Grad Assistant Student Success

First Generation Student Success

The Graduate Assistant (GA) for First Generation Student Success supports initiatives designed to enhance the academic achievement, engagement, retention, and overall success of first-generation college students. This role provides graduate students with valuable professional experience in student affairs, advising, and student support services while pursuing advanced studies. The GA collaborates closely with Student Success staff, faculty, and campus partners to implement programs, provide student outreach, and contribute to the success of first-generation student initiatives and departmental goals.

Key Responsibilities

• First Generation Student Support:
  Assist with the implementation of programs, services, and initiatives that support first-generation student success, retention, and persistence. Provide individualized outreach and referrals to campus resources as appropriate.
• Departmental Support:
  Support the planning, coordination, and execution of first-generation programming, workshops, events, mentoring opportunities, and awareness initiatives throughout the academic year.
• Administrative Tasks:
  Assist with scheduling appointments, maintaining student records, tracking participation data, preparing materials for programs and workshops, responding to inquiries, and supporting daily Student Success office operations.
• Student Support/
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Collaborate with Student Success staff, Academic Advisors, Career Services, Residence Life, and other campus departments to promote student engagement and connect students with academic and co-curricular opportunities.
• Research/Data Support:
  Assist with collecting, tracking, and analyzing student participation, engagement, and retention data to support reporting, assessment, and continuous improvement efforts related to first-generation student initiatives.
• Communication and Outreach:
  Draft, edit, and distribute communication materials including emails, flyers, newsletters, social media content, and promotional materials to increase awareness of resources, programs, and events for first-generation students.
• Additional Responsibilities Related to Department:
  Serve as a student ambassador for first-generation initiatives, assist with orientation and transition programs, participate in departmental meetings and trainings, and support special projects that advance student success goals.
• Other Duties:
  Complete additional tasks assigned by the department, faculty, or supervisor that support professional development and academic goals.
• Peak Times:
  Works during high impact periods, which include, but are not limited to: annual forum, graduation, orientations, week prior to the start of the semester, first two weeks of the semester, last two weeks of the semester prior to finals, and advising periods.

Qualifications

• Enrollment/accepted in a graduate program in Higher Education, Organizational Leadership, MBA
• Strong academic standing.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Demonstrated interest in student development, retention, advising, first-generation student success, or higher education administration.