Front Desk Student Assistant

Center for Public Partnerships & Research; Topeka (KS); On-site; USD 11,000 - 14,000; Part time

Job summary

The Center for Public Partnerships & Research is seeking a Front Desk Student Assistant to support the International Support Services Department (ISS). You will greet visitors, route calls, schedule meetings, and perform general clerical duties while handling confidential information with discretion.

This part-time, on-site role requires a commitment of at least 8 hours per week during fall and spring, and offers an opportunity to gain office experience in a professional academic environment.

Qualifications

• Engagement with international communities documented in application materials.
• Available to work 8-10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, as evidenced by application materials.

Responsibilities

• Greet visitors, answer calls, schedule appointments, and manage front desk tasks.
• Support office tasks and maintain a neat, confidential environment.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Communication

Discretion

Education

Enrollment in no fewer than 6 credit hours

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Teams

Zoom

Job description

Position Overview

The Front Desk Student Assistant will assist with front desk operations in the International Support Services Department (ISS) which includes greeting guests, answering phone calls, preparing meeting rooms, maintaining common areas, and providing administrative support under the guidance of the Administrative Associate. This position offers the opportunity for students to gain valuable office experience in a supportive environment. As a receptionist, the student will manage a variety of tasks ensuring excellent customer service and maintaining a professional atmosphere. This role requires time management skills, attention to detail, and the ability to handle sensitive information while maintaining confidentiality.

Must be able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.

Job Description

90% - Front Desk Duties

• Warmly greet and assist visitors, students, faculty, staff when they come to ISS.
• Receive and transfer phone calls and messages in the office.
• Schedule appointments.
• Handle confidential information with discretion.
• General clerical duties such as filing, typing letters or documents, proof reading, data entry, scanning, faxing, photocopying, shredding, and stocking meeting rooms, and office supply cabinet.

10% - Miscellaneous Duties

• Assist other office personnel with projects when needed.
• Assist with maintaining a clean and neat office (straighten publications and bookshelves, vacuuming, dusting, watering plants, recycling, and other cleaning tasks).
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated engagement with international communities through documented activities and interactions, as evidenced by application materials.
• Available to work 8-10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional experience which required strong attention to detail, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience in an office setting or in a customer service role, as evidenced by application materials.
• Professional experience which required scanning documents, as evidenced by application materials.
• Professional experience which required the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Zoom, as evidenced by application materials.
• Federal Work Study eligibility.

Position Requirements

During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).

Must be able to work a minimum of 8 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.

Employment Conditions

• Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
• This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• A resume or CV
• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Contact information for three (3) professional references

Application deadline is Sunday, 11/1/2026, by 11:59PM Central Standard Time.

Contact Information to Applicants

Regina Sherrill

[e-mail]

785-864-3617

Advertised Salary Range

$12.00 per hour

Anticipated Start Date

Monday November 16, 2026