• PTI Volunteer Application

    Spring 2027

  • The Prison Teaching Initiative seeks to bridge Princeton University’s academic and service-driven missions by providing the highest-quality postsecondary education to incarcerated students in New Jersey; offering Princeton University graduate students, postdocs, faculty, and staff innovative, evidence-based pedagogy training and the chance to diversify their teaching portfolios through intensive classroom experience; creating pathways through Princeton’s campus with paid internships and holistic supports for justice-impacted students; and fostering a robust campus dialogue on mass incarceration and its relationship to systemic inequalities in access to education.

     

    Thanks so much for your interest in volunteering with the Prison Teaching Initiative at Princeton University! This application is for Spring 2027.

     

    Applications are due Thursday, October 15!

     

    We ask NEW volunteers to commit to 2 semesters with PTI. New volunteers and all volunteers who are current graduate students should have an updated C.V. and unofficial graduate transcripts on hand before starting this application.

     

    Spring 2027 Volunteer Opportunities

    PTI will focus on it's core mission of supporting college education for student incarcerated across the state of New Jersey.

     

    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!

     

    If you experience any problems with the form, please email pti@princeton.edu.

  • Are you a new or returning PTI volunteer?*

  • PTI New Volunteer Application

  • We ask NEW volunteers to commit to 2 semesters with PTI. That could be any combination of Spring, Summer, and Fall that works for your schedule.

    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.

  • Do you agree to volunteer with PTI for 2 semesters?*

  • PTI Volunteer Application

    Basic information for all PTI volunteers
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  • Spring Volunteer Opportunities

    Learn more about the roles we're recruiting for.

  • For Spring, we're accepting volunteers to fill the following roles:

    • Instructors teach a variety of classes in teams of 2-4; to teach, instructors must have completed at least five graduate-level courses in the discipline to be taught (or, in some cases, one a closely related discipline).

    • Tutors provide academic support to students at correctional facilities; tutors must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study.

    • Off-site support volunteers help PTI with a variety of work. This work varies but past projects include developing course materials, grading for a class, and administrative work. Off-site volunteers must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study. (This position does not involve going into prisons.)
  • What is your FIRST-CHOICE role for the Spring?*
  • If your first-choice role is not available, what additional role(s) are you interested in? (Choose all that apply.)
  • Please tell us what transportation method you will MAINLY rely on in Spring.*
  • Which subjects are you most interested in? Select all that apply. (Please note that to TEACH one of these courses, you must have completed at least 5 graduate-level courses in the discipline.)*

  • If you are applying for an on-site position in the Spring, at which of the following facilities would you be interested in teaching or tutoring? Check all that apply. PLEASE BE REALISTIC ABOUT THE TIME/DISTANCE YOU CAN COMMIT TO TRAVELING.*
  • If you are applying for an on-site position in the Spring, please tell us which blocks of time might work best for you. These ranges include travel time. Letting us know parts of the day when you are available allows us to create schedules that accommodate as many instructors as possible. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW YOUR SCHEDULE AT ALL YET, PLEASE CHOOSE THE FIRST OPTION AND DO NOT CHOOSE ANY OTHER DAYS/TIMES!*

  • PTI New Volunteer Application

  • Princeton Affiliation (if applicable)*
  • What is the highest level of education you have completed?*
  • If you are currently an undergraduate student (at Princeton or elsewhere), have you completed AT LEAST two years of undergraduate study? (Please note that this is the minimum requirement.)*
  • If you are currently a graduate student (at Princeton or elsewhere), in which year of study are you?*
  • If you are currently a graduate student at Princeton, have you completed your generals?*
  • PTI instructors teach in teams of 3-4, with each team determining its own teaching schedule. They report committing approximately 8 hours per class session for the duration of the term. These time commitments include teaching, lesson-planning, designing and grading assignments, meeting and communicating with co-instructors, and traveling to and from the prison. ARE YOU COMFORTABLE MAKING THIS TIME COMMITMENT?*
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  • PTI New Volunteer Application

  • Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering with PTI! Your next step is to schedule a 30-minute informational interview. These interviews are informal opportunities for us to get to know you and for you to ask us any questions you might have. Please schedule an interview with a PTI staff member by using the booking link for the staff member who's work aligns with your interests. If the link gives you an error, try opening the link in an incognito browser.

    • Book an appointment with Dena Lane-Bonds, our Humanities & Social Sciences Instructional Specialist, if you have applied to teach or support humanities or social sciences offerings. (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 a STEM course or to support STEM offerings.

    • Book an appointment with Brandon Kronstat, our Associate Director, if you have applied to tutor or support PTI admin.

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

  • Please confirm that you have signed up for an interview with an appropriate staff member.*

  • PTI Returning Volunteer Application

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  • We are also looking for course coordinators and tutoring site coordinators for the Spring semester.

     

    Course coordinators are responsible for facilitating team communication throughout the course of one semester, starting with syllabus creation meetings and ending with the submission of final grades. A full member of the teaching team, the course coordinator will ensure that all new instructors are accompanied by an experienced member of the teaching team in their first time inside and check in with them afterwards. Course coordinators meet with a PTI staff member every other week throughout the semester, and attend a short additional training session before the start-of-term.

     

    Tutoring site coordinators facilitate tutor communication throughout the course of one semester, ensure all new tutors are accompanied by an experienced tutor their first time inside and check in with them afterwards, and ensure adequate weekly primary and back-up coverage throughout the semester. Finally, the coordinator will report any issues to PTI staff in a timely manner and meet with the PTI associate director every other week throughout the semester.

     

    Both position offers a small stipend to current graduate students. Coordinators should have volunteered at least one semester with PTI in the role they will coordinate for.

  • Would you be interested in fulfilling a course coordinator role in the spring?*
  • Would you be interested in fulfilling a tutoring site coordinator role in the spring?*

  • PTI New Volunteer Application

  • Thank you for your interest in PTI, but at this time, we are unable to accept new volunteers who cannot commit to two semesters. We will open recruitment again in the Spring - 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.

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  • transportation - retired field*
  • FIRST-CHOICE role - retired field*
  • other role(s) - retired field*
  • subject - retired field*

  • location - retired field*
  • schedule - retired field*
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