Associate Advisors (AAs) are upper-level MIT students in a volunteer leadership position who provide academic support and guidance to a group of first-year advisees.
Are you interested in becoming an Associate Advisor? Please email the Office of the First Year (firstyear@mit.edu).
What is an Associate Advisor?
Associate Advisors (AAs) are upper-level MIT students in a volunteer leadership position who provide academic support and resources to a group of first-year advisees.
Each AA is matched with a first-year advisor who is either a staff or faculty member at the Institute. Advisors can serve as a traditional advisor, an advisor for a first-year seminar, or an advisor in a Learning Community, and this determines the type of advising that each AA assists with. AAs compliment the advisor’s efforts by providing the student perspective on MIT academics and student life.
Responsibilities
- Maintain contact with first-year advisees
- Provide the student perspective on MIT academics and assist with class registration
- Attend summer training and bimonthly trainings each semester
- Organize social outings and activities with advising group
- Serve as a liaison between the first-year advisees and staff/faculty advisor
Associate Advisor Council
The Associate Advisor Council is a small group of enthusiastic and dedicated peer leaders who are integral to the Undergraduate Advising Center’s team and share its goal of improving the first-year experience. Open to returning Associate Advisors, this year-long leadership position for the 2026–2027 academic year allows student leaders to shape the first-year advising experience and support their peers. In addition to their specific coordinator responsibilities, council members will attend regular planning meetings and host three drop-in office hour sessions each semester.
Click here to apply!Training Coordinators
Number of Openings: 2
Position Summary
The Training Coordinators are essential to the professional growth of the Associate Advisors (AA). In this role, you will lead the execution of bimonthly meetings, turning them into a central hub for skill-building, program updates, and peer networking. Working closely with professional staff, you will ensure that every session is well-organized, engaging, and provides clear, tangible value to the AA community.
Responsibilities
- Curriculum Planning: Collaborate with your staff and co-coordinator to identify relevant topics and design a training schedule that meets the needs of the cohort.
- Campus Collaboration: Identify and perform outreach to campus partners to serve as guest speakers for specialized topics.
- Meeting Facilitation: Training Coordinators may have opportunities to facilitate peer-led trainings or run through scenarios to help AAs navigate complex advising situations.
- Logistics Management: Oversee bimonthly meeting administration, including managing RSVPs, tracking attendance, and providing creative input for catering.
- Resource Development: Create and distribute supplemental materials, such as “how-to” guides or digital tutorials to support ongoing learning.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Project Management: Learn the lifecycle of a program, moving from the initial planning stages to full-scale execution.
- Public Speaking: Gain confidence facilitating large groups and presenting professional content to your peers.
- Professional Networking: Build relationships with various campus departments and guest speakers.
Qualifications
- Demonstrated responsibility, reliability, and strong organizational skills.
- Ability to maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful learning environment for peers.
- Interest in peer mentorship, curriculum design, and supporting the professional growth of fellow AAs.
- Comfortable speaking in front of groups, leading discussions, or facilitating interactive peer workshops.
Program Engagement Coordinator
Number of Openings: 1
Position Summary
This role is dedicated to building a strong sense of community and belonging within the Associate Advisor program. You will be responsible for designing a calendar of events that foster both social connection and professional support. Your work ensures that the AA network remains a vibrant, inclusive, and well-connected group.
Responsibilities
- Community Programming: Plan and execute social events or outings designed to strengthen bonds within the Associate Advisor cohort.
- Advisee Outreach: Coordinate larger-scale mixers and engagement opportunities that allow AAs to connect with their first-year advisees in a relaxed, inclusive setting.
- Logistics Management: Oversee event administration, including managing RSVPs, tracking attendance, and providing creative input for catering.
- Peer Spotlights & Strategic Collaboration: Highlight the unique stories and successes of fellow AAs, partnering specifically with the Communications Coordinator to feature these spotlights across newsletters and social media.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Strategic Event Planning: Learn how to design and execute programming for a large, diverse audience.
- Interpersonal Leadership: Develop “people-first” leadership skills through creating welcoming environments and fostering meaningful peer connections.
Qualifications
- Responsible and reliable with a proactive, approachable attitude.
- Ability to foster a welcoming, inclusive environment where all AAs and advisees feel valued and connected.
- Strong interpersonal skills and interest in building community through event planning and student engagement.
Communications Coordinator
Number of Openings: 1
Position Summary
The Communications Coordinator serves as a key student leader responsible for managing the information flow of the Associate Advisor (AA) program. You will bridge the gap between staff administrators and the student cohort, ensuring that AAs remain informed and aligned with program goals through clear, accessible, and student-friendly content.
Responsibilities
- Platform Administration: Serve as an active administrator for the AA Slack workspace, monitoring channels to facilitate peer support and ensuring a safe, professional environment.
- Information Management: Maintain the shared AA Google Calendar, ensuring the cohort has real-time access to critical academic deadlines and program events.
- Newsletter Curation: Develop a consistent content calendar for the monthly AA Newsletter.
- Social Media Content Strategy: In collaboration with OFY staff, contribute to the management of the Office of First Year Instagram account by producing resources for first-year students, including academic tips, AA community spotlights, and highlights of relevant campus events.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Strategic Communication: Learn to manage information across multiple digital channels to keep a large organization informed.
- Content Strategy: Gain experience in translating complex academic timelines into engaging, digestible content.
- Digital Community Leadership: Develop professional authority by managing digital workspaces and moderating peer-to-peer discussions.
Qualifications
- Responsible, reliable, and detail-oriented with strong written and digital communication skills.
- Ability to maintain a respectful, supportive, and active digital environment across shared platforms.
- Interest in content creation, newsletter design, and social media outreach.
- Skill in translating complex academic deadlines and updates into clear, accessible, and student-friendly messaging.