Working Title: Graduate Assistant, JMU Libraries

State Role Title: Graduate Assistant

Position Type: Graduate Assistant

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: JMU Libraries

Department: 100113 – Libraries

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Stipend

Specify Range or Amount: $10,110 (2025-2026 rate) 

Is this a JMU only position? N/A

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? N/A

Beginning Review Date: 

About JMU:

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

JMU Libraries is hiring one Graduate Assistantship (GA) position for the upcoming Academic Year (AY) 2026-27. This 20-hour-per-week position will support the Instructional Design (ID) initiatives led by the JMU Libraries’ Instructional Design Department of Learning Innovations and Design (LID), in Carrier Library.

This position offers a great opportunity for those interested in gaining experience working with faculty to develop technology-mediated course content and provides relevant research and technology support. Additionally, it helps the incumbent GA to develop expertise and perspectives of learning technology and instructional design through working closely with JMU faculty on relevant projects.

The start date for this position is August 25, 2026. The exact date is negotiable and will depend on the applicant’s qualification and availability.

The Libraries welcomes applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to building equitable and welcoming environments. We are committed to encouraging dialogue, cultivating a sense of belonging, and celebrating a broad range of life experiences and perspectives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

In AY26-27, ID GAs will assist Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related teaching and learning design consultations, related research and resource support, assist evolving course and curriculum development needs at JMU, sustain digital accessibility support, and contribute to rising pedagogical areas such as Work-based Learning Experience (WBLE) with project-based, problem-based, and experiential learning design.

The primary responsibilities of the Graduate Assistant include
1) developing effective learning and support resources for instructional design projects and consultations offered through JMU Libraries.
2) assisting in applied research about teaching and learning applications and trends related to instructional design, especially in ethical and responsible use of AI in teaching and learning design, with new tools, such as Microsoft Co-Pilot, and accessible learning content.
3) assisting or co-facilitating training programs including in-person, asynchronous and synchronous online courses and workshops.
4) assisting with file/data management related to the instructional design projects.
5) dedicating 20 hours per week during a semester to the duties of this GA.
6) communicating regularly and consistently with GA supervisors.

Qualifications:

The qualified candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:

Be able to develop content and learn to develop content in Learning Management Systems such as Canvas.
Be able to operate and learn to operate various computer applications, such as Microsoft Office365, Teams, Co-Pilot, accessibility tools in Microsoft and Canvas, and image, audio and video production software.
Be able to follow work-related instructions and work independently.
Be able to communicate clearly with team members and faculty from various educational, technical, and cultural backgrounds.
Be able to take initiatives in projects and tasks.
Be open to collaboration or learning to collaborate with colleagues.

Additional Considerations:

Experience of developing content with accessibility tools in Microsoft and Canvas, or similar programs, collaboration and AI tools, such as Microsoft Teams and Co-Pilot.

Additional Posting Information:

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.