Spring 2026 Half (.5) Graduate Assistant - Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice, Alternative Break

Bridgewater State College • Bridgewater, MA

45d

About The Position

The Half Graduate Assistant (.5 GA) will work 10 hours per week and receive up to 7.5 credits of tuition and student fee waivers: 6 for spring and 1.5 for summer.

The mission of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) is to build knowledge about social justice, to develop skills for advancing social justice through individual and collective action, and to serve as a catalyst for actualizing Bridgewater State University's commitment to social justice.

The MRISJ provides learning opportunities, events, and resources relating to social justice and civic engagement. We host team experiences, speakers, panels, and discussions about critical issues affecting our society and offer ways for students to make positive change.

The MRISJ Graduate Assistant (GA) will provide support for one of the MRISJ's signature civic engagement, social justice, and service initiatives: Alternative Break (AB) program.

For more information about the MRISJ visit: http://bit.ly/bsumrisj

Additional Information: The GA will be required to commit to occasional evening hours as required by programs.

Supervision: The MRISJ Director of Programs will supervise the Graduate Assistant.

Alternative Break (AB) Program:

The Alternative Break (AB) program at Bridgewater State University is a transformative group experience that engages undergraduate students in social justice education, direct community service, civic engagement, and critical reflection. Alternative Break prepares students to contribute to positive social change and builds their abilities to address social issues in their own communities. AB trips are led by two undergraduate Team Leaders and include six additional undergraduate student program participants and two Learning Partners (who are University staff and/or faculty members).

Responsibilities

• Train, advise and support a cohort of eight undergraduate student AB Team Leaders over the academic year as they plan and facilitate four separate AB experiences to be held during Spring Break 2026.
• Plan and facilitate weekly training and reflection activities for AB Team Leaders.
• Support AB Team Leaders to develop and deliver program training, orientation, and reflection for their respective AB program participants and teams.
• Maintain and prepare the existing AB training guides for the AB Team Leaders, Learning Partners, and participants.
• Assist in the creation and preparation of pre-trip materials (e.g., itineraries, trip participant lists, weekly agendas, reference materials, etc.) to distribute to all members of the AB experiences.
• Assist with AB program administrative tasks and program coordination, for example, collecting and tracking meeting attendance, preparing Team Leader meeting materials, and researching and compiling social justice and civic engagement educational resources for use by undergraduate students.
• Support AB program activities, including informational meetings, marketing events, program orientations, reflection sessions, and student Team Leader trainings.
• Serve as a member of the AB Student Team Leader and AB participant selection committees.
• Create and analyze AB pre/post surveys, program evaluations, and feedback forms, and prepare written reports for participants, Team Leaders, Learning Partners, and host sites, including preparation and submission of IRB proposal.
• Attend projects and events related to the AB program, for example pre/post trip excursions to local museums, service projects or educational events that enhance the AB program. (As schedule allows.)
• Other Alternative Break program duties as assigned.
• Attend campus events, staff information tables, and assist with creating and disseminating AB marketing materials, etc.
• Serve as a MRISJ representative for classroom presentations, campus fairs, and BSU orientation programs as schedule allows.
• GA will be encouraged to attend any MRISJ events that work with their schedule and their interest.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• tuition waivers
• student fee waivers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees