Working Title: JMU Libraries Graduate Assistant

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Graduate Assistant

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: JMU Libraries

Department: 100113 – Libraries

Pay Rate: Stipend

Specify Range or Amount: $9816 stipend / academic year plus tuition (refer to the Graduate School website)

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:

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:

JMU Libraries is offering one Graduate Assistantship (GA) position for the upcoming Academic Year (AY) 2025-26. This 20-hour-per-week position will support the Instructional Design initiatives led by the JMU Libraries’ Instructional Design Department of Learning Innovations and Design (LID), in Rose 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 hired GA will start after all new hire paperwork is completed, ideally at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester.

The Libraries particularly welcomes applicants who can enhance the inclusive excellence of our campus community, and who can demonstrate a commitment to building equitable and inclusive environments for teaching, learning, research, and service. We are committed to cultivating a welcoming place for everyone, encouraging dialogue and celebrating diverse life experiences and perspectives. We encourage experimentation and creativity in pursuit of meaningful solutions that build on our position as core academic infrastructure for our campus community.

Duties and Responsibilities:

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 research about teaching and learning applications and trends related to instructional design, especially in learning with digital technologies, Artificial Intelligence, and accessible learning content.
3) assisting or 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.

Qualifications:

The qualified candidate is expected to have the following qualifications:
- be able to operate 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 diverse 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 with accessibility tools in Microsoft and Canvas, or similar programs, collaboration and AI tools, such as Microsoft Teams and Co-Pilot.
-experience as a teaching assistant for an online class.

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.