Proctors and Tutors

Source: https://dso.college.harvard.edu/proctors-tutors Parent: https://dso.college.harvard.edu

“As undergrads, our mentors provided us with the space to chart our course while also serving as a trove of institutional knowledge. We want to give back because we believe that with the right support, college can be a transformative experience.”

Flora and Jocelyn Rice-Chan

Director of the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative & PhD Student at BC (Proctors for 8 years)

Proctors & Tutors

Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year are closed. Applications for the 2027-2028 academic year will open in the Fall of 2026.

2025 Proctor Role Information Session

“It’s deeply rewarding to guide students toward a fuller understanding of success and identity, shaped by all the experiences that make up their story.”

Jess Cmiel

PhD candidate at Harvard SEAS

Proctor for 3 years

Proctors Resident Tutors Other Residential Staff

Proctors

Position Overview expand_more

Proctor Role Description

Proctors are valued and important members of the staff of Harvard College who play a vital role in supporting new students as they transition from high school to college and enter the Harvard community.

Proctors hold an appointment within the First-Year Experience Office (FYE).They live in the first-year dorms, and work under the direction of a Resident Dean of First-Year Students and the Senior Assistant Dean of Residential Life and First-Year Students to create an academic and social community among 20 to 40 first-year students and provide academic advising to approximately eight to ten individual students within their entryway.

As members of the FYE residential community, they are crucial partners in building a safe, healthy and inclusive environment for all first-year students. Typical proctor responsibilities include academic advising, community building, and enforcement of College policies. Proctors are appointed for the academic year, and the appointments are reviewed and, if appropriate, renewed annually. Proctors are required to live in the first-year dormitories, in rooms or suites assigned by the Dean of Students Office and are expected to have meals in Annenberg Hall with their students.

Proctors communicate frequently with the Resident Deans of First-Year Students who supervise them. All proctors work closely with their specific Yard teams and their colleagues as preconcentration advisers, as well as with designated members of the Academic Resource Center, University Health Services, and Mental Health Services.

Being consistently present in the dormitory and regularly available to students is requisite to a successful performance as a proctor. Commitments are often more extensive at the start and end of each term, and proctors are expected to resolve any scheduling conflicts during the orientation, reading, and examination periods in favor of their proctorial responsibilities. While the start and end of each semester are especially busy, proctors also are required to be in residence during various times of the year when there is more activity on campus. As part of their role, proctors receive housing for the year and a meal plan (limited to when the dining halls are open).

Responsibilities & Requirements expand_more

As a Proctor you will be expected to:

Live in residence in the first-year dorms and meet regularly with students in your entryway
Agree to be on campus during required in-residence days
Establish relationships and maintain a safe and livable physical environment for students in your entryway
Be active in creating an inclusive and vibrant community within your entryway
Attend all orientation and training meetings scheduled for Proctors and members of the Board of First-Year Advisers
Familiarize yourself with the academic requirements, regulations, and policies of the College described in the Harvard College Handbook for Students
Perform at least two to three weeks of on-call duty per term, responding to HUPD and HUHS calls/hospitalizations after hours and on weekends. This would require staying on or near campus after hours and on weekends.
Respond immediately to emergency situations involving students
Serve as the official academic adviser for a designated number of students in your entryway, determined by the Advising Programs Office (APO)
Provide timely, informed, and appropriate advising to your students
Enter advising notes in my.harvard.edu when appropriate and at the conclusion of the academic year
Meet regularly with your Resident Dean of First-Year Students
Participate fully in the Yard community by being present in your entryway and regularly accessible
Work a minimum of four service hours each academic year to assist in staffing first-year events
If possible, have meals with students in Annenberg Dining Hall on a regular basis
Exercise advising and/or disciplinary responsibilities in situations involving enrolled students, including your advisees, members of your entryway, or other members of the first-year class.

