Instructional Summer Employment

• Application Process and Timeline

  How to Apply:

  Summer employment opportunities include instructors, teaching and course assistants, and graders. Summer Instructional openings are listed below.

  • Use the filters to find relevant positions and the latest postings. Click on the Course Title for details.

  • Visit the course/program pages before applying. Make sure that you are available during the scheduled dates and times. Check whether the course/program is in-person or remote.

  • Submit your application as indicated in the job posting (either a contact person is listed or a link is provided.) Your cover letter should address a specific course and the required qualifications listed.

  Timeline:

  • January-May: positions are posted and completed applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications are accepted until the positions are filled. Job openings are added throughout the Winter and Spring Quarters. Postings are removed when the position is filled.

  • June: Applicants are notified. Accepted applicants receive an offer and have a week to accept or decline the contractual offer. Prior to the start of their employment, candidates are required to provide an I9; must pass a background check; and complete mandatory training (ANCRA) for working with minors.

• Primary Instructors: Additional Information

  Current UChicago Academic Appointees (lecturer, senior lecturer, faculty member):

  • UChicago academic appointees 9-month appointments do not have contractual obligations during the Summer Quarter, even if they are paid over 12 months. Summer Session teaching is considered extra service and UChicago affiliates receive additional compensation for Summer teaching, above and beyond their annual salary or stipend. Summer teaching does not count towards contractual teaching obligations for the academic year.

  • UChicago affiliates on 12-month appointments should consult with their department and HR staff regarding summer teaching. It may not be compensated as extra service.

  You should ensure that nothing (e.g. grant funding or status) prevents you from taking on a summer teaching obligation. If you plan on engaging in a paid activity in addition to summer teaching, you should disclose that as soon as possible so that the University can assess your maximum summer earnings.

  Summer 2026 compensation levels are not yet available. In 2025, per course compensation was calculated at 1/9th of the base academic year salary. The minimum for faculty was $10,000 and for all other levels (Sr. Lecturer and OAAs/CBA/ Staff) was $8,500. The maximum for all levels (except staff and temporary lecturers) was $15,000 and for staff and temporary lecturers (1B) was $8,500 per course.

  UChicago Graduate Student Lecturers:

  • Graduate student lecturers must confirm with their Dean of Students that they are eligible to teach in the summer and what impact, if any, summer teaching may have on their primary funding.  See contact information in section below.

  • Per the GSU-UE, a graduate student employed as a Lecturer during Summer Session 2025 whose employment was not part of their primary funding related to their academic program, receives $5,318 per course.

  Non UChicago Affiliated Instructors:

  • Select courses may be open to candidates that do not have a current UChicago affiliation and would be classified as temporary lecturers (1B), with base compensation for Summer Quarter Undergraduate courses set at $8,500 per course.

  Immersion Primary Instructor Salaries:

  Pre-college Immersion courses are more intensive. Remunerations are 1.5 times the base compensation for Summer Quarter undergraduate courses. Base compensation varies by status; see “Current UChicago affiliates” above.

  Remote Instruction:

  For online courses, primary instructors must be able to reliably perform their responsibilities from a remote location. This includes, but is not limited to, an adequate internet connection and an adequate working space. Remote work arrangements are your responsibility.

  For tax purposes, remote instructors must be in the United States when teaching for the program, specifically in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, or Wisconsin.

• Course Assistants / Teaching Assistants: Additional Information

  Compensation:

  Compensation (can) vary by program (HOW CAN THEY KNOW THE SALARY AHEAD OF TIME?)

  Remote Courses:

  For online courses, Course Assistants and Teaching Assistants must be able to reliably perform their responsibilities from a remote location. This includes, but is not limited to, an adequate internet connection and an adequate working space. Remote work arrangements are the Course Assistant's responsibility.

  • Current UChicago students: Course Assistants and Teaching Assistants in remote courses must be in the United States when working in the program, unless they are enrolled in a UChicago Study Abroad program.

  • Not current UChicago students: For tax purposes, Course Assistants and Teaching Assistants in remote courses must be in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, or Wisconsin.

  • Non US Citizen applicants: All applicants must be eligible to work in the United States; Summer Session does not secure work visas for these positions.

