Thanks so much for your interest in volunteering with the Prison Teaching Initiative at Princeton University! Please review these important notes before you complete the application:

FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS

• This application is for the Spring 2026 semester. We ask volunteers to make a full-year commitment to PTI, so if you will be new to PTI in the spring, we would love to see you come back in the Fall as well!
  
  
• In addition to on-site volunteer roles (teaching and tutoring in correctional facilities), we now also offer off-site/remote volunteer opportunities for those interested in grading and/or helping us develop courses. Volunteers are welcome to commit to more than one role during the year.

New volunteers and all volunteers who are currently graduate students should have an updated C.V. and unofficial graduate transcripts on hand.

NOTE TO UNDERGRADUATES: While we welcome undergrad volunteers, please note that you must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study to be eligible to volunteer with PTI. If you have not yet met that requirement, we're happy to put you on our email list for potential volunteers so you can stay updated on PTI happenings until you can apply!

Applications are due Tuesday, October 14!

If you experience any problems with the form, please email pti@princeton.edu. We look forward to meeting you!

We are also looking for course coordinators and tutoring site coordinators for the Spring semester. If you're interested, please review the linked positions descriptions. Princeton University graduate students and community members can earn a small stipend for filling this role. We also welcome post-docs and others to apply, but we cannot pay you.

New volunteer training requirements vary based on role.

If you are placed to teach or tutor at a New Jersey Department of Corrections facility, you will need to complete the following sessions:

• NJDOC Civilian Orientation (online)
• NJDOC Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Training (online)
• PTI new volunteer orientation (specific to volunteer roles)
• PTI team meeting (specific to volunteer roles)

 

If you are placed to teach or tutor at FCI Fort Dix, you will need to complete the following sessions:

• FCI Fort Dix/Bureau of Prisons volunteer orientation (in-person)
• PTI new volunteer orientation (specific to volunteer roles)
• PTI team meeting (specific to volunteer roles)

 

*Note: If you're only able to volunteer for 1 semester and have already been given an exception by a PTI staff member, please select 'Yes' for the following question.

Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with PTI! Your next step is to schedule a 30-minute informational interview with a PTI staff member. These interviews are informal opportunities for us to get to know you and for you to ask us any questions you might have. Please make sure to sign up with the appropriate person if at all possible. 

• Book an appointment with Dena Lane-Bonds, our Humanities & Social Sciences Instructional Specialist, if you have applied to teach, grade for, or develop a humanities or social sciences course. (Note, psychology falls in this category rather than in STEM.)
• Book an appointment with Marion Alberty, our STEM Instructional Specialist, if you have applied to teach, grade for, or develop a STEM course.
• Book an appointment with Brandon Kronstat, our Associate Director, if you have applied to tutor. 

If you cannot find a day and time with the appropriate staff member, please reach out to PTI@princeton.edu.

If you have issues with the Bookings website, please try pasting the link into an incognito browser.

Thank you for your interest in PTI, but at this time, we are unable to accept new volunteers who cannot commit to a full academic year. We will open recruitment again in March - you are welcome to apply then!

 

Feel free to give us your information below if you'd like to be added to our prospective volunteers list or let us know what's keeping you from committing at this time.