Graduate Assistant - Residence Life, Learning Initiatives
About The Position
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty. JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research. Mission Statement: The Office of Residence Life is committed to designing and maintaining a caring environment that encourages academic success, respect, personal growth and responsibility to one's community. Learning Initiatives: The Learning Initiatives Resource Center is committed to furthering the mission of Residence Life by providing support and resources for residential education, well-being, and involvement to Residence Life staff and students, while encouraging a positive residential experience. Optional Opportunity: The successful candidate will have the option to work during July leading up to the fall 2026 semester.
Requirements
- Must be admitted to and enrolled in a JMU graduate program for the 2026-2027 academic year
- Must be eligible to work and be present at JMU no later than August 1 (July 13 is preferred)
- Demonstration of strong interpersonal, leadership, and administrative skills
- Demonstration of strong communication skills
- Demonstration of high ethical standards and strong work ethic
Nice To Haves
- Creativity encouraged
- Experience with programming/event management is encouraged
Responsibilities
- Assist with the operational implementation of the Resource Center, a multipurpose facility that provides support and educational materials for Residence Life hall staff.
- Directly supervise 9 Program Advisers (PAs), student staff members who staff the Resource Center
- Plan and facilitate weekly staff meetings and weekly one-on-ones for all Program Advisers
- Write and present performance evaluations for each staff member
- Plan and implement PA staff training with Learning Initiatives Coordinator
- Learn, support, and implement the Residence Life Educational plan which aligns with the Student Affairs divisional strategic plan
- Learn and adhere to Title II digital accessibility requirements in all communications and formats
- Learn techniques for working with Resident Advisers, Hall Directors, PAs, and other volunteers
- Manage multiple projects and develop organizational subsystems
- Create or improve programs related to specific issues or populations
- Create marketing strategies for publicizing programs and events
- Learn payroll and scheduling process
- Assist with the organization, planning, and execution of department-wide programming
- Be involved in all Residence Life and Learning Initiatives sponsored projects
- Attendance at departmental and divisional meetings as appropriate
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