In addition, the First Year Experience (FYE) Office may need to adjust start dates, move-in/move-out procedures, living arrangements, and other aspects of the role as the University’s operational status shifts to respond to these factors. Please note that the University reserves the right to respond to any public health emergencies or circumstances which may impact planning for the summer and the fall. We deeply appreciate your patience.

Physical Requirements:

Residential positions—such as Tutors, Proctors, and House Aides—generally require the physical ability to perform a range of tasks while navigating the campus, including ability to traverse into separate multiple buildings within the residential community. They are also frequently required to remain in a stationary position. Tutors, Proctors, and House Aides must also occasionally transport and/or move items weighing up to 25 pounds. Flexibility in work hours—including evenings, weekends, and holidays—is also commonly expected.

The physical demands described previously reflect those needed to successfully carry out the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties. If you have questions about the physical access of any specific residential spaces, please contact the Director of Administration for the Residential Communities, Krystle Petrie, at kpetrie@fas.harvard.edu.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Eligibility Criteria expand_more

A bachelor's degree, or equivalent.\
Enrollment as a degree candidate in a Harvard graduate or professional school; or a minimum of half-time employment in the University, in an exempt-level position. Extension School students must be enrolled full-time and must be receiving their student benefits through Harvard. If you have questions about whether your current role qualifies as exempt, please check with your supervisor or local HR representative. Note that strong preference is given to graduate students. If you are a staff member, you should speak with your supervisor about your plans to apply and obtain their approval. If you are a graduate student, we recommend you consult with your faculty adviser and obtain their approval. Please note that this appointment does not include benefits – graduate students or exempt employees will continue to receive those through their other Harvard affiliations.
Evidence of competence, sensitivity, maturity, and judgment in dealings with peers, professional colleagues, and undergraduate students.\
Commitment to learning about the academic and extra-curricular opportunities available to first-year students at Harvard.\
Two or more years' availability to serve as a proctor preferred

Application Process expand_more

The 2026-27 proctor application will open in early December. Applications submitted before the priority deadline of January 5 will be considered for all proctor openings. Any applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis until all anticipated vacancies are filled.

A complete application to the proctor program consists of the following elements:

Online application form
One letter of recommendation
Two additional references
CV/resume
Response to essay question (in the online application)

The proctor selection committee meets regularly in January and February to review completed applications; candidates whose applications meet the committee’s criteria are invited for a 30-minute interview with two of the committee members. Following the first round interview, select candidates will be invited to a second round interview with a current proctor.

Resident Tutors

Position Overview expand_more

Resident Tutors are valued and important members of the staff of Harvard College who play a vital role in the residential and educational life of undergraduates. Each House in the College forms a small academic and social community in which Resident Tutors and undergraduates live, eat, socialize and study together within the larger context of the College and University. Because of the informal nature of this environment, and the unique character of each individual House, it is important for both Tutors and students to understand Tutors’ multiple roles within the House system as a whole.

Tutors communicate frequently and work closely with the senior staff of the House (Faculty Deans, who supervise them, Resident Deans, and House Administrators). Most tutors also serve as sophomore mentors, and work closely with designated members of the Mignone Center for Career Success, Academic Resource Center, University Health Services, the Wellness Center, the SHARE Team, and Mental Health Services, in addition to other DSO Offices such as the Harvard Foundation.

Being consistently present in the House and regularly available to students is requisite to successful performance as a tutor. Commitments are often more extensive at the start and end of each term, and tutors are expected to resolve any scheduling conflicts during the orientation, reading, and examination periods in favor of their tutorial responsibilities. As part of their role, tutors receive housing for the year and a meal plan (limited to when the dining halls are open).

