Basic facts about the Tutor/Counselor position in the Minnesota State University, Mankato Upward Bound
Program, 2019
Students in the program come from seven area high schools (Blue Earth Area, Lake Crystal
Wellcome Memorial, Madelia, Mankato Central, Mankato East, Mankato West, and Maple River). Most have
been in the program for at least a full year. Some will just be beginning the program this summer. Students can
remain in the program from the time they enter (as early as the summer after 8th grade) until the summer
following their high school graduation.
Students will be in attendance from June 16 through July 26.
There will be a 2.5-day orientation for Tutor/Counselors (T/Cs) tentatively set for June 11 - 13. Topics included
during orientation are program policies and procedures, group interaction. Housing is available during
orientation.
T/Cs will select (during orientation) one day - either Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday - to be their
regular day off for each week of the summer program.
T/Cs, and all students, remain on campus over weekends. They get two (2) weekends off during the six-week
program: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 3 - 4:00 p.m., Sunday, July 7, and 5:00 p.m., Friday, July 19 – 7:30 a.m.,
Monday, July 122.
T/C pay is tentatively set at $3,100 for the summer (this is the minimum we’ll pay). Room and board, as well as
all admissions and related fees incurred on field trips, are also provided.
Students’ daily schedule (Monday - Friday):
7:15- 7:45 Exercise
8:10- 8:40 Breakfast
8:45- 8:55 General meeting
9:00- 10:00 English, Math, Science*
10:15- 11:15 English, Math, Science*
11:30-12:30 English, Math, Science*
12:30- 1:15 Lunch
1:30- 3:00 Electives, free time, scheduled activities
3:00- 4:30 Electives, free time, scheduled activities
5:00- 5:45 Study Hall
5:50- 6:30 Dinner
6:30- 9:30 Speakers, free time, other scheduled activities
9:30-10:30 Students on respective floors
10:30- Students in respective rooms
*Science meets only 2 days/week. Other classes will be substituted 2 days/week.
T/C Monday - Friday schedule:
7:15- 7:45 Exercise
8:10- 8:40 Breakfast, minimum 1 day/week
8:45- 8:55 General meeting
9:00-12:00 Office duties (1 day/week), some classroom assistance (1-8 hrs/wk), meetings
12:00-12:20 Daily staff meeting
12:30- 1:15 Lunch
1:15- 5:00 Working with students in both scheduled and unscheduled activities
5:00- 5:45 Study Hall
5:50- 6:30 Dinner
6:30-10:30 Working with students in scheduled and unscheduled activities
10:30-11:30 Occasional meetings
Between 11:30 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., T/Cs are expected to be in their rooms or the residence hall. This is a 24-
hr/day position.
Weekends do not follow a single schedule. T/Cs and students participate in activities of varying sorts throughout
the weekend (field trips, sports, etc).
Each T/C will work primarily with a constant group of 9-10 students. The T/C is responsible for monitoring
group members’ attendance at program functions. However, each T/C is responsible for monitoring all students’
behavior when not participating in small group exercises.
Staff and students participate in many outdoor activities such as volleyball and soccer.
Staff and students participate in experiential education activities such as rock climbing, rappelling, ropes course,
and group initiatives.
T/Cs have single rooms in Preska I hall.
T/Cs are responsible for enforcing program rules.
T/Cs have, arguably, the most important job in the summer program. The bulk of the job is providing informal
guidance, being a good role model, and interacting with students.
One of the major benefits of the job is personal growth and reward.
T/Cs work hard and long hours, and sometimes are placed in highly stressful situations.
T/Cs must complete evaluations on each of the students in their small groups.
T/Cs must be willing to drive minivans.
For successful work with our students, T/Cs must work as a team. Personal popularity should not be uppermost in
a T/C’s mind.
Many of the students who will be here this summer have spent one or two summers with us already.
Upward Bound is a Tobacco-Free program. Students and staff are prohibited from using tobacco products while
they are in residence.
Most weekday mornings between 8:45 and 12:00 are off-duty hours. Usually a T/C will have responsibilities only
1 morning each week.
In the past, we have been able to make alterations to the T/C schedule to accommodate special circumstances and
individual needs of staff. Such needs can be discussed again this year.
During these dates, there may be some alterations to the schedule to allow us to take students on an extended trip.
Details are not yet finalized; any decision on travel is pending notice from our funding source (the US Department
of Education).
