Working Title: Graduate Assistant

State Role Title: Graduate Assistant

Position Type: Graduate Assistant

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: N/A

College/Division: Student Life and Involvement

Department: 300116 - Dean of Students

Pay Rate: Other

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? Yes. This is a JMU only recruitment, only current JMU employees are eligible to apply.

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 

About JMU:

Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

General Information:

Students who participate in this experience will gain understanding of student affairs as a profession and the influence student affairs has on contemporary higher education.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1) Continuous marketing and outreach to promote and educate university departments, faculty/staff, students, and families on the Madison Cares program. Regularly provide presentations/workshops/outreach events (2-4 per week) to students, faculty/staff and other groups who request information on the program.
2) Maintain caseload of 10-20 students with whom you provide care, direct support, and resource referral to.
3) Assisting with the data collection, assessment, and feedback processes for the program to inform best practices.
4) Observe and gain an understanding of the coordination of university response to individual students in crisis.
5) Support full time staff by providing general assistance to students and parents: interact directly with students and parents both face-to-face, e-mail, and via the telephone; assist students and parents via scheduled appointments, walk-in/call-in contacts and professor notifications; provide guidance in response to specific questions in the form of resource and referral assistance.
6) Mentor 1-2 students per semester who are participating in the Rebound program.

Qualifications:

1) Enrolled as a JMU graduate student for the 2025-2026 academic year.
2) Student employees must maintain a minimum GPA that keeps them in good standing with their academic program.
3) Demonstration of a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity both in learning and in practice.
4) Demonstration of strong interpersonal, leadership, customer service and administrative skills.
5) High ethical standards and strong work ethic.
6) Excellent written and verbal communication. Comfortability with providing educational presentations to a variety of groups.
7) Able and willing to attend appropriate trainings to access JMU systems.
8) Any significant time commitments while employed as a staff member must be discussed and approved by the designated supervisor.
9) This is an academic year appointment. The start date for your GA position will be training which will begin on Monday, August 11th. Student will not be expected to work during finals week and student breaks.
10) This position requires you to be available for training from 8am–5pm on weekdays between August 11th-19th, 2025.

Additional Posting Information:

Additional Expectations:
1) Maintain confidentiality and keep any and all information shared within the office private.
2) Comfortability and interest in providing presentations/workshops to multiple populations (students, faculty, staff, families etc.)
3) Work 20 hours/week; 1:1 appointments with students must be held during regular business hours; presentations and workshops can be scheduled both during regular business hours and evenings/weekends.
3) Perform tasks in a timely, organized, and professional manner.
4) Communicate consistently with supervisor and staff about successes, challenges, and concerns.
5) Attend weekly staff meeting (if class schedule permits) and weekly 1:1 supervisor meeting.
6) Update case files and student records accurately.
7) Present positive attitude about job responsibilities.
8) Effectively work in group/team situations.
9) Collaborate with personnel in the office and across campus as appropriate.
10) Request assistance when needed.
11) Be able to effectively work independently on assigned projects or tasks.
12) Dress professionally.

Conditions of Employment:  

Students may apply to a graduate assistantship prior to being accepted into a graduate program. However, to be eligible to receive an assistantship upon entry into a graduate program, the following criteria must be met:

The student must be conditionally or unconditionally accepted into a graduate program. Students who are provisionally accepted will not be eligible until they achieve conditional or unconditional acceptance into their program.

The students must have an official transcript on file indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or agency

After receiving an assistantship, the student must maintain at least a 3.0 graduate GPA in order to retain or reapply for the assistantship.

These are minimum criteria. Graduate program coordinators have the right to impose additional criteria if they see fit.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are a student with a disability and need assistance please contact the Office of Disability Services at (540) 568-6705 or disability-svcs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the Office of Disability Services, located in the Student Success Center, Suite 1202 and they will be happy to assist you.