Being an SCA or AIA

Each Sophomore College course has two SCAs (Sophomore College Assistant), and each Arts Intensive course has two AIAs (Arts Intensive Apprentices). SCAs and AIAs are an integral part of a residential and experiential learning community.

A unique benefit of being an SCA or AIA is the relationship with faculty, who frequently become mentors or research advisors to the SCA or AIA. Course faculty select SCAs and AIAs for a particular class based on their academic background in the topic, their experience with the hands-on workshop elements of the course, their past community-building experience, and their maturity and potential to be a class leader. SCAs and AIAs also begin to understand course material at a deeper level, gaining a new perspective on their own learning. Mentoring younger students prompts SCAs and AIAs to reflect and understand their own journey at Stanford while developing leadership abilities. SCAs and AIAs develop skills in logistics, event planning, and budgeting, as they coordinate the details of field trips, guest speakers, and special events that enhance the classroom learning. And of course, SCAs and AIAs participate in all the fun activities and excursions!

What SCAs and AIAs Do

SCAs and AIAs are required to live in the program residence halls with their students and use time outside class to foster collaborative, experiential, and peer learning.
SCAs and AIAs work closely with the faculty in their course to organize events, practicum workshops, and activities that engage students in the course material in a hands-on way. Each course team manages their own schedule, developing plans that are customized to their particular course, drawing on the program for guidance and administrative assistance.
SCAs and AIAs act as peer learning mentors, guiding students in hands-on activities, helping students work through the course material and develop their intellectual and artistic skills. SCAs/AIAs are not TAs and do not grade assignments, although they may offer informal feedback.
SCAs and AIAs support building community among the members of the class, planning and leading activities outside class time, and mentoring younger students.
SCAs and AIAs have the ability to draw on a course budget to support such activities, and the responsibility to steward Stanford funds appropriately.
SCAs and AIAs act as Resident Assistants during the program, being trained in facilitation and emergency response measures (with support from the Program Director and live-in Graduate Resident Associates, as well as ResEd Resident Directors). They develop relationships with students that enable them to respond to stressed and struggling students.

What Former Staff Say

“My most important experience was during office hours when multiple students brought their questions to me. I loved being able to help them out, and it was great to know that they had the comfort around me and confidence in my knowledge to approach me for help.”
“One of my most valuable experiences was being able to experience the course from the perspective of a teacher, rather than that of a student.”
“It was a lot of work, but very rewarding, to set up class activities, such as going to Google and the Computer Science Museum. Getting to talk with experts on their home turf added a rich dimension to our classroom learning.”
My favorite part of being an AIA was contributing to a more interconnected Stanford arts community. Being able to support and teach students as they developed their artistic skills was especially meaningful.
“My most important experience was working with my co-SCA and learning more about my own leadership style and role in a team.”
“Day-to-day life in the dorms -- helping students with papers, discussing ideas, or just talking about general life was the most important part of being an SCA.”
“The best part of being an SCA was getting to know and forming relationships with the sophomores, and helping them/giving advice for their future at Stanford.”
“The most important experiences related to listening and learning from each participant, bonding with my co-SCA, getting to know my professor better while becoming more comfortable around him, and serving as a small-group leader who cares for the participants.”

The Fine Print: Eligibility, Commitment, and Compensation

Are you eligible to be an SCA or AIA?

You must be enrolled in Stanford classes in the autumn quarter after Sophomore College/Arts Intensive, as a junior, senior, co-term, or graduate Stanford student (grad students please read this addendum).
You are in good academic standing.
If you will not have a fall housing assignment on main campus, you are eligible to apply, but please recognize that program housing ends on Friday, September 11, 2026 although the program continues another week, and you will need to provide your own housing from that date, if your class is on campus.

Candidates will be vetted with campus partners, such as Residential Education, Office of Community Standards, Academic Advising, Office of Accessible Education, and Vaden Health Center/Counseling and Psychological Services. Note: Vaden will not share confidential health information with the program, but may identify a concern with an applicant's readiness to participate, to be further addressed directly with the applicant.

The program reserves the right to revoke the appointment at any point prior to the program should there be any changes to a student's eligibility, qualifications, standing at the University, or readiness to participate in the program. We will notify the student should there be any concerns and any such revocation would typically be preceded by discussions with the student.

Commitment

Live with students in program housing and provide class support in building a joint residential, artistic, and academic community through afternoon, evening, and weekend activities, both academic and social.
Have no other conflicts from Friday, August 28 through Friday, 18 September, 2026 (or the end of your class, which may vary). SCAs/AIAs can move into program housing on Thursday, August 27, 2026. All travel SCAs/AIAs are required to return to main campus with the class.
Mandatory training begins 9:00am on Friday, August 28 and runs through the weekend. SCA/AIA Training covers the necessary skills for acting as an RA, a class organizer, and a peer mentor. Co-SCAs and Co-AIAs go through training together and begin developing their working relationship, as well as setting up activities and support for the course.
Attend the required Faculty/SCA/AIA Orientation Meeting in April (multiple times offered).
SoCo and Arts Intensive is a substance-free community and you will be expected to support that community both through your own actions, and in guiding students (with the support and guidance of program staff).
Offer full attention to Sophomore College or Arts Intensive during the program and training beforehand, with no other obligations including any part-time employment, training for residential positions, NSO commitments, or other activities. SCAs/AIAs cannot work a part-time job or travel independently during the program; student staff must focus exclusively on their role as class leaders. Students have a full 11 weeks of summer before SCA/AIA training begins, so department summer research positions or Haas fellowships generally have finished.
- It may be possible to navigate limited conflicts depending on the specific details and the class you are taking, such as with summer RA positions, or BOSP ambassador positions. Please begin such discussions as soon as you are offered a place as an SCA or AIA.
- Known conflicts that cannot be resolved: Residence Staff training, New Student Orientation (NSO), Faces of Community presentations all conflict with the SoCo/Arts Intensive dates, and so students must elect to be an SCA/AIA or choose to fill one of the other positions—it is not possible to be an SCA/AIA while holding any NSO or ResEd commitment. Several BOSP programs are also impossible, depending on their specific arrival date.

Compensation

Compensation varies by the type of SCA/AIA.

SCAs/AIAs for On-Campus classes receive $2,680, paid as stipend through the student account during the program. Graduate students receive $3,220 paid as stipend through GFS and must have their departments' pre-approval before their position can be confirmed.
SCAs/AIAs for Travel Classes receive $4000, as they work longer hours while on the road and carry a heavier burden of responsibility, as program staff can only advise from a distance. The rate is the same for undergrad and grad students, paid as stipend through the student account.

Room and Board

Dining: SCAs/AIAs receive on-campus dining from the beginning of the program until autumn RD&E contracts begin. The last program-provided meal is dinner on Thursday before classes begin; residences open the next day, although some residences delay the beginning of dining service.
Housing: SCAs/AIAs live in program housing (in single rooms) until Friday, September 11, 2026 when SCAs move into their autumn housing assignments for the remainder of the program. Undergraduate SCAs/AIAs living on-campus will be reimbursed for early arrival to autumn housing assignments.