and, if appropriate, renewed annually. Proctors are required to live in the first-year dormitories, in rooms or suites assigned by the senior staff of the Dean of Students Office and are expected to have meals in Annenberg Hall with their students.

Proctors communicate frequently with the Resident Deans of First-Year Students who supervises them.  All proctors work closely with their specific Yard teams and their colleagues on the Board of First-Year Advisers, as well as with designated members of the Academic Resource Center, University Health Services, and Mental Health Services.

Being consistently present in the dormitory and regularly available to students is requisite to a successful performance as a proctor.  Commitments are often more extensive at the start and end of each term, and proctors are expected to resolve any scheduling conflicts during the orientation, reading, and examination periods in favor of their proctorial responsibilities.  As part of their role, proctors receive housing for the year and a meal plan (limited to when the dining halls are open).

Update 12/18/20:  The proctor application is now open, and will remain open until 9am EST on Monday, January 25, 2021 (priority deadline).

As a Proctor you will be expected to:

• Live in residence in the first-year dorms and meet regularly with students in your entryway
• Establish relationships and maintain a safe and livable physical environment for students in your entryway
• Attend all orientation and training meetings scheduled for Proctors and members of the Board of First-Year Advisers
• Familiarize yourself with the academic requirements, regulations, and policies of the College described in the Harvard College Handbook for Students
• Perform at least two weeks of on-call duty per term, responding to HUPD and HUHS calls/hospitalizations after hours and on weekends.  this would require staying on or near campus after hours and on weekends.
• Respond immediately to emergency situations involving students
• Serve as the official academic adviser for a designated number of students in your entryway, determined by the Advising Programs Office (APO)
• Provide timely, informed, and appropriate academic and other advising to your students
• Enter advising notes in my.harvard.edu when appropriate and at the conclusion of the academic year
• Meet regularly with your Resident Dean of First-Year Students
• Participate fully in the Yard community by being present in your entryway and regularly accessible
• Work a minimum of four service hours each academic year to assist in staffing first-year events
• Have meals with students in Annenberg Dining Hall on a regular basis
• Exercise advising and/or disciplinary responsibilities in situations involving enrolled students, including your advisees, members of your entryway, or other members of the first-year class.

Covid-19 Modifications

The University is currently operating in a modified manner resulting from new policies and guidelines related to the covid-19 virus pandemic. All residential staff are subject to a rapid-cadence testing regime and agree to follow a public health-minded social compact. In the fall of 2020, Harvard College was very successful in keeping on-campus transmission rates very low and maintaining a healthy campus. Beginning in the spring and beyond, the College will add a color-coded risk phasing system that will determine what kinds of community activities can safely be permitted at any one time. Given the evolving situation, proctors are asked to be flexible as regards the duties and role expectations, and the form which it will take, but they should expect that they will be asked to do the following:

• Ensure that students living in your dorm (or assigned to their entryway and living elsewhere on campus) are aware of, follow and maintain the residential policies and protocols that allow our community to remain safe and healthy during the COVID pandemic, both physically and emotionally.
• Serve as a resource for all students with questions related to the College’s and University’s coronavirus protocols;
• Advise and support students in the FYE who are studying off-campus, using online platforms or other forms of communication

In addition, The First Year Experience Office may need to adjust start dates, moving processes, living arrangements and other aspects of the role as the University’s operational status evolves in response to these factors. We will continue to update you as our understanding of the situation for the summer and fall becomes clearer. We deeply appreciate your patience.

• A bachelor's degree, or equivalent.
   
• Enrollment as a degree candidate in a Harvard graduate or professional school; or a minimum of half-time employment in the University, in an exempt-level position. If you have questions about whether your current role qualifies as exempt, please check with your supervisor or local HR representative. Note that strong preference is given to graduate students. If you are a staff member, you should speak with your supervisor about your plans to apply and obtain their approval. If you are a graduate student, we recommend you consult with your faculty adviser and obtain their approval.  Please note that this appointment does not include benefits – graduate students or exempt employees will continue to receive those through their other Harvard affiliations.
   
• Evidence of competence, sensitivity, maturity, and judgment in dealings with peers, professional colleagues, and undergraduate students.
   
• Commitment to learning about the academic and extra-curricular opportunities available to first-year students at Harvard.
   
• Two or more years' availability to serve as a proctor preferred

The 2021-22 proctor application is now open. Applications submitted before the priority deadline (9am EST on January 25, 2021) will be considered for all proctor openings. Any applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all anticipated vacancies are filled. To be notified when the application is available, please email the First-Year Experience Office.

A complete application to the proctor program consists of the following elements:

• Online application form

• One letter of recommendation

• Two additional references

• CV/resume

• Response to essay question (in the online application)

The proctor selection committee meets regularly in January and February to review completed applications; candidates whose applications meet the committee’s criteria are invited for a 30-minute interview with two of the committee members. Following the first round interview, select candidates will be invited to a second round interview with a current proctor. All interviews for the 2021-22 hiring cycle will be virtual.

View proctor application FAQs