• Graders: Additional Information

  Working Remotely

  Graders must be able to perform their responsibilities from a remote location, and their remote work arrangements are their responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, an adequate internet connection and an adequate working space.

  • Current UChicago students: Graders must be in the United States when working in the program, unless they are enrolled in a UChicago Study Abroad program.

  • Not current UChicago students: For tax purposes, graders must be in California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, or Wisconsin.

  Compensation?

Divisional Information for Current Graduate Students

• UChicago Biological Sciences Students

  Current UChicago Biological Sciences Ph.D. students must reach out to their departments or Dean of Students to confirm their Summer employability.

• UChicago Humanities Students

  All summer teaching (instructor or assistant) in UChicago undergraduate curriculum courses (Summer Quarter and September Term) must be a part of your MTE/PTP. Please check with your department to see if this would be approved.

  Immersion and Summer Online courses are only open to pre-college students are not part of the UChicago undergraduate curriculum. As such, they are the only programs in which you can teach outside of your MTE/PTP and you would be compensated.

• UChicago Physical Science Students

  Current UChicago Physical Science Ph.D. students must reach out to their departments or Dean of Students to confirm their Summer employability.

• UChicago Social Sciences Students

  All summer teaching (instructor or assistant) in UChicago undergraduate curriculum courses (Summer Quarter and September Term) must be a part of your MTE/PTP. Please check with your department to see if this would be approved.

  Immersion and Summer Online courses are only open to pre-college students are not part of the UChicago undergraduate curriculum. As such, they are the only programs in which you can teach outside of your MTE/PTP and you would be compensated.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who is considered an internal or external candidate?

  • Internal Candidates are current UChicago employees or enrolled students.

  • External Candidates are not currently employed at UChicago or enrolled in a UChicago program. Alumni should apply as external candidates.

  • Candidates with no current UChicago affiliation should apply only for positions marked as "open to external candidates".

• What happens if my course is canceled by Summer Session?

  Primary instructors are notified a minimum of 21 days before the course is scheduled to begin if the course is canceled due to low enrollment. Such decisions are final and not subject to appeal.

  Primary instructors are responsible for notifying any nominated Teaching Assistants or Graders.

• What happens if an instructor must cancel a scheduled class?

  Primary instructors who must cancel an individual class session due to illness or another emergency should contact us immediately at summersession@uchicago.edu or 773-702-2149. They should also use Fast Message in Faculty Access to reach their students.

Residential Summer Employment

• Residential Employment: Overview and Timeline

  Over 2000 Summer Session pre-college and undergraduate students are hosted on campus every summer. They are supervised by the Summer Session Residential Staff, who are typically UChicago College students and recent alumni. Residential Staff foster connection and community building on-campus.

  Summer residential employment opportunities include Residential Assistants, Program Assistants and Assistant Residential Directors.

  Most staff positions have a duration of 7 weeks, beginning in mid-June ending in late July, with some positions ranging from 8 to 14 weeks. Residential Staff roles may be compatible with on-campus jobs or internships. The selection timeline and application will be posted in UChicago Handshake in early Winter Quarter 2026.

  Summer Session Residential Assistants (RAs) serve as role models, advisors, program planners and support staff for Summer Session students living in residence halls, including college-aged and pre-college participants. RAs live in College Houses alongside students and dine with them in the residential dining commons. This is an ideal role for candidates interested in strengthening their teamwork, mentoring and leadership skills.

  For details, reach out to Jim Wessel, Director of Residential Programs, Summer Session.

  Prior to the start of their employment, candidates are required to provide an I9. They must pass a background check and complete mandatory training (ANCRA) for working with minors.

• Residential Assistants: Application and Compensation

  Application

  The application is open between January 16 and March 1, 2026.

  • Selected candidates will be asked to interview via Zoom in February and March.

  • Begin your application on Handshake, including uploading your current resume. Search "Summer Session 2026 - Residential Assistant" on UChicago Handshake.

  Compensation includes:

  • $525 stipend per week (including the training week starting on June 9). Employment may last 7 or more weeks.

  • A room in an on-campus residence hall (Granville-Grossman or Woodlawn Residential Commons in recent years) beginning June 11 through the end of your employment.

  • A dining plan, beginning with dinner on June 11, through the end of your employment.