The Office of First Year Programs & Learning Communities (FYPLC) supports Graduate Assistant (GA) positions to provide undergraduate enrichment and administrative support for UConn Learning Communities (LC). LC GAs serve under the direction of a Faculty Director, and in collaboration with FYPLC, as part of a support team that works to build community, a culture of support, and ensures each student participating in a LC gets the most out of this enrichment experience. Positions require either full-time (20 hours per week) or, more typically, half-time Graduate Assistantships (10 hours per week), in-person (not virtual) on the Storrs campus.
Learning Communities are a proven pedagogy that can provide intentionality and integration amongst undergraduate students’ curricular, co-curricular, and residential experiences. They become a foundation for a creative and holistic approach to Life-Transformative Education. They guide first- and second-year students in their transition to college and encourage all students to become engaged on campus and find meaningful pathways; they enable students to have regular one-on-one or small group interactions with faculty, advisors, staff, GAs, and peer mentors; they emphasize undergraduate research and experiential learning, and they develop intentionality and interdisciplinary habits of mind that encourage students to become life-long learners. Each LC has unique attributes and traditions based on its theme.
We anticipate positions in the following interdisciplinary Learning Communities that serve first- and second-year students in any major who live together on one or more floors in a Residence Hall, take classes together, and engage in community building and educational activities. Please indicate your top choice. If your qualifications make you a good fit for a second community that you would also like to be considered for, please indicate that as well.
- BSOUL House, a LC in support of Black Sisters Optimizing Unity & Leadershipis designed to provide an open forum for discussing college transition issues and concerns that Black women experience at UConn, as well as to promote greater self-awareness, growth, and understanding of students as scholars, individuals, and global citizens. Preferred candidates will have an understanding of the Black woman experience in higher education as well as mentoring, program development, leadership, and/or academic and personal growth and success experience.
- Global House serves half domestic/half international students (including some international exchange students). Community building courses and activities are designed to enhance students’ global awareness and perspectives while strengthening cultural identities. Preferred candidates will be international students and/or students with international experience.
- Public Health House engages students in courses and service-learning activities designed to support them in their identity development while exploring issues related to community health. Preferred candidates will have a background or interest in coaching or mentoring with an interest in service-learning, community health education, advocacy, and/or health fields.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Support the LC Faculty Director’s vision; develop positive relationships with the LC leadership team, partners, and student members; communicate regularly with LC Faculty Director and staff in the Office of First Year Program & Learning Communities.
- Plan, implement, manage, and evaluate LC events, activities, and trips, including all related procedures, budgeting, scheduling, marketing, and recruitment, including developing ways to introduce and engage students in using the UConn Innovation Zone makerspace; assuming greater responsibility until LC students become proficient in programming and organizational skills.
- May co-instruct, instruct, and/or support credit bearing FYE (First Year Experience, UNIV 1810), service-learning (UNIV 1840), and/or sophomore courses (UNIV 3820); assist in the development of curriculum; plan and implement class activities; supervise group projects, and assess student learning.
- Required to hold weekly office hours throughout the Fall and Spring semesters within the LC’s Residence Hall; mentor and advise every student member utilizing individual and group strategies, and maintain appropriate boundaries with students.
- Provide advisement to LC student leaders/committees; set individual and group performance standards; manage work-flow; evaluate individual and group performance, and provide regular oversight and feedback.
- Assist in the development of LC marketing and public relations efforts; ensure that all print and electronic materials are professional in and collegiate-level in appearance, current, and accurate; organize and deliver individual and group presentations; write articles for university and/or program newsletters, blogs, websites, etc.
- Manage or assist in managing the LC’s social media outlets, including Instagram and LinkedIn pages, to keep the UConn community, student members, and interested parties informed of the LC’s mission, accomplishments, and activities.
- Act as a liaison between the LC, key students, faculty, and staff stakeholders from across the university; send periodic newsletter and/or updates to all members and partners, coordinate meetings and give public presentations as needed.
- Connect students with relevant faculty, programs, events, and opportunities occurring across campus relevant to the theme of the LC or individual student interests; encourage engagement and student professional and personal development.
- Required to attend bi-annual LC Team Planning meetings the week before the start of each semester, regularly scheduled Team Meetings with the Director, other required meetings, and represent the Faculty Director at meetings and events, as required.
- Required to attend key LC-wide events and individual LC events and trips throughout the year and must ensure that individual LC scheduled activities do not conflict with LC-wide activities.
- Prepare a report on responsibilities completed in position at the end of each semester and prepare, or contribute to, the LC Annual Report submitted to FYPLC at end of the academic year.
- Complete other duties as assigned.
Commitment: Half-Graduate Assistantship, 10 hours per week or Full-Graduate Assistantship, 20 hours per week*; schedule will vary based on availability and programmatic needs. Weekend and evening hours are required to lead and/or attend courses, events, and activities. *When offered a position, it will be indicated whether the role is half-time or full-time
Minimum Qualifications: Strong written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated mentoring experience; strong organization, leadership, and programming skills; commitment to student success, creativity, and innovation; ability to use Microsoft Office; an ability and willingness to be in-person on the Storrs campus for this role; must be actively enrolled in a graduate program at UConn. Graduate Assistantships are 1-year appointments with no guarantee of re-appointment the following year.
Graduate Assistant dates of employment follow university guidelines which requires work beyond the end of each semester (see https://uconngradunion.org/). Candidates must be able and willing to fulfill this obligation.
Preferred Qualifications: ≥1 year experience supervising or mentoring college students; experience with event coordination; related professional experience; enrollment in a related UConn PhD program with >1 year left before graduation; teaching experience
Application Process: Interested candidates should send a letter of interest; resume/cv; and names and contact information for 3 professional references to: Melissa Foreman, FYPLC at: Melissa.Foreman@uconn.edu. Please indicate which 1-2 LC GA positions you are interested in and why. Your materials must indicate what month and year you plan to graduate, and who your graduate program advisor is. Applications will be accepted until positions are filled. The University of Connecticut is an EEO/AA employer.
For more information, contact: Melissa Foreman at Melissa.Foreman@uconn.edu