Undergraduate Employment

Jobs are in demand and fill quickly. To receive early consideration, please apply by early April for the fall semester or early November for the spring semester. If you are being considered for a position, you will be contacted by e-mail and may be asked to participate in a brief interview.  Job offers are made one semester at a time.  If you receive an offer (by e-mail), respond as soon as possible to accept (or decline). When a position opens up, we hire the first qualified applicant we can reach.  

To apply complete the Student Employment Application.  If you are updating your application or reapplying, make sure that you update the "Applying for semester" field at the top of the application page.

Undergraduate Course Assistants

Responsibilities

• Facilitate and conduct a one and a half hour workshop problem session per week.
• Attend bi-weekly meetings with other course assistants and instructional staff.
• Grade weekly homework assignments (approx. 3-4 hours per week).
• Attend a mandatory training session at the start of the semester.

Undergraduate Homework Graders

Undergraduate graders are sought for several entry-level MATH courses, particularly:

• MATH 1105: Finite Mathematics for the Life and Social Sciences (fall only)
• MATH 1340: Mathematics and Politics (spring only)
• MATH 1710: Statistical Theory and Application in the Real World

Graders may also be needed for one or more courses in the engineering calculus sequence (MATH 1910-1920-2930-2940) or for the occasional 3000-/4000-level course, but this is less certain. (See the Undergraduate Course Assistant Positions if you are interested in grading Calculus I or Calculus II.)

Responsibilities

• Comprehensive, precise grading of weekly assignments.
• Accurate record keeping.
• Prompt return of assignments to the course instructor.

Undergraduate Tutors

Applicants for Undergraduate Tutor positions at the Math Support Center should (at minimum) be able to help students with the material taught in

• Calculus I (MATH 1110),
• Calculus II (MATH 1120),
• Finite Math for the Life and Social Sciences (MATH 1105),
• Calculus for the Life and Social Sciences (MATH 1106).

Those with sufficient background to tutor for some of the upper-level math courses are especially encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities: 

• Conduct one-on-one and small-group tutoring sessions for students on a walk-in basis.
• Staff the Math Support Center during specific assigned hours each week. (Additional hours will be available during busy times of the semester, such as right before an exam is held in one of the courses.)
• Attend a one-hour training session at the start of the semester.

• If you have never been a Cornell student employee before, you must complete an I-9 Employment Verification Form before you begin work, which is now completed electronically through Workday.  A paper version of the form can be found at Employment Eligibility Verification - I-9.  Once you are appointed you will receive a trigger e-mail notification to fill out Section 1 of the electronic I-9 form.  You will have 3 business days from your start date to bring original accepted documents to Heather Peterson in 310 Malott Hall to complete the electronic I-9 process.  Refer to page 3 of the paper version of the form for a list of accepted documents to verify employment.
• A list of course assignments for Course Assistants and Graders will be provided just prior to the start of the semester with contact information.  CA/Graders and instructors will be in contact to discuss expectations and preferred deadlines. 
• Graders and Course Assistants will be added to the course in Canvas, which will give you electronic access to the textbook. 

Heather Peterson will send you more detailed information upon hire.

Compensation

Compensation rates for the undergraduate positions of Tutor, Course Assistant, and Grader are based on a two-tier system.  Effective January 1, 2023, the starting pay rates for each tier are as follows:

• Tier 1 - $14.70/hour:  Student employees working in the Math Department 1-2 full semesters.
• Tier 2 - $15.10/hour:  Student employees working 3 or more full semesters.

Tiers are determined by the number of semesters worked, regardless of there being a break in service.  These increases are in compliance with the expected New York State minimum wage increase effective December 31, 2022, unless otherwise suspended.

Paychecks and Time Reporting

These positions are subject to the Non-exempt Bi-weekly Payroll Calendar.  As a student employee it is important to enter your time daily for accuracy in Workday and submit your weekly time by 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday.  Payroll will issue your paycheck on alternate Thursdays.  To avoid lost, stolen, or delayed paychecks, sign up for Direct Deposit.  Direct deposit is the most efficient, secure, and direct means to receive your pay.  Otherwise, your paycheck will be sent to your home address provided by you through Student Center (Under Contact Information, click the "Home" link to edit your address). 

Resourceful links:
Payroll 
Student Employment
 

If you have any questions about student employment in the Math Department, please email:  math_ugjobs@cornell.edu or contact Heather Peterson.