Dartmouth Students
There are various opportunities for students to get involved with
the SEAD Program. Sophomores are generally involved in volunteer
positions, while juniors and seniors can apply for jobs in the
summer.
Assistant Student Directors
Each year four Dartmouth students are hired to work with Program Director Jay Davis in the organization and implementation of the program. The group consists of an Assistant Director, typically a Dartmouth senior with significant experience working for SEAD, as well as three Assistant Student Directors, who are juniors and seniors with various SEAD backgrounds.
All Directors work throughout the spring to develop and prepare the many components of the program, including mentoring, tutoring, activities, and volunteer recruitment. The Directors help to monitor the academic performance of the SEAD students throughout the year. They also serve as the heads of the residential team during the summer and are a part of the student teaching teams while maintaining their administrative responsibilities
Applications are sent out to those previously involved with SEAD via blitz at the end of the Winter Term from the "SEAD Program" blitz account. If you are interested in this position, please e-mail SEAD@dartmouth.edu in the Winter term for more information.
Staff Members
Every summer fifteen Dartmouth students and alumni form the core of the SEAD staff. These individuals compose the residential and student teaching teams and are the individuals who have the most interaction with our students while they are here. Whether it is at breakfast in the morning, in class during the day, at one of the afternoon or evening activities, or at night before lights out, the staff members are working with the students most of the day.
SEAD staff members are motivated, energetic student leaders, who are interested in
education and service. They must show an ability to work with peers in an environment of
intense collaboration, and above all, an ability to work with high school students. Patience,
generosity of spirit, a sense of humor and adaptability are characteristics that are needed to
work with any group of adolescents and are a must for any of the program's workers.
Applications sent out to those previously involved with SEAD via blitz at the end of the Winter Term from the "SEAD Program" blitz account. If you are interested in this position, please e-mail SEAD@dartmouth.edu in the Winter term for more information.
"Coming in I had no idea how much these students would affect the way I think about my own life, actions, dreams and interests."
– SEAD staff member
"I've learned more in the past two weeks than I have in my two years at Dartmouth. I feel extremely fortunate to have had the chance to work with these amazing and inspiring students."
– SEAD staff member
Winter Interns
Understanding that two to three weeks each summer is a small part of a student's education, the SEAD program sends a Dartmouth undergraduate to each of its partner schools for eight to ten weeks each winter. The SEAD Winter Intern provides a great link between the program and the communities in which our students live. Working in our partner schools full-time, the intern spends much of the time assisting the school's faculty and administration in facilitating various projects around the school.
The intern also works with the program's students and helps with their academic progress. The intern meets with the students regularly and is able to bring back a wealth of information about the students and the schools that allows us to develop effective curricula for the following summer. Another project the intern is responsible for is organizing an event with the SEAD students and local Dartmouth alumni from the partnering communities.
Applications sent out via blitz to the sophomore and junior classes at the beginning of
Fall Term from the "SEAD Program" blitz account. Please contact SEAD@dartmouth.edu for more information about this position in
the beginning of Fall term.
“I really look forward to the times when they pop into the office to share something they are proud of, or ask a question about something we worked on previously, etc. Those times make me feel like I am making a connection / making a difference. I love seeing their faces light up when they are proud of something they have done, and it is so fantastic when they share that feeling with me.”
– SEAD winter intern
Mentors
Mentoring is one of the unique components of SEAD that allows the program to thrive. Each year SEAD pairs individual students with a Dartmouth sophomore, and these relationships are where SEAD's mission truly comes alive. Mentors often comment on how SEAD is the most memorable part of their summer, and the SEAD students always look forward to the opportunity to form such unique relationships with their mentors. Being a student mentor requires a substantial commitment on the part of the Dartmouth student for the two weeks of the SEAD program. Nonetheless, the benefits of being a mentor are tremendous.
Mentors will be expected to keep in touch with the student via e-mail or snail mail after the program ends. For the duration of the program the mentor will be expected to spend up to ten hours a week with his/her SEAD student engaging in various activities.
Applications sent out to the sophomore class via blitz at the beginning of Spring Term from the "SEAD Program" blitz account.
"I have mentored students numerous times before coming to work with SEAD, but I have never seen such rapid change and growth in such a diverse group."
– SEAD mentor
Academic Coaches
The role of the Academic Coach enhances the position that tutors once held in the program. Designed for those who feel most comfortable working with adolescents in an academic setting, the Academic Coach has the opportunity to work intimately with small groups of no more than 3 students throughout the 3-week program. In order to provide the educational support required of the position, the Academic Coach attends SEAD classes when possible, facilitates study halls, and has the opportunity to take their SEAD students to their own classes to share their own love of learning. Academic Coaches volunteer their time to help foster a positive attitude about learning not only here at SEAD, but also in school and elsewhere in the students' lives. While not as demanding a time commitment as being a SEAD Mentor, the Academic Coach is expected to work along with the Mentors to improve the SEAD experience for our participants.
