Graduate Appointments

Graduate assistantships are awarded by individual schools, academic departments, or other administrative offices. Graduate assistantships provide a stipend for services as prescribed by the individual school, department, or office and can include a tuition scholarship.
  • Apply for department/school assistantships by indicating your interest in the departmental funding section of your admission application.
  • Department/school assistantships are granted on the basis of scholarly merit.
  • In addition, a list of advertised appointments is available below. 
  • Appointments are classified as graduate, research, and teaching assistantships (GA, RA, TA)
  • Make sure to read and understand all policies before accepting an appointment: Graduate Appointment Policies 
  • Complete appropriate forms
Graduate Student Employment Opportunities

Updated: 1/27/12

Graduate Assistant, Office of Diversity, Access and Equity 

2012-2013 School Year    -    20 hours per week

Immediate Supervisor: Vice Provost for Diversity, Access and Equity

The Office for Diversity, Access and Equity (DAE) is committed to providing extensive opportunities for intellectual, personal, and professional growth for graduate assistants in its employ.  Job responsibilities listed below may be modified to fit the goals and interests of the selected GA.

Applicants from across the curriculum are welcome, although preference will be given to those studying higher education administration, college student personnel or another administrative oriented field.  Doctoral students are preferred but highly motivated and professional master’s students have held the job in the past.  DAE actively seeks diversity in the selection of its graduate assistants.

Criteria for Selection
•    Knowledge of administrative procedures and protocols, particularly within senior higher education environments, and experience in post-secondary institutions.
•    Strong writing and research skills.
•    Good communication skills across interpersonal, small-group and large-group settings; a collaborative working style; openness to diverse perspectives.
•    Flexibility, creativity and dependability.
•    Experience with various computer programs, particularly the Microsoft Office suite.
•    Ability to work independently and to take initiative in new projects.

Responsibilities
This position essentially serves as Assistant to the Vice Provost and helps to implement the DAE vision (to integrate diversity initiatives into every facet of university life) and Ohio University’s diversity goals. The Vice Provost and GA will develop specific tasks together at the beginning of each semester.  Primary tasks fall into the following categories:

Program Planning:     The GA will assist in various activities for the division, including conference and program planning, marketing activities and program implementation.  The GA is expected to attend DAE directors’ meetings and other relevant meetings to assist in program and project development.  Major DAE programs include, but are not limited to the MLK Jr. Celebration, the Summer Institute for Diversity Education, A Celebration of Diversity and the Diversity Undergraduate Research Symposium.

Writing:     The GA will assist the Vice Provost in drafting reports, correspondence and other text intended for internal and external purposes, such as a division newsletter.
Recruitment    
& Retention:    The GA will provide support in developing and implementing recruitment and retention activities for multicultural undergraduate and graduate students.

Research:     The GA will occasionally compile comparative institutional information that informs DAE activities and may need to present these reports to various individuals or committees.  An example is conducting benchmark studies comparing Ohio University to peer and aspirational peer institutions on diversity best practices.

Other major job responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

•    Provide support to the Vice Provost on various diversity committees and initiatives (i.e., the University Diversity Commission, MLK Jr. Celebration, Childs Diversity Leadership Award, Diversity Essentials, Opportunity Hires, etc.);
•    Coordination of an diversity undergraduate research symposium;
•    Community liaison for various programs;
•    Conduct activities that support the development of a university strategic plan for diversity;
•    Work with regional campus diversity representatives on programming and strategic planning;
•    Supporting the Vice Provost with various initiatives as needed, such as advisory boards (Diversity Alumni Advisory Board, Diversity Student Advisory Committee), assisting with diversity education trainings, and supporting community relations initiatives.
•    Other responsibilities to meet Ohio's diversity goals as assigned by the Vice Provost for Diversity, Access and Equity.

Supervision and Evaluation
The Graduate Assistant will be supervised directly by the Vice Provost for Diversity, Access and Equity. The GA will work collaboratively with DAE directors to promote division goals and objectives and will therefore report to area directors on projects under their purview to which the GA is assigned.

A collaborative evaluation will be provided to the GA during the spring semester. The evaluation will be based on the skills and responsibilities listed above and a specific work plan developed jointly by the GA and Vice Provost at the beginning of each semester. It will also include a self-evaluation by the GA.

Compensation and Reappointment
Compensation:     As established by the Vice Provost, including the standard graduate assistant package.

Reappointment:     Assistantships in DAE are typically for a one-year period.  However, graduate assistants may be reappointed based on their performance and available funds.  The GA is expected to begin their duties the week prior to the first day of fall classes.  It is highly recommended that the selected GA participate in the Summer Institute for Diversity Education in July prior to the start of the appointment.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the job description, please contact Brian Bridges at 740-593-2431 (bridgesb@ohio.edu), Stephanie Sanders (ss260507@ohio.edu) or Amanda Dorton at 740-593-2600 (dortona@ohio.edu). 


Other employment opportunities are available from OU's Career Services.