Working Title: Graduate Assistant, Student Leadership

State Role Title: Graduate Assistant

Position Type: Graduate Assistant

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Student Life and Involvement

Department: 300311 - Dux Leadership Center

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Stipend

Specify Range or Amount: $10,301 

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: 4/15/2026

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:

This position will assist with the mission of Student Life to foster belonging through the personal growth and development of an engaged citizenry by providing welcoming experiences and spaces.   This position is a 20 hour assistantship for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Duties and Responsibilities:

In this role, you will:

Supervise Student Employees (meet bi-weekly with student employees, implement evaluation of student employees, assist with the hiring and onboarding of any vacancies)

Support the Student Leader Framework implementation (collaborate with the Assistant Director of Student Leadership Development to create leadership development opportunities for JMU students, partner with the Graduate Assistant for Student Organization Development position to develop new leadership learning opportunities. Plan, facilitate, and evaluate leadership development opportunities, as well as workshops, as it connects back to the Student Leader Framework)

Assist on Madison Leads, a one day leadership conference (lead a subcommittee of undergraduate committee members, assist in the marketing, logistics, and educational aspects of the overall program)

Assist the Student Organization Annual Registration Process which includes: constitution review, confirming student leader officer positions, communicating, teaching, and supporting student organizations

Serve as a member of the Explore Madison Committee (planning, organizing and creating engaging programs focused on increasing involvement on campus)

Serve as a member of the De-stress Fest committee, a department wide effort in Student Life (planning, organizing, and implementing programs with the support of other graduate assistants)

Connect new student organizations to supportive resources within Student Leadership and Involvement

Support department efforts in implementing Student Org Night (Fall and Spring)

Other duties within reason of the assistantship, including:

Develop skillset in operating a campus engagement platform

Attend and support Student Life sponsored events 

Communicate effectively with supervisor  

Maintain a positive attitude about job responsibilities  

Work to be an effective team member  

Request assistance and support when approaching new situations  

Gain an understanding of policies and procedures  

Create and maintain a schedule designed to meet assistantship requirements  

Support the mission of Student Leadership and Involvement, Student Life, Student Affairs, and JMU  

Perform designated tasks in a timely, organized and professional manner  

Plan and facilitate one-on-one meetings with designated staff members  

Attend sponsored events (including nights and weekends)  

Attend conferences, workshops, and professional development meetings as deemed appropriate  

Qualifications:

The successful candidate will be a full-time graduate student for the 2026 - 2027 academic year. The successful candidate will also demonstrated experience in:

Event Programing

Supervising, Advising, Peer Leading, or Coaching

Public Speaking, Workshop Facilitation, or Giving Presentations

Collaboration

Additional Posting Information:

Some evening and weekend hours may be necessary to offer programs and events for students, but this should not be anticipated as a part of a regular schedule.

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.