Student Mentor

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Job Title:

Student Mentor - Upward Bound Summer Program (at Mansfield, Wooster)

Department:

Undergraduate Education | Upward Bound-JM

Program Description
Upward Bound is a federally funded college-prep program created by the Higher Education Act of 1965 for high school students who are from low-income families and/or are potential first-generation college students.

The goal of the program is to develop in participants the skills and motivation needed for success in post-secondary education. There are 2 regional Upward Bound programs located at: Ohio State Wooster and Ohio State Mansfield.

During the academic year, the programs serve a total of 126 high school students from Orrville, Wooster, Canton, Madison, Mansfield, and Clear Fork, Ohio. During the summer, up to 70 students in grades 9-12 participate in a 6-week summer program.

The program includes classes, electives, athletics, tutoring, field trips, and social programming.

For one week, the students commute to the either Mansfield or Wooster OSU campus for classes and electives. For four weeks, the students reside in dormitories at the College of Wooster or OSU Mansfield's Molyet village from Sunday evening to Friday afternoon; the last week, the group travels out of state.

All Upward Bound Student Mentors are considered Intermittent Employees by the university. An Intermittent Employee is defined as following:

A classified or unclassified (Staff, not Student) position which serves at the discretion of the unit for which the employee works irregular hours or days on an as-needed basis.  The employee must work less than 50% FTE over the course of any 12-month period.

Position Requirements

• This position requires an in-person presence in northcentral and northeast Ohio. During the academic year, it is as-needed one weekend a month, with a few overnight obligations to provide care, custody, and control of student participants.
• A candidate must complete an FBI/BCI-fingerprint background check in a reasonable timeframe (6-8 weeks prior to the first day of employment).
• Requires successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Check.
• Must be willing and able to stay the night on a college campus or a hotel room.
• Candidates have an obligation to self-disclose if they are arrested or receive criminal charges within 5 days of the arrest or receipt of said charges.
• Candidates who are hired and wish to continue their position after the summer program ends must ensure they work at least one shift for the program within a 180-day window.

Hours, Summer

• During training week, most activities will take place between 9 AM and 4 PM, with a few assignments to be completed in the evenings.
• During all other weeks, Student Mentor staff has round-the-clock supervision of students when not on call or on scheduled breaks/free time. Mentors will work more than 40 hours/week during most weeks.
• Most weekdays, 1 Student Mentor will be on call at the Wooster campus, and the other Student Mentors will have morning and afternoon free time.

Hours, Academic Year (if the candidate elects to stay with the program after the summer)

• Weekends and evenings between September and May. Averages 1 weekend a month as needed.
• On average, 10-hour commitments during a weekend trip; for evenings, 6-hour commitments as needed.

*Note, Academic year work hours are irregular and are offered intermittently.

Job Description, Summer:
A. Residence Hall

• Student Mentors live in either a dormitory at the College of Wooster and provide 24-hour supervision for students in the program, or in OSU Mansfield's Molyet apartments to provide 24-hour supervision. Student Mentors are on-call during the night hours. A Night Monitor (not a Student Mentor) is on duty from 11PM -7AM.
• Provide personal, social, or skill development programming for a 10-student unit and work in conjunction with other residential staff to provide similar programming to the whole group of students. Meet with the 10-student unit every Sunday evening.
• Regulate student behavior and take disciplinary action according to the program discipline code. Communicate all problems promptly to the Academic Advisor and/or Director.
• Ensure that there is no traffic between the girls' and boys' floors.
• Monitor conditions of the dorm rooms and report any problems.

B. Tutoring

• Work with other residential staff to organize and provide tutoring for 1.5 hours each evening.
• Communicate regularly with teachers concerning tutoring needs and progress of students.

C. Activities

• Attend daily and weekly staff meetings.
• Provide or assist with an elective activity and an athletic activity (ex: basketball, kickball, knitting, stress management, Zumba, film study etc.).
• Actively supervise students during all meal times, free times, elective activities, athletic activities, study hours, and Wednesday field trips.
• Assist instructors on class field trips as needed.
• Be on call to assist with classes or emergencies.
• Transport students daily as needed in University cars or 12-passenger vans, as needed.
• Accompany students who need to seek medical attention.
• Collect and be responsible for all receipts.
• Be responsible for gathering and returning funds, equipment, vehicles, or supplies used in program activities.
• Run errands; shop for supplies; set out and clean up after some meals.

D. Expectation for Participation

• Always maintain appropriate boundaries with students.
• Model appropriate behavior; model participation in activities.
• Positively reinforce appropriate behavior and restrict student behaviors which are inappropriate; respond to any student's gross motor, verbal, or emotional behaviors which may jeopardize the safety of the students or others.
• Memorize and enforce program rules.
• Take responsibility for the safety of the students you supervise.
• Promptly communicate needs and concerns to appropriate staff.

Required Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED.
• A valid driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 0-2 years of relevant experience.
• Rising college sophomore standing or higher; strong academic GPA.
• Strongly prefer prior residential advisor experience.
• Prefer experience working with economically and educationally disadvantaged youth.

Additional Information:

Summer Start: June 1st, 2026

Summer End: July 20th, 2026 *Discuss opportunity to continue with supervisor.

Compensation: $15.15/hour, plus overtime when work more than 40 hours.

Meals covered any time students are in residence/are fed during an event.

Housing covered for the duration of the summer program.

Instruction: Before you submit your application, please attach your Resume.

A cover letter explaining your skills alignment and interest in this role is helpful but is not required.

Location:

Ovalwood Hall (0625)

Position Type:

Intermittent

Scheduled Hours:

0.2

Shift:

Varying Shifts

Thank you for your interest in positions at The Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center. Once you have applied, the most updated information on the status of your application can be found by visiting the Candidate Home section of this site. Please view your submitted applications by logging in and reviewing your status. For answers to additional questions please review the frequently asked questions.

The university is an equal opportunity employer, including veterans and disability. 

As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216, Ohio State will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.