Jumbos4Jumbos – Alum FAQs
UPDATE: This upcoming summer season, the Jumbos4Jumbos program will run from June 1st – August 31, 2024. The deadline for alums to submit projects is April 26th, and all students must be hired and updated in The Herd by May 31, 2024.
How do I post a project on The Herd?
Alums can access the Jumbos4Jumbos program via The Herd under the Projects section in order to manage their entire project process. This will make the process seamless for you and the students looking to apply and partake in your opportunities. Alums will be able to submit projects for review, manage their applicants and interviews, and close projects. On The Herd, you will have full autonomy to see student applications as they come in and decide who you want to reach out to for an interview and/or to offer them the project.
Please note if you are not a registered user of The Herd, you will be prompted to create an account and fill out your profile. For details on how to register go to the “Information for alumni section” of The Herd resources page.
What is expected of me throughout this program?
As a project owner, you will be responsible for reviewing candidates, setting up interviews, hiring, and informing your pool of applicants once the project has been filled. You will also be expected to submit the name of the student(s) you have selected once hiring is complete, and to update the “status” of your project as the program progresses (Pending Hire, Not Started, In Progress, Pending Review, Completed).
Once your student is hired, you should meet with them to go over all project expectations, including task instructions, due dates, frequency of contact, etc. Make sure to share with your student the best way to contact you, and be readily available for any questions they may have throughout the duration of the project.
At the conclusion of the program, you will receive a survey with the opportunity to share more about your experience hosting a Jumbos4Jumbos project and working with a Tufts student, and to offer any reflections or suggestions you have to improve the program.
What should a project posting include?
Please have the following information included in your student facing description:
- Full description of your opportunity to the best of your ability
- A little bit about the organization/opportunity
- Key roles/responsibilities
- Stipend offered
- Frequency of supervision
- Minimum qualifications (School, Year, Major)
- Any skills/competencies needed or previous experience
- Expected hours per week and expected duration of weeks
- We encourage you to review our walkthrough of a sample project with best practices here.
Who is eligible to participate in the project opportunities?
Any currently enrolled undergraduate student in the School of Arts & Sciences, School of Engineering, or the School of Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. Graduate students and alums are not eligible to participate in the Jumbos4Jumbos Program. Students on official leave of absence from Tufts University are unable to participate in this program. International students engaged in off-campus training experiences may be required to obtain curricular practical training authorization from the International Center. For more information, go to https://icenter.tufts.edu/f1/f1-cpt or contact an international student advisor directly at internationalcenter@tufts.edu.
What is a recommended stipend amount for a project?
We recommend $15 per hour minimally for your project and to calculate the full stipend amount using that rate of pay. You will want to list the full amount in your description.
Are students eligible to receive academic credit for these experiences?
Unfortunately, due to the short duration of these projects, Tufts University is unable to offer credit for the Jumbos4Jumbos Program. We very much value the gained experience and so encourage project managers to offer references where appropriate and encourage students to add these project-based experiences to their resumes when successfully completed.
How many projects can one student participate in at a time?
We recommend students only accept one project at a time vs. doing multiple projects simultaneously to successfully complete the requirements of your defined project parameters. Please contact the Career Center if you have a student that has not been responsive to you and we will make sure to follow-up as needed.
How will I be notified of submitted student applications?
The Herd will send the project manager automated updates when applicants apply for their opening. Each project manager is charged with reviewing candidates, setting up interviews, hiring, and closing the project once filled.
How do I let students know that the project has been filled and close my position?
We ask that each project manager inform their pool of applicants that the project has been filled via email (as you will have student resumes) or through The Herd. Please also tag the name of the student(s) you have selected once hiring is complete, and be sure to update the “status” of your project as the program progresses (Pending Hire, Not Started, In Progress, Pending Review, Completed).
Who should I contact if I have questions?
The Career Center will be your main point of contact regarding any questions regarding your project. Please contact Susan Atkins, Assoc. Director, Employer Relations at susan.atkins@tufts.edu.
