Harvard Summer School Student Activities Office Senior Program Coordinator

Information for 2025 Harvard Summer School SAO Senior Program Coordinator Applicants 

Harvard Summer School (HSS) seeks one Senior Program Coordinator for the Student Activities Office to plan programming and assist in the selection of Student Activities Office staff during the spring semester and run the Student Activities Office throughout the summer. Serving a diverse population of students, the Student Activities Office (SAO) provides engaging opportunities across specialty areas, such as: film nights, health and wellness, off-campus trips, special events, athletics, college readiness workshops, virtual college admissions programming, and virtual volunteering.  

Harvard Summer School is a rigorous and enriching summer experience with course offerings across several Programs. The SAO plans an extensive series of events and activities for HSS students in the following Programs: 

• The General Program (GP) enrolls adult and college students in credit-bearing courses of 3 weeks, 4 weeks, or 7 weeks in duration. GP students come to the Summer School for many different reasons; they may be pursuing a degree, exploring a new area of interest, or advancing their careers. 
• The Pre-College Program (Pre-College) offers 3 sessions of non-credit, two-week, college-level courses for high school students. It provides students an introduction to life in college through a structure of daily class meetings, college readiness skill-building workshops, academic exploration lectures, and community-building activities and social events. 
• The Secondary School Program (SSP) enrolls high school students in credit-bearing courses of 4 weeks or 7 weeks in duration. The SSP offers students an introduction to the autonomy that characterizes the first year of college, with variable class meeting schedules and the freedom to choose how to allocate time to studying, skill-building, socializing, and more.  

Position Description 

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Student Engagement and Residential Life, the SAO Senior Program Coordinator will gain valuable leadership and student affairs experience, working to plan an engaging in-person and virtual student experience for the upcoming summer session as well as work with the SAO staff to provide oversight and guidance over programming. The Senior Program Coordinator will be responsible for assisting with program planning, hiring processes, event logistics for the 2025 summer session, organization of event and training materials, and management of the SAO office. Upon acceptance of this position, the Senior Coordinator is expected to complete pre-assigned work, attend online meetings and training. The Senior Coordinator is required to arrive on campus by noon, Sunday, June 8, 2025, and remain in residence until mid-afternoon, Saturday, August 9, 2025.

 Spring Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with the Assistant Director to define the program’s vision and strategy for the upcoming session.
• Assist with the recruitment and hiring process for Program Assistants and College Readiness staff, including managing applications.
• Support event planning and logistics for the 2025 summer session.
• Coordinate with Harvard Summer School partners to secure event tickets.
• Manage and maintain program information on the Blackthorn platform (event management tool), ensuring all details are accurate and prepared for the summer session.
• Contribute to the planning and development of training for Program Assistants and College Readiness staff.
• Attend weekly one-on-one meetings with your supervisor to review progress and receive guidance.
• Take on additional responsibilities as assigned.

Summer Responsibilities

• Supervise, train, and evaluate the SAO Program Coordinator and Program Assistants, ensuring they are equipped to perform their roles effectively.
• Participate in an on-call rotation to address any program or event-related concerns.
• Co-lead weekly staff meetings with the Program Coordinator to ensure effective communication and progress.
• Oversee the use and management of Blackthorn (event management tool), troubleshooting any issues that arise.
• Foster and maintain a positive, inclusive, and productive office culture that thrives in the fast-paced Harvard Summer School environment.
• Attend weekly one-on-one meetings with your supervisor to review progress and adjust priorities as needed.
• Take on additional responsibilities as assigned.

Commitment

• Hours: This position will be part-time (~10-14 hours) through the Spring semester and increase to a full-time schedule during the summer term (~40 hours).
• Dates of Employment: 
  • Spring session: Early February – August
  • Summer session: Sunday, June 8 through mid-afternoon Saturday, August 9. The Senior Coordinator is required to arrive on campus by noon, Sunday, June 8, 2025, and remain in residence until mid-afternoon, Saturday, August 9, 2025
• Orientation and Training: 
  • Spring session: Virtual meetings beginning in February
  • Summer session: All staff summer orientation: Friday, June 6, 2025, from 11:30am-1:00pm

Qualifications 

We invite applications from recent college graduates and graduate students, as well as undergraduate students, with a demonstrated interest in student engagement. We seek candidates with interpersonal and communication skills, flexibility, organization and time management, and technical skills relevant to the role.