Graduate Assistant Position



GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP FOR

RETENTION INITIATIVES

2020-2021

Department Summary

The Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education (MC) provides academic, cultural and social programs intended to pursue social justice, promote inclusiveness, foster achievement, and assist in the development and advancement of a diverse student body at the University of Arkansas. The Graduate Assistant for Diversity and Leadership plays a key role in helping the MC celebrate unity, nurture diverse student leadership, and encourage multicultural learning through program design and facilitation.

Position Description

The Graduate Assistant for Retention Initiatives is an integral member of the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education that is tasked with assisting in the case managements and support of the students in the Academic Enrichment Program. This position supports the Director and Assistant Director of Retention Programs in the planning, implementation, & assessment of student success initiatives designed to enhance the college experience of first-generation, low-income and other underrepresented students. This is achieved by providing a combination of effective advisement, mentorship, student development, academic coaching and transformational learning experiences.

Minimum Qualifications

The formal education equivalent of a bachelor's degree. Knowledge in excel spreadsheets and data entry. Good verbal communicator, enjoys working with students, can working in a fast paced environment.

Preferred Graduate Academic Programs

• M.Ed. in Higher Education (HIED)

• Ed.D. in Education (HIED)

• Ed.S. in Education (EDUC)

• Masters of Social Work (SCWK)

• M.S. in Counseling (CNSL)

• M.Ed. in Adult Education (ADED)

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of diversity, inclusion, campus climate, and multicultural issues within institutions of higher education.

• Experience coordinating and facilitating diversity and inclusion programs.

• Experience advising and working with students.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work well independently and as a member of a team.

• Desire to utilize research, best practices, and assessment to create focused programs & events.

• Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality when needed.

• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly, and to reason, synthesize, and generalize information.

Compensation

• Tuition Waiver

o Tuition paid - minimum of six graduate hours paid for fall, spring and summer semesters

o A 50% graduate assistantship and six hours of class credit is considered full-time graduate status

• Monthly stipend of ($1,125) month for First Year Graduate Assistant

• Monthly stipend of ($1,330) month for Second Year Graduate Assistant

• Up to $1,000 annually for professional development based on supervisor approval

• 60% discount on Student Health Insurance Plan

• Starting Date – Negotiable

NASPA/ACPA Professional Competencies

• Personal and Ethical Foundations

• Values, Philosophy, and History

• Leadership

• Social Justice and Inclusion

• Student Learning and Development

Terms

• 20 hours per week

• 12-month appointment available

Key Responsibilities

Academic Initiatives & Support

1. Provide individual and small group coaching in study skills, time management, effective test taking, organizational skills, and other success strategies; recommend appropriate interventions for individual students to improve performance as needed and follow up to ensure that students are following through with recommendations; maintaining up-to-date individual student records and reports.

2. Provide appropriate referrals to other departments for advice and counsel including but, not limited to: tutoring center, disability resource services, counseling center, financial aid, dean of students, adult and commuter student services, career services, multicultural affairs and student health services.

3. Assist students in developing an educational plan and strategy to improve student success.

4. Monitors academic reporting systems for early alert to students’ performance and academic progress risk, thus identifying and providing timely interventions for those who are in need.

5. Recruit and train students to serve as an academic mentor and referral agent to appropriate campus resources.

6. Educate, support and coordinate academic enrichment, career readiness and living-learning components.

7. Work with faculty, instructors and academic offices to ensure students receive a quality living-learning experience.

8. Maintain and regularly update resources for the Living Learning Community including academic campus resources and faculty/staff/instructor contact information.

Student Engagement and Programming

1. Identify, design and execute goal-driven plans for student retention that touch on critical areas such as academic advising, motivation, tutoring and mentoring services, time management resources, legal and health resources.

2. Collaborates with other offices around programming to further support student goals. This includes Disability Services, CLASS+, Admissions, Career Placement, Financial Aid, etc.

3. Assist in coordinating early intervention outreach, identification of students at-risk of leaving the institution, one-on-one meetings with students at-risk, and referrals to campus partners.

4. Design and implement leadership development and career readiness programs for students within Academic Enrichment Program.

5. Responsible for implementing programs and initiatives that focus on college readiness, student transition, academic enrichment and student success including but not limited to first-generation students, commuter and underrepresented student populations

Advising and Managing

1. Conduct advising sessions, which will include initial outreach, leading sessions, working with students individually to create schedules, making short- and long-term plans for success with students as a part of the check-out process, and engaging in follow-up communication and meetings as needed.

2. Provide success coaching to students; provide support and resources to develop effective self-determination and self-advocacy to reach students’ academic and personal goals.

3. Assists and refers students for academic skills assistance, including tutoring, counseling, and/or career guidance.

4. Assists students to connect with advocate peers and draw upon support services such as counseling, financial aid, and targeted student resources.

5. Assist in the advisement of Academic Enrichment Program Coaches and Tutors.

6. Monitor student progress through UA Success to enhance student success, support progress and completion.

7. Uses software to organize and maintain data, composes and prepares correspondence, reports and other materials.

Training and Facilitation

1. Facilitate academic student workshops that include support for study strategies, time management, academic self-advocacy, test-taking skills, critical reasoning; problem solving and coping skills development.

2. Coordinates and facilitates retention-centered programming workshop and modules in Blackboard for Academic Enrichment Program participants.

3. Provide support surrounding the planning, outreach, and advertising for programming such as general educational programming and special discussion groups.

4. Assist with facilitation, leadership, development, and promotion of LGBTQ+-related workshops and presentations, such as Safe Zone Allies trainings.

Outreach

1. Assist their supervisor in continuing to build collaborative partnerships with other University departments in order to facilitate services provided to Academic Enrichment Program participants.

2. Promote and support existing University programs designed to create a welcoming environment while ensuring academic success with all students.

3. Facilitate presentation workshops at New Student Orientation for both freshmen and transfer students.

4. Assist in the coordination of transition program(s) targeted to serve first-generation, low-income, commuter and underrepresented students.

5. Serve as a Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education representative at community events as necessary.

6. Assist with the recruitment of underrepresented students as needed.

7. Serve as a tour representative during the Center’s tour to current and future students.

Professional Development

1. Research best practices and use research to design programs, initiatives and resources for academic enrichment.

2. Design and implement special projects focusing on current trends and issues, benchmarking, program development, and items of interest to the GA.

3. Assist with data collection, assessment and development of periodic reports.

4. Develop methods of evaluation for the office’s diversity programs.

5. Create promotion and marketing strategies for Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education’s events.

Administrative Responsibilities

1. Assist students in developing a calendar of events, planning timelines, and budgeting for the semester.

2. Provide customer service through emails, by phone, and in-person for students interested in what the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education has to offer.

3. Maintain clear documentation (electronic and hard copy) of areas of responsibility.

4. Meet with supervisor every two weeks.

5. Attend weekly staff meetings.

Other duties as assigned

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