Course Assistants

Junior Tutors

Qualifications for the Junior Tutor Position are below:

Fundamental Mathematics (Math 10500):

Precalculus topics covered. Eligible candidates should have had Calculus and have taken or be taking one of the Analysis Sequences. This assignment is only for Autumn quarter with a possibility of continuation into the Winter Math 13100 and Spring Math 13200 Junior Tutor positions.

Topics In Mathematics (Math 11200-11300):

Eligible candidates should have had Calculus and have taken or be taking a second year of math. Applicants must know number theory and geometry to tutor in these courses. Experience as a counselor in our summer YSP is good background. These are two-quarter assignments.

On-sequence Math 130’s (Math 13100-13200-13300):

Eligible candidates should have had Calculus and have taken or be taking one of the Analysis Sequences. These are at least two-quarter assignments, with most tutors continuing in the same section all three quarters. See UChicago Class Search for the most current schedule.

Off-sequence Math 130’s (Math 13100-13200):

Eligible candidates should have had Calculus and have taken or be taking one of the Analysis Sequences. These are two-quarter assignments (Win-Spr).

Junior Tutors are expected to conduct tutorial sessions during the regularly scheduled times (3hrs per week). They grade homework and quizzes of students in their tutorial groups (5hrs per week), they attend one lecture per week (1hr), and they meet with their Instructor weekly (1hr). The budgeted figure for Junior Tutors each quarter this year is $1600 for approximately 10 hours of work per week.

VCA (Math 15100-15200-15300)

Course Assistants for Math 151-152-153 are called VCAs. A VCA is primarily responsible for grading the theoretical parts of Math 151-152-153 homework assignments (about 2-3 problems per student per section) and will be assigned to two sections each. In addition, a VCA is responsible for the collection, grading, and promptly returning homework assignments to the Instructor from the assigned classes.  A VCA keeps an accurate record of student's homework grades, uploads them on CANVAS, and regularly meets with Instructors to discuss issues in the course, such as difficulties the students are having with the homework problems, or with understanding concepts. 

Applicants for VCA positions should have had Honors Calculus, or Math 15910, or higher-level mathematics courses. Assignments are made for one quarter at a time, but preference will be for a VCA to work all year in the same section; continuation in the job is contingent upon satisfactory evaluation by the current Instructor. The budgeted figures for VCAs each quarter this year are $300 paid during the quarter plus $700 to be paid at the end of the quarter. VCAs should expect to spend 8 hours per week on the job.

Readers (Math 15250, 15910 and higher)

A Reader is primarily responsible for grading homework papers in upper-level mathematics courses. We expect prompt, careful work from our Readers. A Reader keeps an accurate record of student's homework grades, uploads them on CANVAS, and regularly meets with Instructors to discuss issues in the course, such as difficulties the students are having with the homework problems, or with understanding concepts.

Applicants for Reader positions should have had the course they are asking to read for, or a higher-level course equivalent. Readers should expect to spend 10 hours per week on the job. Assignments of Readers are made by the Department and are based on the level of experience of the applicants for each position. Assignments are made for one quarter at a time; continuation in the job is contingent upon satisfactory evaluation by the current Instructor. The current level of pay will be $50 per registered student as indicated on the course roster at the end of the 3rd week. Readers will be paid $300 during the quarter plus remaining pay at the end of the quarter.

In the academic year 2023-2024, Readers for Math 15250, Mathematical Methods for Economic Analysis, should have had Math 15250 or 19520 and higher-level mathematics courses.

Super Reader position 

Occasionally, the Department of Mathematics is in need of an advanced Reader. Applicants for Super Reader positions should have had the course they are asking to read for, or a higher-level course equivalent, and have had excellent grades in that course. Applicants for Super Reader positions should be third- or fourth-year mathematics majors with an excellent record.

The responsibilities include correcting homework papers, holding two office hours weekly, helping during lectures (IBL classes), discussion sections (Math 18600) and meeting with their Instructors regularly to discuss the course, duties, and performances.

The budgeted figures for Super Readers for each quarter this year are $500 plus $50 per registered student, as indicated on the course roster at the end of the 3rd week. Super Readers will be paid $500 during the quarter with the remaining pay at the end of the quarter. Super Readers should expect to spend 10 hours per week on the job.

For academic year 2023 - 2024, the Department of Mathematics is seeking Super Readers for Math 160s IBL classes (all year), Math 20320-20420-20520 IBL Analysis (all year), and Math 18600 (Autumn Quarter only, helping in discussion sections).

Application Form

The new application form for the 2023-2024 academic year can be found here. If you have any questions, please contact Hannah Zyung (hzyung@uchicago.edu).

Private Tutoring

If you are interested in tutoring in mathematics, from high school to college level, please fill out this form. Once this form is complete, we will add you to a list of private tutors.
You will be notified when we receive requests. You may contact the Undergraduate Studies Administrator (hzyung@uchicago.edu) for any questions or changes in your tutoring availability.