Downtown Scholars Initiative - Assistant (TEMP)

University of Central Florida•Orlando, FL

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Downtown Scholars Initiative (DSI) is seeking an assistant to support program operations at the University of Central Florida and Orange County Public Schools. DSI is located in the Union West at Creative Village Building on the UCF Downtown/Valencia College Downtown campus and reports to the Program Coordinator. While the position will be based at the UCF Downtown campus, the role will also perform duties at local high schools and on UCF’s main campus. Established in Fall 2021, the Downtown Scholars Initiative consists of two components: Pre-College Program: Supports high school seniors from Title I high schools in downtown Orlando: Jones High School, Evans High School, and Oak Ridge High School, by guiding them through the application process, financial aid, and campus engagement opportunities to promote successful enrollment at UCF. Summer Bridge Program: Provides incoming UCF students with a residential Summer B six-week experience, free tuition and books for their first summer term, and ongoing peer mentoring to support their transition and academic success during freshman year. The assistant will play a key role in organizing, developing, and implementing social, educational, and service-learning activities for DSI students. The ideal candidate will be an organized, self-motivated graduate student with demonstrated experience working with students, strong clerical skills, event planning, social media, and an interest in community engagement. A passion for advancing educational access and supporting historically underrepresented students is essential.

Requirements

High School Diploma or Equivalent and 0+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) and design platforms (e.g., Canva).
All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
Experience working with students in a mentorship, advising, or leadership capacity.
Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365 (Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint; Excel).
Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Experience with peer mentoring, college access, and/or first‑generation/Title I student populations.
Experience with student advising and event planning.
Comfort with social media, communications, and basic program assessment.
Familiarity with Canva or similar design platforms.
Flexibility to adapt to evolving projects and timelines.
Graduate student.

Responsibilities

Assist the Program Coordinator to whom the position reports.
Maintain and update the student database, including attendance, contact information, Qualtrics forms, and other documents.
Support coordination and implementation of DSI events, workshops, and activities.
Support recruitment activities and deliver classroom presentations.
Assist with planning and scheduling program meetings.
Respond and send communication to program participants.
Prepare documents, forms, copies, and marketing materials (social media, newsletters).
Assist with general office tasks and program operations.

Benefits

State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida. The state’s benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment. If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First.
OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

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