Thank you for your interest in SPARK. We have presently closed our application process and ask that you please consider submitting an application and/or course proposal for SPARK 2009. Please check our website for specifics sometime after the new year.

Faculty/Staff Orientation

Orientation for faculty and staff will be held Thursdsay, June 26 - Friday, June 27. Click here to view the orientation agenda.

Work Dates

Rutgers Future Scholars Program

Rutgers Future Scholars Program introduces low-income and underrepresented middle school students to the opportunities of a college education.

Objective:

• increase the number of students from target schools and communities who apply to and attend post secondary educational institutions
• develop a model for university-community college guidance partnerships that can be expanded and replicated across the state

Students:

Students from participating school districts will be identified at the completion of the sixth grade (entering seventh graders).  Selected students will participate in a summer experience designed to encourage them to complete high school by showing them the enhanced life and career possibilities that will be open to them upon completion of a post secondary degree.

Expectations

Expectation 1: SPARK will incur obligations and make commitments to participants based on your availability to the program. It is imperative that you meet your obligations. Any sudden cancellation of your participation could severely damage the program’s quality.

Expectation 2: The highest priority of SPARK and all its members is the health and safety of all our participants, students, faculty and staff. It will be your responsibility, as a member of SPARK, to help make SPARK an environment in which students can learn and grow. Classes, activities, and trips all need to be places where students feel physically, emotionally, and intellectually safe, even when being challenged.

Expectation 3: The use of drugs or alcohol at SPARK is strictly prohibited. Because each faculty/staff member is responsible for the safety and well being of students, it is necessary to mandate a high standard for faculty/staff concerning the use of drugs and alcohol. As such, SPARK will require each applicant to undergo an authorized drug-and-alcohol screening. In turn, at no time should any faculty/staff member be under the influence of illegal or other non-medicinal drugs or possess them on-campus. At no time should any faculty/staff member be under the influence of alcohol on-duty.

Expectation 4: SPARK has a “No Tolerance” policy regarding harassment of any kind. SPARK will not tolerate any racial, sexual, physical, religious, and ethnic forms of harassment against any member of its faculty, staff or students. We will respond promptly and in accordance to any policies set forth by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey.

Positions Available

Instructors: General Functions: Dynamic and creative individuals who would like a chance to step out of the norm and break the limitations textbooks can create and teach academic or non-academic courses in their major field of study or areas of expertise. Candidates can design innovative and intellectually inspiring courses. Potential instructors should submit detailed curriculum and lesson plans for their course(s). Candidates will also lead group discussions and activities, chaperone off-campus trips and advise and supervise participants, creating an interactive and comfortable learning atmosphere. Certified teachers must possess a current, state-issued teaching certificate in the area they wish to teach. Candidates certified in alternate subjects may be considered if they have an undergraduate degree in the area they wish to teach. Uncertified candidates can be considered if they possess certificates and/or documentation of expertise in the area or field in which they wish to teach.

Teacher's Aides: General Functions: Active, self-motivated and energetic individuals who want to make a difference in a child’s education can apply for this unique opportunity. Candidates will aide instructors in implementing diverse and exciting non-conventional, “out of the classroom” courses and activities. Potential candidates will also assist in the coordination of group discussions, extracurricular activities and daily administrative operations of the program. Applicants must have earned at least 30 college credits by the date of submission.