Responsibilities & Requirements expand_more

Neighborhood or Entryway Responsibilities: Tutors oversee a part of the House (e.g., floor, entryway); they are the College Officer for their designated community. In this capacity, Resident Tutors are expected to:

Meet with and be available to students on an individual basis;
Explain the rules of the House and the College;
Help create and maintain a safe and livable environment;
Serve as a liaison to the many resources within the College (Mignone Center for Career Success, Academic Resource Center, etc.)
Bring to the attention of the Faculty & Resident Deans students' academic or personal concerns or serious infractions of House or College rules. Tutors work with Deans in helping the students address problems they encounter.
Perform several weeks (schedule determined by the House) of on-call duty per term, responding to HUPD and HUHS calls/hospitalizations after hours and on weekends. this would require staying on or near campus after hours and on weekends.
Respond immediately to emergency situations involving students.

Personal Advising:Tutors play an essential role within the advising system at Harvard. Not only do sophomore mentors help students develop and pursue their academic and personal interests, but they also serve as an important source of information to the Allston Burr Resident Dean about students who are struggling or in need of additional support. Sophomore mentors provide personal advising to students throughout the academic year.

Community Involvement: While varying from House to House, the responsibilities of the community can be generalized as follows:

Be in residence in the House during the academic year except for vacation periods and, with explicit permission of the Faculty Dean, an occasional short trip
Attend College-wide trainings and meetings, and House Tutor meetings; take meals in the dining hall regularly; be available to students during stressful times
Attend House functions, including sophomore outings, orientations, commencement, and other functions designated by the Faculty Dean
Perform “on-call” duty when required by the House. This includes responding to HUPD and HUHS calls/hospitalizations after hours and on weekends. This would require staying on or near campus after hours and on weekends.

Physical Requirements:

Eligibility Criteria expand_more

A bachelor's degree, or equivalent.\
Enrollment as a degree candidate in a Harvard graduate or professional school; or a minimum of half-time employment in the University, in an exempt-level position. If you have questions about whether your current role qualifies as exempt, please check with your supervisor or local HR representative. Note that strong preference is given to graduate students. If you are a staff member, you should speak with your supervisor about your plans to apply and obtain their approval. If you are a graduate student, we recommend you consult with your faculty adviser and obtain their approval. Please note that this appointment does not include benefits – graduate students or exempt employees will continue to receive those through their other Harvard affiliations.\
Evidence of competence, sensitivity, maturity, and judgment in dealings with peers, professional colleagues, and undergraduate students.\
Commitment to learning about the academic and extra-curricular opportunities available to upper-level students at Harvard.

Application Process expand_more

The Resident Tutor application for 2026-2027 will open in early December; the majority of tutors are hired between December and early April. Please make sure to submit all of your application materials bythe priority deadline of January 5so your application is reviewed for the annual hiring process. Each House manages its own hiring process for Resident Tutors.

APPLY NOW

Other Residential Staff

Faculty Dean Aides

Faculty Dean Aides live in the residential communities and help with planning, marketing, and administrative support community events hosted by the Faculty Deans. Candidates for aide positions should not be employed in other capacities at the College. Non-exempt staff are not eligible for these roles.

Non-Resident Tutor

Applicants for non-resident tutor positions use the same application as resident tutors. Please note that the hiring process for non-resident Tutors generally extends beyond the Resident Tutor process. Those interested in non-Resident roles after the close of this application should contact the individually.

APPLY NOW

Resident Scholars

The Resident Scholar position is an opportunity for Harvard-affiliated scholars to participate in the residential communities.

It is open to candidates who are:

Tenure track faculty and visiting fellows with a meaningful and significant Harvard affiliation
Able to be physically present and engaged in the residential community for a substantive period of time during the academic term

“The tutor role has given me more opportunities to practice event planning, team-building, empathetic listening, and mentorship. Working with students, day in and day out, helps you cultivate those skills that are necessary for your future career, whether it is in academia or industry.”

Julian Hayes

Harvard Graduate School of Education PhD Candidate

Tutor for 2 years

Do you have questions regarding the Proctor or Resident Tutor role?

Please contact the Dean of Students office at dso@fas.harvard.edu and a residential life staff member will respond to your inquiry.