CUNY BA Advising Fellows
Starting in Spring 2019
The CUNY BA Advising Fellows Program aims to provide vital academic support to undergraduates in the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Individualized Studies (CUNY BA). Starting in the 2019 spring term, the Advising Fellows will provide individualized academic support to the CUNY BA students, guiding them in choosing courses, managing their work loads, meeting academic challenges, and enlisting faculty mentors to supervise their work on the campuses. The Fellows will be advanced doctoral students who have already successfully taught undergraduates in at least one CUNY college. Carefully chosen for their interpersonal skills and good judgment, the Fellows will work with Director Kim Hartswick and will be accessible and open to students while also providing academic guidance.
Each Fellow will be responsible for advising a specific group of students on their programs of study, course selection, and other academic affairs. Fellows will host daytime and evening office hours to meet with their advisees and will also meet with students by appointment. They are encouraged to use Skype or Zoom to maintain face-to-face connections with students who cannot easily visit the Graduate Center. In addition, as enrollments in the CUNY BA/MA grow, the Fellows will support the development of the BA/MA master’s student community with programming for students that enhances their studies, careers, networking, and professional writing.
The total compensation for this award is $27,128. This funding will include a graduate assistant appointment that will carry eligibility to purchase the low-cost NYSHIP health insurance as well as in-state tuition remission for fellows who are within their first 10 registered semesters of study. CUNY BA Advisement Fellows will be required to work a total of 450 non-teaching hours during the academic year. Since the program is staring up in the 2019 spring term, the compensation for the award will be $13,564 and requirements for the first semester will be for 225 hours. Starting with the 2019-2020 academic year, the fellowships will take place during the academic year (two 15 week semesters).
Application Specifics and Requirements
To be eligible, applicants must be Level III by the start date of the appointment. Students holding one of the Graduate Center’s five-year fellowships are welcome to apply. Each Fellow is expected to have deep institutional knowledge of the CUNY BA and its administrative structures that relate to students, as well as the academic advising faculty based at the colleges. Students with interdisciplinary research interests or interdisciplinary coursework and advising experience are especially encouraged to apply. Strong organizational and interpersonal skills are essential. CUNY BA is a unique program that attracts an intellectually diverse student body, and we seek applicants showing experience or strong interest in working with this population.
Application Instructions: To apply, please send a statement of interest (no more than 1–2 pages), noting any interdisciplinary courses or work completed and advising experience, a CV, and a letter of reference from a faculty advisor (which can be sent separately) to Director Kim Hartswick (Kim.Hartswick15@cunyba.cuny.edu) with “Advising Fellows Application” in the subject line. Inquiries about the program can be sent to him or to the Dean for Academic Initiatives and Strategic Innovation Brian Peterson (bpeterson@gc.cuny.edu) in the Provost’s Office. Applications must be received by Wednesday, October 31, 2018 to be considered. Interviews will take place in November. Decision notifications will be made by Friday, December 7, 2018.