Compass Faculty Mentor

Massachusetts College of Art and Design; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 38,000 - 53,000; Part time

Job summary

Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA seeks mentors for the Academic Compass program within the JET department. The role supports first‑year students with campus navigation, counseling connections, and early course registration guidance, focusing on equity and access.

We welcome graduate students who can model empathy, provide resources, and mentor students navigating college transitions. This is a part‑time, on‑campus opportunity with a focus on community support.

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in studio art or related field.
• Experience: Three years of college-level art and design teaching experience.
• Demonstrated commitment toissues of equity in art and design education
• Mentoring 1st generation to college, BIPOC students, and other students who have been historically marginalized
• Strong organizational and time management; ability to manage day-to-day program logistics and support overall program goals and mission
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Art and Design teaching experience

Responsibilities

• Help students navigate MassArt Campus (especially important for first time MassArt students):For example, helping first year students find their classrooms in South Building and important offices on campus (Student Development, Counseling, Academic Resource Center, Financial Assistance, Business Office, Registrar's Office, etc)
• Encourage students to explore different areas of the campus so they get comfortable getting around.
• Be a point person for connecting students with different resources: Many Compass students reach out to Compass Faculty Mentors to ask a variety of questions. We encourage students to be in touch with us. As faculty mentors, we should help students make connections with different people and resources on campus.
• Counseling & Academic Resource Center: Compass works very closely with Counseling & Wellness and Academic Resource Center.Counselor from Counseling & Wellness joins Wednesday morning Compass meetings from 10am - 11am. Encourage students to be in touch with Counseling & Wellness and ARC.
• Registration: Compass students get to register for their classes a day earlier than the rest of their peer (same year) group. Early registration applies to non-major courses only. After students register for their courses, they will register for their elective courses during the open registration period. During this time, students can register for elective courses (Liberal Arts , History of Art, and studio elective courses). Compass early registration only works during open registration when you start registering for your electives. Compass early registration does not apply to major registration so please make sure to communicate with your major advisor/your major department! For spring class registration, first year students can register for all of their spring semester classes a day earlier than the rest of the first year students. First year students will have Compass Faculty Mentors as their advisors. Students can reach out to Compass faculty mentors if they have any questions abou
• Financial Assistance: If students have any questions regarding financial aid, scholarships, or struggling financially, encourage students to reach out to the financial aid office. Compass does not offer additional financial aid through the program. However, Compass has worked with Financial Aid in the past so Compass students can access scholarship/financial assistance. While Compass does not offer financial aid/scholarships, we do offer a small stipend to each Compass student. Students can use this stipend ($50/semester) at MassArt Bookstore.
• Compass Library: Books for your Liberal Arts and Art History courses may be available to borrow from Compass Library.Compass Library exists within the MassArt Library on the 12th floor of Tower. Students can borrow books from the Compass Library and return when they are done using them.
• Checking-in with Compass Students: Be proactive about reaching out to Compass students and check-in with students to see how they are doing. If a student misses Wednesday morning meeting and/or if you haven't heard from a student in awhile. Reach out to them and ask how they are doing.
• Mentoring beyond MassArt: Advising students on job searches/internships. Sharing our own experiences as college students, working artists, caretakers, etc. Help students create resume, read over cover letters, help students write professional emails. Help students apply for art exhibitions, curate shows, etc. Share resources.

Skills

Mentoring

Teaching

Communication

Education

Master's degree in studio art or related field

Job description

Department: JET - Justice, Equity, and Transformation - President's Office

Locations: Boston, MA

Posted: Sep 2, 2026

Closes: Sep 4, 2026 - 10:37 AM EDT

Type: Hourly

PositionID: 204392

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About MassArt:

Founded in 1873, having celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2023, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), is the nation's first and only independent, free-standing public college of art and design in the country. MassArt is an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, makers, educators, innovators and leaders striving to shape the future through art and design. We've spent 150 years demonstrating the truly amazing things that happen when a world-class art and design education is an option for every deserving student. Located in Boston's hub of arts and culture along the Avenue of the Arts, MassArt enrolls 2,000 students and offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in 18 disciplines, as well as continuing education and youth programs.

MassArt strives to be a model of diversity and inclusion; the campus community reflects the layers of cultural and self-identity that proudly make up our region, nation, and world. We build effective partnerships with co-workers throughout the College by freely sharing appropriate information and providing assistance to all and maintain an environment that is welcoming to persons of all backgrounds, nationalities, and roles.

Job Description:

Working Hours: 3 hours per week

Hourly Rate: $33.00

The Academic Compass Program was established in 2001 to connect and support undergraduate students with mentors, faculty and staff during their transition to college. Compass supports with advising, tutoring, and navigating issues of transition in academic, creative, social, cultural, and personal areas.
The Academic Compass Program is a mentoring program that supports undergraduate students with advising, and navigating issues of transition in academic, creative, social, cultural and personal areas. The Compass Program works to improve services for all students, especially those who are underserved or are from historically underserved communities. Underserved in this regard refers to populations which are disadvantaged because of ability to pay, ability to access art-based instruction or college preparation, or educational disparity for reasons of race, learning disability, language group or social status.

