Basic Purpose

The Graduate Assistant for Student Affairs is a live-on, campus position in which the individual will co-direct & co-advise student leadership organizations and/or groups to help assist the Office of Housing & Residence Life or the Office of Student Engagement & Leadership Development. The purpose of this position is to assist all para-professional staff members in the Department of Student Affairs. By working with Student Engagement, Housing & Residence Life, student organizations, and campus events, this position will serve the Thomas More community by contributing to campus vibrancy, provide leadership development, assist with marketing and communication techniques, and assist with the overall retention of all Thomas More students. This Graduate Assistant will support the professional staff in planning, implementing, and executing the engaging programs and resources such as but not limited to orientation, workshops, trainings, and social events.

Core Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communications skills
• Demonstrate capability to collaborate and build partnerships across institutional departments
• Ability to work effectively and ethically across cultural differences
• Adequate knowledge of Student Engagement & Leadership, Residential Life policies, procedures, & guidelines
• Able to manage multiple tasks
• Provide and value quality customer service to all students, faculty, staff, and community stakeholders
• Adapts willingly and quickly to changing priorities, responsibilities, and community needs and expectations

Principal Duties & Activities

• Assist in creating targeted outreach and marketing efforts to communicate engagement and involvement opportunities across Student Affairs and the Thomas More University community
• Help recruit, interview, and hire new student leaders within the Student Affairs department (e.g., Orientation Team, Student Activities Board, Resident Assistants, Student Government Association, etc.)
• Attend all trainings for Resident Assistants as needed
• Assist in preparing materials, including schedules, handouts, and presentations for meetings
• Assist with the preparation of all requested administrative reports, records, and evaluations
• Attend Student Activities Board, Student Government, and/or Resident Assistant meetings, events, and trainings as assigned and requested (this may include some evening and weekend hours)
• Coordinate and implement one large-scale, campus-wide event per semester that promotes campus connectivity, leadership development, career opportunities, etc.
• Assist with campus-wide events as needed; these include Winter Wonderland, Build Your Own Valentine, Welcome Week, Orientation, Homecoming, Saints Serve, Commencement, etc.
• Assist with Fall & Spring move-in and move-out for residential students as well as any other Housing & Residence Life events (e.g., Health & Safety Checks, Residence Hall walk-throughs, etc.)
• Meet with direct supervisor regularly
• Educate students on institutional policies through formal and informal interactions; refer students to appropriate resources as needed
• Participate in the Housing & Residence Life on-call rotation
  • This will include evenings and weekends and some holiday breaks as needed
  • Provide appropriate post-incident referrals and follow-up with students and staff as needed
• Submit maintenance and work order requests and monitor the progress of them
• Perform other duties as assigned that assist in advancing the mission, vision, values, and goals of the Student Affairs department that are expressed in Thomas More’s Strategic Plan

Education, Specialized and/or Technical Knowledge Requirements

• Enrolled in a Thomas More University graduate program by start date of assistantship (includes 4 program)
• Experience in a student leadership role such as Resident Assistant, Student Activities Board, E-board member of a Thomas More club or organization, Student Government Association, Orientation, etc.; preferred
• This assistantship is contracted on a yearly basis; chance for renewal based on performance and evaluation