Graduate Assistant, Orientation (Student)

American University; United States; On-site; USD 26,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

American University’s NSFP is seeking a Graduate Assistant for Orientation to help plan and execute New Student Orientation each fall and spring. You’ll work with the Associate Director and staff to support orientation programs and services, ensuring a smooth transition for new students and their families.

You’ll assist with training, partner outreach, social media activities, and assessment efforts, while maintaining records in Canvas and contributing to ongoing campus events and initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree completed; currently enrolled in a master's or doctoral program.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including public speaking.
• Ability to work independently and on a team.

Responsibilities

• Assist with Orientation Leader training logistics and design.
• Coordinate outreach for campus partners in August and summer webinar series.
• Oversee Off-Campus Excursions for New Student Orientation and logistics.
• Manage social media presence for New Student Orientation.
• Maintain Flight Ready! Canvas course records and attendance.
• Lead the New Eagle Essentials webinar series from planning to evaluation.
• Represent NSFP at campus events throughout the year.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Written and oral communication

Public speaking

Teamwork/independence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Enrolled in master's or doctoral program

Tools

Social media platforms

Analytics tools

Job description

Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community.

This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid.

Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.

Department: Orientation Programs

Time Type: Part time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Description: Summary:

New Student & Family Programs (NSFP), as part of the Division of Student Affairs, is responsible for the development, planning, and implementation of programs that aid new students and their families in their transition to American University and contribute to student success and retention. Reporting to the Associate Director for Orientation, the Graduate Assistant for Orientation will work closely with the Associate Director and the other professional staff members on the team to plan and execute New Student Orientation at the start of each fall and spring semester. This role will also support all other orientation programs and services within NSFP.

Essential Functions:

• Assisting with the logistics, design, and implementation of Orientation Leader training in August to train student leaders on leadership, student transition, and event execution.
• Coordinating outreach for campus partner involvement in Orientation Leader training in August and the summer webinar series, New Eagle Essentials.
• Overseeing the Off-Campus Excursions for New Student Orientation, including ideation, stakeholder outreach and confirmation, and day-of logistics.
• Working with the Orientation Chairs to create an engaging social media presence leading up to New Student Orientation and beyond.
• Maintaining accurate records for Flight Ready!, the pre-orientation Canvas course, including weekly engagement and overall student attendance.
• Spearheading the summer webinar series, New Eagle Essentials, from start to finish, including campus partner outreach, registration oversight, content design, and designing and administering assessment and evaluation efforts.
• Representing the NSFP office at various campus events throughout the calendar year.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies:

Advising and Supporting:

Addresses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to providing advising and support to individuals and groups through direction, feedback, critique, referral, and guidance. Through developing advising and supporting strategies that take into account self-knowledge and the needs of others, we play critical roles in advancing the holistic wellness of ourselves, our students, and our colleagues.

Assessment, Evaluation, and Research:

The Assessment, Evaluation, and Research competency area focuses on the ability to design, conduct, critique, and use various AER methodologies and the results obtained from them, to utilize AER processes and their results to inform practice, and to shape the political and ethical climate surrounding AER processes and uses in higher education.

Leadership:

The Leadership competency area addresses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required of a leader, with or without positional authority. Leadership involves both the individual role of a leader and the leadership process of individuals working together to envision, plan, and affect change in organizations and respond to broad-based constituencies and issues. This can include working with students, student affairs colleagues, faculty, and community members.

Student Learning and Development:

The Student Learning and Development competency area addresses the concepts and principles of student development and learning theory. This includes the ability to apply theory to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice.

Technology:

The Technology competency area focuses on the use of digital tools, resources, and technologies for the advancement of student learning, development, and success as well as the improved performance of student affairs professionals. Included within this area are knowledge, skills, and dispositions that lead to the generation of digital literacy and digital citizenship within communities of students, student affairs professionals, faculty members, and colleges and universities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

Part-time. 20 - 35 hours per week. Salary Range: $19.40 per hour.

Required Education and Experience:

Must have a bachelor's degree and currently be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program. Strong written and oral communication skills, including public speaking. Ability to work independently and on a team.

Preferred Education and Experience:

Experience in and/or working with orientation or student activities within higher education is preferred. Demonstrated experience in generating engaging social media content is required; experience in monitoring and analyzing performance preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications:

Time commitment: 20 - 35 hours per week. During the academic year, work will be limited to 20 hours per week. During the summer, work will increase to 27 hours per week. During peak times, work will increase to 35 hours per week. This position will require occasional evening and weekend hours, including the planning and execution of the Eagles at Night weekend programming during the first six weeks of the semester: Thursday Night Concerts, Friday Night Films, and Saturday Night Socials.

Modality:

In-person.

Other Details

This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

American University is an E-Verify employer. Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Statement

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.

American University is a student centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world.