Summer Youth Programs

Visiting Instructor Program

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.

The SYP Visiting Instructor Program is now accepting proposals from educators to design and deliver a week-long course during Summer Youth Programs 2024. Click Here to download the RFP as a PDF or view details below.

Application deadline has been extended to November 17, 2023. For more information, please contact syplogic@mtu.edu.

Students learn orienteering from a VIP instructor and ROTC
Students learn basic 3D modeling
An instructor and students display their 3D printed race cars


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 send a proposal which includes the following to syplogic@mtu.edu:

  • Cover letter describing your interest in being selected for this opportunity
  • Professional Resume
  • Letter of Recommendation from another educator or school administrator
  • 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 2024 course dates:
    • Week 1: June 16-21
    • Week 2: June 23-28
    • Week 3: July 7-12
    • Week 4: July 14-19
    • Week 5: July 21-26

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

Instructor and students

Visiting Instructor Program Timeline

  • Proposals are due to the Center for Educational Outreach no later than 5 p.m. EST on Wednesday, November 1, 2023

  • Proposal selections will be announced no later than November 17, 2023

  • Instructor Trainings will take place online late May/early June 2024

  • 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 2024 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.

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*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 2024 tuition-based courses with seats remaining at the time of application. The scholarship may not go to a relative fo the educator instructing the program.