CS-Administrative Assistant - Graduate Assistant, Strategic Student Engagement

Columbia University in the City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 30,000 - 42,000; Part time

Job summary

Columbia University in the City of New York is seeking a Graduate Assistant for University Life to support inclusion and belonging initiatives within the Engagement & Education Department. You will assist with outreach, events, data management, research, and daily administrative tasks across programs.

The GA reports to the Senior Program Manager for Strategic Student Engagement and the position runs Nov 2026 through May 2027, ~20 hours per week, at $26/hour. Extension possibilities may exist.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled graduate students in the New York area.
• In good academic and disciplinary standing; willing to undergo a disciplinary check.
• Flexible, creative; able to work independently or in groups.
• Interest in higher education, inclusion, and belonging on campus.
• Must be available to work in-person at the office.

Responsibilities

• Student Outreach & Engagement: Support the Sr. Program Manager with outreach efforts to help ensure programming reaches the broader community.
• Event Support: Staff small- and large-scale events; assist with event set-up, breakdown, and logistics.
• Data Management, Assessment, and Program Evaluation: Support data collection, organization, and basic reports; summarize findings for program improvement.
• Research: Review current trends in student engagement and inclusion; analyze data for opportunities to enhance programs.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Manage inventory, prepare materials, update spreadsheets, respond to emails, and handle logistics.

Skills

Outreach & Engagement

Event Support

Data Management

Research

Administrative Skills

Teamwork

Education

Currently enrolled graduate student in NY area

Tools

Google Sheets/Excel

Canva

Qualtrics

Job description

• Job Type: Short Term Casual
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 5/28/2027
• Hours Per Week: 20
• Salary Range: $26.00 - $26.00

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

University Life is a central division that cultivates an inclusive, connected University community across Columbia’s campuses and 17 schools. We serve as a hub for student engagement, cross-school collaboration, and coordinated University-wide initiatives that strengthen the student experience. Our work is grounded in building trusted relationships across the institution so that students can access the resources, opportunities, and support systems they need to succeed.

We strive to ensure that every Columbia student experiences a deep sense of belonging and community, empowering them to have a meaningful impact at the University through their relationships, contributions, and engagement. Guided by our core values of connection, integrity, respect, service, and continuous learning, we are committed to creating environments where students feel welcomed, supported, and equipped to succeed throughout their academic journeys.

Through close collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life champions a Columbia defined by inclusion, community citizenship, and holistic support. We work toward a Columbia where every student can grow, connect, and thrive.

This position sits within the Strategic Student Engagement unit and is part of the Engagement & Education Department (E&E). E&E advances vibrant and inclusive cross-school communities by creating opportunities for students to build meaningful connections, engage across differences, and strengthen their sense of social responsibility.

We see ourselves as educators and community builders. E&E approaches co-curricular engagement as an intentional part of student learning and development, and our work is organized through an evidence-informed curricular approach. We begin by identifying what we want students to learn, then design, sequence, and assess experiences that support their development over time. This work is guided by our educational priority: through their engagement with E&E programs, students will deepen their ability to courageously connect and co-create inclusive communities as engaged global citizens. Through this approach, E&E seeks to create a coherent educational experience in which all our programs and initiatives contribute meaningfully to student learning, belonging, and development.

The Graduate Assistant (GA) will report to the Senior Program Manager for Strategic Student Engagement and support university-wide, student-focused programs that promote inclusion and belonging efforts, including the Graduate Initiative for Inclusion and Engagement.

• GAs will be paid $26/hour for approximately 20 hours per week throughout the academic year.
• The Assistantship will run from November 2026 through May 2027, with the possibility to start earlier and/or extend to the summer and the following year.

Responsibilities

• Student Outreach & Engagement- Support the Sr. Program Manager with outreach efforts to help ensure programming reaches the broader community.
• Event Support- Staff small- and large-scale events such as Grad Hangouts, Community Connections and Welcome Week programs; assist with event set-up, breakdown, supply transport, and support full-time staff at signature University Life events.
• Data Management, Assessment, and Program Evaluation - Support data collection, organization, and maintenance, including student list management, survey data cleaning, and preparation of basic reports. Assist with gathering and summarizing assessment findings, participation data, partner feedback, and program evaluation results to identify trends, inform program planning, and support ongoing program improvement.
• Research- Research current trends and best practices in student engagement, and inclusion & belonging from peer institutions and national organizations and analyze data to identify opportunities for enhancing student programs.
• Administrative Responsibilities: Support daily operations of Engagement & Education and University Life teams by managing inventory, preparing materials, updating spreadsheets, responding to emails, and handling logistics.

Minimum Qualifications

• Applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students in the New York area.
• Candidates must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with their institution and agree to a disciplinary check.
• GAs may also be called upon to support other projects across the office as needed. We are looking for candidates that are flexible, creative, and have the ability to work both independently and in groups.
• Ideal candidates will have experience/interest in, and/or be studying higher education or related field (interest in issues related to inclusion & belonging on campus, student affairs, and event planning a plus).
• Must be available to work in-person at the office.

Preferred Qualifications

• Basic knowledge of Google Sheets/Excel.
• Experience with student/client-facing email and phone communications.
• Experience using Canva (or other basic graphic design skills) is a plus.
• Experience using Qualtrics or other data collection tools is a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.