Applications sent out to the sophomore class via blitz at the beginning of Spring Term from the "SEAD Program" blitz account.
Activities Committee
Outside of the SEAD classroom our students participate in a variety of social, cultural, and skill building programs. The members of the Activities Committee work with the Assistant Student Directors to organize and facilitate the extra curricular events of the program. Much of the preparation begins in the spring when ideas are brainstormed and events are scheduled.
The Committee often utilizes the many talents, skills, and the overall generosity of the Dartmouth student body in providing our students with engaging and productive extra curricular programming. Events have ranged from playing Capture the Watermelon on the Hanover green, to having workshops on how to illustrate cartoon flipbooks, to having discussions about issues concerning race and gender. Members of the Committee are usually creative, energetic, and outgoing individuals who firmly believe that much learning can take place outside the classroom as well as inside.
E-mail SEAD@dartmouth.edu in the beginning of Spring term for more information. No application necessary.
The Afternoon and Evening Activities Committee helps plan activities
for each day of the SEAD program for the students—capture the flag, a
trip to Storr’s Pond or a martial arts demonstration for example. The
committee also reaches out to other campus organizations to find
volunteers to help lead the activities.
The Mentoring and Academic Coach Committee oversees the selection of
the SEAD mentors and helps to organize the mentor training.
The Outdoors Trips Committee is responsible for planning
the outing trips for SEAD I students as well as any other weekend
excursions that will take place in the program.
- Volunteer to lead one of the daily activities planned by the activities committee
- Plan a meal for the SEAD students
In the past, campus organizations have invited students to their houses for a barbeque during dinnertime. This exposes the SEAD students to even more of the Dartmouth campus and provides an alternative to Dartmouth Dining Services.
Other Opportunities
Meal Donations
In the summer of 2004, 25 different student organizations provided meals for our program. Nearly every Greek organization and a majority of the Cultural Affinity Houses donated a meal to our program.
Athletics
Organize a game or small tournament for a group of SEAD students in the sport of your choice or offer to lead a class teaching students how to play a certain sport.
Camping
Take a group of 10 or so students on a hiking and/or camping trip. During certain years our students will go on overnight wilderness trips that culminate with an overnight stay at Mt. Moosilauke.
Crafts
Bring students to the jewelry, woodworking, or pottery studios.
Cultural Activities
Create and put on a play or cook a cultural dinner with a group of SEAD students. Perform or cook enough for just the SEAD program or a larger group!
Dance
Teach a group of SEAD students how to dance (hip-hop, swing, ballroom, break, square, etc.)
Photography
Take a group of students to a scenic area or along some trails and teach them how to take photographs.
Social
Feel free to work with our staff to plan an activity that you would like to share with our group that would allow the SEAD students to interact with Dartmouth students and with each other.
Opportunities for Dartmouth Faculty and Staff
Summer Advisors
Summer Advisors work with Dartmouth student volunteers to support SEAD students. Each Advisor is set up with 2 SEAD scholars, their 2 respective Dartmouth mentors, and 1 Dartmouth academic “coach” (tutor) who works with both those SEAD students. The commitment for Advisors is a total of about 3 – 6 hours for each/either program, spread over 2 weeks (scheduling is flexible). We do not expect outside preparation for your role, nor any specific training in working with adolescents; instead, we only ask that you bring your perspectives as someone who was has worked successfully with people in college.
Advisors are asked to make it a priority to arrange the following meetings:
- Meet with your partnered sophomore mentors and academic coach before the SEAD program begins. (30 minutes, date flexible)
- Attend one planned SEAD activity. (1 hr, date flexible)
- Host one lunch for your 2 SEAD scholars, 2 mentors, and academic coach. (1 hr, specific dates TBA)
In addition to those meetings, Advisors are also encouraged to attend other SEAD events as they are available and interested, such as the following:
- Attend the SEAD opening BBQ. SEAD III’s opening BBQ is June 27, 6 – 8 pm, and SEAD I’s opening BBQ is July 15, 6 – 8 pm. (1 – 2 hrs)
- Attend either one SEAD meal or sit in on one SEAD academic class. (1 hr, date flexible)
- Attend the graduation ceremony. SEAD III’s graduation is on July 10, and SEAD I’s graduation is on July 28. (1 – 2 hrs)
If you are interested in being a Summer Advisor, please email SEAD@dartmouth.edu.
Opportunities for Hanover High School Community
The SEAD students come up to Dartmouth once during the academic school
year for a Reunion weekend with host families from the Hanover High
School. Reunion Weekends give SEAD students the opportunity to
reconnect with their mentors and one another and serve as a reminder
of the focused, motivated work the students did during the summer and
can do during the school year. The Reunion Weekends also help prepare
the students for their upcoming summer with SEAD. If you are
interested in hosting SEAD students during a reunion weekend, please
email SEAD@dartmouth.edu.
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