Student Engagement - Graduate Assistantship

Office of Student Engagement—

The Office of Student Engagement crafts experiences that are uniquely positioned to facilitate student transition, belonging, and growth through:

• Orientation and new student programs
• Opportunities for social and campus engagement
• Leadership development and practice
• Intentional reflection that results in positive change for themselves and communities to which they belong

Graduate Assistant — The Office of Student Engagement

Student Engagement has three Graduate Assistants (GAs) that support the work of the professional staff as it relates to developing and executing campus programming. Each position is a 10-month contract (Fall and Spring semesters) and will be paid hourly at a rate. Each GA reports directly to one of the Assistant Directors on the Student Engagement team.

• $16-$17 per hour (commensurate with experience)
• Each GA can work a maximum of 20 hours/week.

General Responsibilities:

• Assist with planning and facilitating various leadership development workshops 
• Assist with reading and rating of various student leadership applications, including Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society
• Assist with weekend programming events each semester in coordination with other Student Engagement GAs
• Attend and provide support at Fall Welcome Weekend, the Activities Fair, Leadership Fair, Leadership Summit and other Student Engagement-related programs

Role-Specific Responsibilities

• First-Year Transition & Leadership Initiatives
  o Assist with the recruitment, selection, training, and development of 85 Evergreen orientation leaders and 5 Evergreen Program Coordinators (EPCs)
  o Assist with tracking Evergreen requirements and coordinating Evergreen budgets 
  o Assist with recruitment, selection, and training of Student Leadership Corps (SLC) Mentors and participants (SLC is a sophomore leadership development program 
  o Assist with assessment efforts at the programmatic and departmental level, which includes collecting, organizing, and maintaining data
• Student Organization & Event Management
  o Assist with recruitment, selection, training, and development of the Hound Activities & Programming Board (HAP), the Transfer Student Organization (TSO) and Commuter Student Organization (CSO) 
  o Assist with oversight and upkeep of The Bridge (Loyola’s student engagement platform) as well as enforcement of the University Posting Policy
  o Responsible for all department-wide newsletters, including Evergreens, Weekend Programming, and Registered Student Organizations (RSOs)
• Peer Mentorship & Special Events
  o Assist with training and development of the Student Government Association (SGA) Class Year Assemblies and Class Year Transition Programming
  o Assist with the registration process of Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) during the fall and spring semesters
  o Responsible for the upkeep of the Commuter Student Lounge 
  o Assist with the implementation and coordination of Family Weekend, Leadership Week, and the Gratias Ceremony

1. Must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at Loyola University Maryland
2. Strong organizational skills and keen attention to detail
3. Willingness to work with and mentor undergraduate students
4. Experience and comfort with facilitating and presenting to groups, organizing, and/or planning programs/events
5. Basic understanding and mastery of helping skills
6. Demonstrated initiative and self-accountability
7. Creativity and willingness to try new things
8. Willingness to work in a team setting

• Ability to commit to a schedule of 20 hours per week, including evening and weekend responsibilities. The majority of the hours will be during business hours (M-F, 9am-5pm); each GA will be expected to commit to one or two weekend events per month. 
• Must be available to work in-person (remote work is not an option)
• Conduct self with professionalism during all interactions with students, staff, and faculty at Loyola University Maryland
• Serve as a positive role model and advocate for students
• Be flexible and adapt in the face of uncertainty and change
• Positive energy and enthusiasm for the role

These competencies are based on the Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Educators. Graduate Assistants will have the opportunity to develop competencies through the various responsibilities associated with their role in Student Engagement. These are just a few examples of the areas in which a GA may gain experience and professional development.

1. Advising & Supporting:
   a. Establish rapport with students, groups, colleagues, and others that acknowledges differences in lived experiences.
   b. Facilitate reflection to make meaning from experiences with students, groups, colleagues, and others.
   c. Facilitate problem solving.
   d. Facilitate individual decision-making and goal-setting.
2. Organizational & Human Resources:
   a. Demonstrate effective stewardship/use of resources (i.e., financial, human, material).
   b. Use technological resources with respect to maximizing the efficiency and effectiveness of one’s work.
   c. Develop and utilize appropriate meeting materials (e.g. facilitation skills, agenda, notes/minutes).
3. Student Learning & Development:
   a. Articulate how race, ethnicity, nationality, class, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, dis/ability, and religious belief can influence development during the college years.
   b. Assess learning outcomes from programs and services and use theory to improve practice.

Applications open March 11th and will be accepted until the positions are filled. For serious consideration, a review of applications will begin in late March. To apply, please complete the following:

1. Student Engagement Application
2. Graduate Assistant Employment Application (found below)

If you have further questions, please email Laura Kuhns, Assistant Director for Student Engagement, at lkuhns@loyola.edu.