How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and must be attached as the first page of your resume. The letter should address your specific interest in and fit with this GSSA position. Please include your University Department/Program affiliation and year in graduate studies.
Job Summary
Rackham Graduate School is seeking a Graduate Student Staff Assistant (GSSA) to work with the Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence summer programs, specifically the Rackham Aspiring Fellows (RAF) program on program development, assessment, and evaluation; resource creation and dissemination, and strategic planning for key initiatives. The role may assist in other PACE initiatives, including but not limited to efforts to support undocumented students, guidance from graduate student coaches working with undergraduate applicants, etc.
Appointment Period: Spring/Summer 2025 (This position is for one term)
Estimated FTE: 50% (20 hours per week)
Compensation: This appointment provides tuition, required fees, stipend (at the GEO negotiated GSSA monthly rate), GradCare health insurance, and dental insurance (Option 1).
Number of applicants from last academic year: 39
Course Description
Rackham Graduate School is seeking a Graduate Student Staff Assistant (GSSA) to work with the Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence summer programs, specifically the Rackham Aspiring Fellows (RAF) program on program development, assessment, and evaluation; resource creation and dissemination, and strategic planning for key initiatives.
Responsibilities*
- Conduct literature reviews, document/website analysis, and benchmarking on relevant topics including but not limited to, high-impact practices, RAF participant funding, and engagement opportunities;
- Assist with developing systematic program assessment evaluation across current and future summer programs-related activities in alignment with learning objectives;
- Assist with creating resources for summer program faculty participants and improving the faculty-student matching process
- Assist with identifying, summarizing, and disseminating best practices;
- Assist with summer programs alumni engagement and develop short-term and long-term programs and track alumni success post-program;
- Identifying opportunities for systematically growing and scaling programming;
- Designing of curriculum and other workshops for the graduate community on topics related to access and success for undocumented students.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed and are not an exhaustive list of all associated responsibilities.
NOTE: SOME FLEXIBILITY OF SCHEDULED WORK HOURS IS REQUIRED, INCLUDING EVENINGS OR WEEKENDS ON A PRIOR SCHEDULED BASIS.
Required Qualifications*
Applicants must be currently registered in a Rackham graduate program. Preference will be given to doctoral students who have reached candidacy. Students who are unsure if they are in a Rackham graduate program should check their graduate program listing in http://www.rackham.umich.edu/programs-of-study.
- Basic data analysis and familiarity with Qualtrics;
- Excellent oral and analytical written communication skills;
- Demonstrated competency with modern computer productivity tools including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and presentation programs;
- Ability to handle multiple projects with excellent attention to detail and ability to meet deadlines;
- Ability to maintain confidentiality in matters of a sensitive and confidential nature;
- Demonstrated interpersonal skills;
- Strong organizational skills;
- Reasonable knowledge of University and departmental policies and procedures, University organization, and University protocol and governance; and
- Ability to work as part of a team and capacity to exercise independent initiative.
Desired Qualifications*
- Experience with recruitment, student development, and diversity issues in higher education;
- An understanding of the challenges faced by underrepresented populations in higher education;
- The ability to work, problem solve, and make decisions with limited supervision; and
- Participated in or previously worked for an undergraduate summer research experience
How You'll Grow
The GSSA position will strengthen professional competencies in the following areas:
- Interpersonal skills including active listening skills and being able to communicate effectively and professionally.
- Development-identifying needs and formulating ideas.
- Evaluation-collecting/gathering information about specific components of programs to make future decisions, set appropriate goals, or make possible changes.
- Resource management-creating intended outcomes to enhance areas for improvement and measuring achievement of intended outcomes to justify the allocation of the resources used.
- Problem solving-having the critical thinking skills to address situations on a consistently evolving short-term and long-term outlook.
- Collaboration-working with others cooperatively to reach established goals.
- Best practices in graduate student success
- Best practices in graduate student success
- Community-building in higher education environments
- The student should be able to present a proposal/paper regarding their experience at a local/regional conference in their field.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Contact Information
Questions regarding this position may be emailed to nunnr@umich.edu. Applicants may request the status of their application from the appointing unit.
Richard Nunn, Senior Program Lead - Outreach Coordinator is leading this search.
Decision Making Process
Applications will be reviewed following the posting deadline, and selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. References will be contacted for the selected candidate; the selected candidate will also be required to submit a letter from their academic advisor supporting their acceptance of this position before the hire is finalized.
Richard Nunn, Senior Program Lead - Outreach Coordinator is leading this search.
Every effort will be made to have a hiring decision by April 1, 2025
Decision Making Process
Applications will be reviewed following the posting deadline, and selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. References will be contacted for the selected candidate; the selected candidate will also be required to submit a letter from their academic advisor supporting their acceptance of this position before the hire is finalized.
Selection Process
Applications will be reviewed following the posting deadline, and selected candidates will be contacted for an interview. References will be contacted for the selected candidate; the selected candidate will also be required to submit a letter from their academic advisor supporting their acceptance of this position before the hire is finalized.
GEO Contract Information
The University will not discriminate against any applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancy status, sex, gender identity or expression (whether actual or perceived), sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, medical conditions including those related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, arrest record, or any other factor where the item in question will not interfere with job performance and where the employee is otherwise qualified. The University of Michigan agrees to abide by the protections afforded employees with disabilities as outlined in the rules and regulations which implement Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Information for the Office for Institutional Equity may be found at https://oie.umich.edu/ and for the University Ombuds at https://ombuds.umich.edu/
Unsuccessful applications will be retained for consideration in the event that there are last minute openings for available positions. In the event that an employee does not receive their preferred assignment, they can request a written explanation or an in-person interview with the hiring agents(s) to be scheduled at a mutually agreed upon time.
This position, as posted, is subject to a collective bargaining agreement between the Regents of the University of Michigan and the Graduate Employees' Organization, American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO 3550.
Standard Practice Guide 601.38, Required Disclosure of Felony Charges and/or Felony Convictions applies to all Graduate Student Assistants (GSAs). SPG 601.38 may be accessed online at https://spg.umich.edu/policy/601.38 , and its relation to your employment can be found in MOU 10 of your employment contract.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.