Connections happen through a community of peers in the first year and through to graduation.

Students are eligible for The Academic Compass program through an admissions review of portfolio, grades and recommendations. Additionally students must be:

• First generation in their family to attend college,
• A Massachusetts resident,
• And have a financial need (Student Aid Index less than $15,000)

IMPORTANT: Many students in the Compass Program are first generation college students and many of them identify as BIPOC. We are looking for graduate students who can be empathetic, judgment-free mentors who can be positive role models and resources for Compass students. We encourage BIPOC and first generation graduate students to apply for the mentor positions.
Compass Program is not a tutoring program. Compass does not offer specific tutoring sessions for academic/studio courses. Compass faculty mentors are MassArt faculty members and they do not have access to information/resources that are outside of their faculty contract/responsibilities. Compass faculty mentors encourage all Compass students to be in touch with their professors and when needed, the faculty mentors can help facilitate conversations between students and professors. We can also refer to the Academic Resource Center for specific academic tutoring and coaching. Please see notes below.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Help students navigate MassArt Campus (especially important for first time MassArt students):For example, helping first year students find their classrooms in South Building and important offices on campus (Student Development, Counseling, Academic Resource Center, Financial Assistance, Business Office, Registrar's Office, etc)
• Encourage students to explore different areas of the campus so they get comfortable getting around.
• Be a point person for connecting students with different resources: Many Compass students reach out to Compass Faculty Mentors to ask a variety of questions. We encourage students to be in touch with us. As faculty mentors, we should help students make connections with different people and resources on campus.
• Counseling & Academic Resource Center: Compass works very closely with Counseling & Wellness and Academic Resource Center.Counselor from Counseling & Wellness joins Wednesday morning Compass meetings from 10am - 11am. Encourage students to be in touch with Counseling & Wellness and ARC.
• Registration: Compass students get to register for their classes a day earlier than the rest of their peer (same year) group. Early registration applies to non-major courses only. After students register for their courses, they will register for their elective courses during the open registration period. During this time, students can register for elective courses (Liberal Arts , History of Art, and studio elective courses). Compass early registration only works during open registration when you start registering for your electives. Compass early registration does not apply to major registration so please make sure to communicate with your major advisor/your major department! For spring class registration, first year students can register for all of their spring semester classes a day earlier than the rest of the first year students. First year students will have Compass Faculty Mentors as their advisors. Students can reach out to Compass faculty mentors if they have any questions about registering for classes. For upper-level students, encourage them to stay in touch with their major advisors as their major advisors have the most up-to-date information regarding registering for classes and major requirements. Students can find their advisor information on Self-Service.If students are having issues with getting in touch with their advisors or if they are not sure about their schedule in general (or want to cross-register), encourage students to meet with an Academic Advisor from Academic Resource Center.If students have issues with registering or if they are registering late, they can also contact the Registrar's Office directly. Encourage students to cc Compass faculty mentors in the email.
• Financial Assistance: If students have any questions regarding financial aid, scholarships, or struggling financially, encourage students to reach out to the financial aid office. Compass does not offer additional financial aid through the program. However, Compass has worked with Financial Aid in the past so Compass students can access scholarship/financial assistance. While Compass does not offer financial aid/scholarships, we do offer a small stipend to each Compass student. Students can use this stipend ($50/semester) at MassArt Bookstore.
• Compass Library: Books for your Liberal Arts and Art History courses may be available to borrow from Compass Library.Compass Library exists within the MassArt Library on the 12th floor of Tower. Students can borrow books from the Compass Library and return when they are done using them.
• Checking-in with Compass Students: Be proactive about reaching out to Compass students and check-in with students to see how they are doing. If a student misses Wednesday morning meeting and/or if you haven't heard from a student in awhile. Reach out to them and ask how they are doing.
• Mentoring beyond MassArt: Advising students on job searches/internships. Sharing our own experiences as college students, working artists, caretakers, etc. Help students create resume, read over cover letters, help students write professional emails. Help students apply for art exhibitions, curate shows, etc. Share resources.

Requirements:

Education: Master's degree in studio art or related field
Experience: Three years of college-level art and design teaching experience.

• Demonstrated commitment toissues of equity in art and design education
• Demonstrated experience mentoring 1st generation to college, BIPOC students, and other students who have been historically marginalized
• Strong organizational and time management; ability to manage day-to-day program logistics and support overall program goals and mission
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Art and Design teaching experience

Additional Information:

Please note MassArt:

• Does not support employment-based visa sponsorship or non-student exchange visitor visa sponsorship.
• Is not an E-Verify institution.

Selected candidates must be eligible to work in the US at the time of employment, complete all onboarding tasks including a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) background review and provide proof of eligibility to work in the US by completing the Form 19, Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986.

you are required to show proof of your identity and employment eligibility within three (3) days of the start of your employment. You will not be authorized to work in any capacity until all paperwork has been completed.

Comprehensive Benefits (does not apply to contractor/student positions):
When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

MassArt provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other legally protected class.

MassArt complies with all applicable federal, state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the college operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.