Visiting Instructor Program

About SYP

Founded in 1972, Michigan Technological University’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP) offers middle and high school students opportunities for hands-on learning and career exploration in a wide-variety of fields and to experience college life in a fun, engaging, and safe setting. We aspire to spark curiosity, discovery, and critical soft skill development in exceptional young people from around the world.

Spark curiosity in young minds as you help them explore career paths and find their passions through the SYP Visiting Instructor Program! The SYP Visiting Instructor Program is now accepting proposals from educators to design and deliver a week-long course during Summer Youth Programs 2025. Click here to download the RFP as a PDF or view details below.

Deadline to apply is November 22, 2024. For more information, please contact syplogic@mtu.edu.

Compensation & Benefits

Selected Visiting Instructors will receive:

Salary of $920.00
Up to $350 reimbursement for travel costs to and from Michigan Tech’s campus*
On-campus lodging and meal plan**
A scholarship for a student from their school to attend an SYP course of their choice***

Course Criteria

Proposals for courses should meet the following criteria:

Consist of 31.5 contact hours with students

○ Daily schedule is 9 a.m.-noon, 1:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday
Courses should prioritize hands-on activities and showcase related careers
○ A budget of $400 will be allocated for course supplies and activities
○ Day trips to local places of relevancy, campus facilities, etc. are encouraged
Accommodate 15 middle school students (Grades 6-8) or 20 high school students (Grades 9-11) with varying levels of background knowledge of course content

Selection Expectations

Educators chosen as Visiting Instructors are expected to:

Submit all required course materials according to program deadlines
Consent to and pass a background check
Satisfy all required Summer Youth Programs Instructor and minors-related program trainings (approximately 3 hours) and code of conduct requirements
Develop a course itinerary fulfilling all 31.5 contact hours according to the daily schedule
Participate in Monday morning and Friday morning instructor meetings during the week the course is taught
Submit necessary follow-up on course

Application

To apply, please use our online application to submit the criteria below. If you have any questions, please contact us at syplogic@mtu.edu.

A brief summary of your professional experience, including your previous roles, key responsibilities, and any significant achievements. Feel free to highlight any skills or experiences you believe are relevant to the course material being proposed.
Professional Resume (optional)
Letter of Recommendation from another educator, school administrator, or relevant professional
Course title and a 250-word description of proposed content
The target age level for your course (middle or high school)
General outline of course itinerary (Example course itinerary)
3-4 student learning outcomes
Your scheduling preference for 2025 course dates:
- Week 1: June 15 - 20
- Week 2: June 22 - 27
- Week 3: July 6 - 11
- Week 4: July 13 - 18
- Week 5: July 20 - 25

Up to two courses may be proposed per educator. If proposing more than one course, please combine both proposals into one deliverable.

Visiting Instructor Program Timeline

Proposals are due to the Center for Educational Outreach no later than 5 p.m. EST on Friday, November 22, 2024
Proposal selections will be announced no later than December 13, 2024
Instructor Trainings will take place online late May/early June 2025
Detailed itinerary, course budget, and supplies list will be due one month prior to the start of the course
Course will take place during SYP 2025 program dates
○ Upon selection into the Visiting Instructor Program, your hiring is contingent upon student enrollments. Summer Youth Program reserves the right to cancel courses that do not have 5 students enrolled by May 1 and 9 students enrolled by June 1 or 1 month prior to the course start date.

*Travel reimbursement and lodging will be provided for educators located 30+ miles from Michigan Tech’s campus. Receipts for travel should be submitted to the Center for Educational Outreach for reimbursement.

**All educators will be provided lunch each day. If off-campus lodging is preferred, a stipend of $375 will be provided. Unfortunately, we cannot assist with securing off-campus housing.

***Scholarships will only be available for Summer Youth Programs 2025 tuition-based courses with seats remaining at the time of application. The scholarship may not go to a relative of the educator instructing the program.