Academic Summer Camp Faculty

Priority Review Deadline: Monday, December 8, 2025, at 7:00 a.m. ET.

We’ll continue accepting applications after this date. Later submissions may be reviewed for the 2026 Summer Seminar or directed to the 2027 Summer Seminar cycle.

Telluride Association seeks faculty to teach challenging, tuition-free summer courses for high school sophomores and juniors, on the campuses of Cornell University and the University of Maryland - College Park. Courses may be in either (a) Black studies or (b) any other humanities/social science field, as long as the content engages anti-oppressive and anti-racist frameworks. For 2026, we are particularly interested in courses related to science and technology studies (STS), though any field is welcome.

This year we will be hiring one faculty member per seminar. One graduate teaching assistant per seminar will be hired at a later date. Program Goals Telluride Association’s summer seminars are designed to help academically curious high school students sharpen their critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. They also aim to expose students to ideas and content that is not otherwise available in high school.

Our goal is to foster an intellectual community motivated by curiosity and a love of learning, rather than external rewards. Participants receive no grades or college credit; instead, we emphasize deep inquiry and collaborative exploration. As in all Telluride Association programs, students’ tuition, housing, and meals are fully covered. We prioritize the admission of first-generation and low-income students from diverse backgrounds.

Faculty Qualifications Applicants must have a strong teaching record, plus either a terminal degree, or other graduate degree plus equivalent work experience. Successful faculty bring creativity and flexibility to their teaching, use engaging and discussion-based methods, and work effectively with students from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

Faculty collaborate closely with Telluride’s Summer Program Manager, on-site camp directors, residential staff, and graduate teaching assistants to create an intellectually vibrant learning community. This includes aligning with youth camp regulations and Telluride Association policies, as well as pivoting in response to student and program needs.

Position Dates

Faculty will work 8 weeks on the following schedule:

2 weeks of spring preparation from March 23, 2026 to April 5, 2026 (remote; date not flexible) 1 week of on-site pre-program setup from June 15, 2026 to June 21, 2026 (in person) 5 weeks of teaching from June 22, 2026 to July 24, 2026 (in person) During the teaching period, faculty are expected to work synchronously from 8:30am-2:30pm M-F; this time includes classes (12 contact hours/week), student lunches, and staff meetings. In addition, faculty will spend 8 hours per week preparing classes and providing feedback on student work. Preparation and feedback can be completed either from 2:30-4:30pm M-F or asynchronously.

Faculty must be present in person every workday. Conference travel is not possible.

Compensation:

Faculty will be paid $14,781.60 for the entire program, comprising 8 weeks at $1,535.20/week plus a $2,500 completion bonus. Pay is biweekly. In addition, Telluride Association will reimburse each faculty member up to $2,558.50 for documented housing/relocation expenses. Each seminar will also have a logistics and field trip budget of up to $4,397.

What We Offer:

Many of our former faculty have returned to the program because of the rewards of teaching and connecting with the motivated, curious students that Telluride attracts. Faculty benefit from the opportunity to pilot courses they might later teach at their home institutions, as well as access to professional and cultural resources (e.g., archives) at our host institutions.

Faculty may nominate graduate students for graduate teaching assistant positions in the program; however, TA positions will be hired by Telluride. Further Information If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, please see the full position description available here. No visa sponsorship is available for this position.

Telluride Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Telluride Association participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. Learn more here. If you need an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please contact telluride@tellurideassociation.org.