Vanderbilt Summer Academy is a program within Programs for Talented Youth (PTY), a unit housed in the Peabody school of education and human development at Vanderbilt University. PTY staff, including the VSA Director and Assistant Director, are full-time Vanderbilt employees.

VSA hires over 100 seasonal staff members to work in various capacities including both residential and non-residential positions. VSA has many different teams that appeal to different interests, such as academic, health systems, operations, activities, and student support.

You do not need to be a Vanderbilt student to apply for VSA positions.

Yes, you can bring a vehicle. VSA purchases parking decals for summer staff. The decal can be used to park in Lot 77, which is close to the residential halls, while VSA is in session.

VSA Staff Training is paid and meals are provided during training sessions. The overall goal of staff training is that staff are able to build community and connection with each other while also learning essential information to successfully complete their role with confidence. Staff Training is generally about 8 days. The training sessions cover a variety of topics to ensure that staff feel prepared and understand their role.

The following list of topics provides a sample of some of the trainings:

Active Supervision

Philosophy and mission of Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth

Staff roles, expectations, and responsibilities

A typical day at VSA

Health, safety security and confidentiality

Responding to emergencies; Emergency call process

Protection of Minors

Supplies and resources

Vanderbilt University policies and procedures

Working with academically advanced students

Role-specific training

Team Building

Diversity and Inclusion Training

Professionalism with staff, students and parents

The social-emotional needs of students

Student activities

Student supervision

Student expectations and discipline

VSA staff can wear casual and comfortable clothes during both training and during the program. Staff should keep in mind that many roles include walking. Additionally, some staff, based on job responsibilities, many be involved in event set up and/or participation/supervision in recreational activities Please refrain from wearing clothing with logos that are offensive or advertise adult beverages or illegal drugs as positions work with minors and parents of minors. On specific days, staff will be asked to wear VSA-provided shirts.

Meals are provided during staff training and VSA sessions. For residential staff, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided. For non-residential staff, one meal is typically provided per scheduled shift. A detailed meal schedule is provided to staff before the start of the summer.

VSA works with Vanderbilt Dining to accommodate dietary restrictions for VSA students and staff. Most meals during the summer are in The Commons Dining Hall.

Each afternoon, there is a required staff meeting divided into two parts. In the first section, the VSA Leadership Team share and then walk through a pdf document outlining important announcements and logistics for the evening ahead. This information often includes program reminders, student rosters, and schedule adjustments. Staff then meet in groups with their supervisors to contextualize the presented information for their teams.

Typical hours worked differ by position. If you are interested in learning more about typical hours for a certain position, please email vsa.pty@vanderbilt.edu.

Daily shifts are included in each role’s job description on the job description page.

Please note: Residential staff are required to stay on their residential hall from VSA students’ lights out time until breakfast. During this time, residential staff are asked to answer their door in the rare event a VSA student has an emergency and needs them. VSA students are provided other information about reaching out to leadership in the event of an emergency to avoid residential staff on the hall being interrupted unless absolutely necessary. In the event a staff member is off the clock but is asked to support a student, the staff member will compensated for their additional time.

Staff who work are assigned a shift of over 6 hours receive a 30-minute, uninterrupted break.

Vanderbilt student workers are not able to have other hourly on-campus employment while working at VSA. Vanderbilt student workers and VTS (non-Vanderbilt) employees can have outside of VU employment or take classes during the summer.

Yes. If you are interested in working at VSA to fulfill an internship requirement, please inform VSA Leadership as soon as possible after you are hired.

Yes. We encourage all VU international students to contact Vanderbilt Student & Scholar Services (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss/) if they have questions about summer employment.

Staff will extensively interact with others who are on their teams during the summer. Due to the scope and 24-hour schedule of the program, staff may not meet or get to know all VSA staff members.

Visitors to residential staff members are not allowed in the residence hall or at any group social event unless approved in advance by the VSA Director. All staff members must always honor the Protection of Minors policy. At no time should residential staff members host overnight visitors in their rooms, even when VSA students are not present.

Residential Staff will receive many of the same SWAG items students will receive. Non-residential staff will receive a gift at the end of the summer and other SWAG items as quantities permit.

VSA staff will submit their hours through UKG (Kronos). More information can be found at https://hr.vanderbilt.edu/compensation/payroll/timesheet-faqs.php.

The Leadership Team consists of Heads, Assistant Heads and Area Coordinators in addition to the VSA Director and Assistant Director.

Yes. There is about a week of additional in-person training for the VSA Leadership Team. In addition, some leadership roles require limited spring training, onboarding and work.

Leadership Team Meetings happen daily with all Head and Assistant Head staff members to discuss pertinent topics related to each team. This information is then shared during the All Staff Meeting that will happen immediately after.

Housing is role specific. Please visit the job description for a specific position for more information.

Schedules are role specific. Please see the job description for the role you are interested in on the VSA job descriptions page on the PTY website.

Residential staff will have their own room and will be assigned to a designated floor and residence hall. The residence halls have communal style bathrooms. We will designate one for staff to use and the others will be available for student use.

No. VSA does not have access to residential halls before the scheduled move-in day or after the scheduled move-out day. VSA is unable to provide space to store items before or after VSA.

While residential halls may change from summer to summer, VSA is housed in residential halls located on The Commons (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/residentialcolleges/ingram-commons/).

Due to required staff to student ratios, residential staff may need to change rooms during the summer. If this is required, staff would be compensated for moving time.

On each floor, restrooms/showers are designated as either student or staff. There are approximately 2-5 staff on each hall.

No. Residential Area Coordinators and Proctors are assigned to specific sessions based on multiple factors including required ratios and housing layouts.

Times vary by role. Please see the job description for the role you are interested in on the VSA job descriptions page on the PTY website.

Yes, most residence halls have a laundry facility available in the basement or bottom floor of the building. The laundry facilities are free to use and do not require cash or change to operate the machines.

VSA staff typically have access to The Commons Gym located in The Commons Center.

VSA meals will be primarily available in The Commons Dining Hall.

In addition to the dining hall, there are a variety of eateries within walking distance from the residential halls if staff members would like to eat off campus at their own expense while not on the clock.

No. The Classroom Assistant (CA) supports the VSA academic experience through supporting logistical, risk management and scheduling aspects of the VSA classroom. CAs are not expected to know or support content delivery.

Preference is given to applicants who are available for all four weeks. Depending on ratios and need, however, there are times in which staff can be hired for June only or July only weeks.

While previous experience working with middle and high school students is preferred, it is not required.

You are expected to remind students of VSA policies and expectations. If a student is acting disrespectfully or inappropriately, we would like you to redirect them based on our policies. You also are expected to notify your supervisor of any concerning behaviors or repeated incidents.