Graduate Assistant

Unit Overview

KU’s Wingspan:
Center for Learning and Writing Support offers a portfolio of collaborative, innovative academic support programs and services to students, faculty, and staff. The Wingspan provides individual and group support through its Peer Academic Coaching program, Supplemental Instruction (SI) program, Learning and Tutoring Services, and Writing Center Services. The Wingspan is a part of the University Academic Support Centers (UASC), a comprehensive student support program consisting of two unique centers designed to strengthen the academic skills and written communication of students at the University of Kansas.

UASC supports the University’s commitment to the academic success and holistic development of students. UASC programs encourage student participation both in and out of the classroom, support academic and personal development, and link students to other campus and community resources for academic and personal support and development. University Academic Support Centers is a department within Academic Affairs.

Writing Center Services Graduate Assistants act as Graduate Writing Consultants and student leaders in the Center. Graduate Writing Consultants are peer educators who meet one-on‑one with students to discuss writing projects in a variety of disciplines and genres. They encourage student success and independence by collaborating with writers at any point in the writing process; teaching strategies for researching, drafting, organizing, revising, and editing;

and directing writers to resources online and across campus. They also support other Writing Center Services programming, such as workshops and writing groups, Fridays on Fourth, the Thesis/Dissertation Accelerator, and help create a campus community where all Jayhawks thrive. Graduate Assistants serve as part of the Writing Center Services administrative team, providing administrative support to program managers where needed. As a Graduate Assistant position, Graduate Writing Consulting furthers the coursework, research, academic and professional development of any graduate program.

The Writing Center work teaches transferable skills in composition and clear communication that enhance our Consultants’ own skills and supports time to degree. Feedback is evidence of teaching, as by providing feedback to students, our consultants demonstrate their teaching effectiveness, their tone and compassion towards students, and who they are as an instructor. Writing Center work also invites opportunities for service and connection with various offices on campus and communities in Lawrence and draws upon the training and expertise of post‑baccalaureate students.

Through this Graduate Assistant position, graduate students will experience essential learning and development that will make them marketable on both the academic and non‑academic job markets. Multilingual consultants may provide speaking and writing support in two or more languages as appropriate. Consultants are required to work in‑person on the Lawrence campus. Please note if you have another campus job:
Per State of Kansas Law, student employees may not hold an exempt and a non‑exempt employment position at the same time at the university. This position you are applying for is a non‑exempt position. You are highly encouraged to contact KU’s Human Resources Team at hrtransactions if you are unsure if your other on‑campus job is considered exempt or non‑exempt.

In general, these positions will be for .5 FTE (20 hours/week) of writing support and program development. Graduate students in these positions will receive 18 hours of tuition assistance for the full academic year.

• 40% – Foster student learning and literacy development by asking questions, collaborating with writers during consultations, and teaching important writing strategies and concepts.
• 30% – Facilitate group instruction through community‑based services like writing workshops, graduate writing groups, Thesis/Dissertation Accelerators, write‑ins, and more.
• 20% – Participate in committees and special projects,…