What are the responsibilities and job description for the Graduate Student Hourly - EARTH Education & Outreach position at University of Kansas and Careers?
Position Overview
The Graduate Student Hourly will work closely with the Education & Outreach Director in the EARTH Engineering Research Center. This position provides hands-on experience supporting STEM outreach, Education programs, and community engagement.
This position will assist with summer events and activities, materials development, logistics, and communication while learning how a large research center connects research to education and workforce pathways.
This position will assist with summer events and activities, materials development, logistics, and communication while learning how a large research center connects research to education and workforce pathways.
Job Description
40% Support Outreach & Educational Programming:
20% Communications & Documentation:
- Assist in the planning, coordination, and execution of educational and outreach events, such as summer pre-college programs (e.g., the EARTH Summer Venture program), workshops, lab tours, and community-oriented sessions.
- Help develop educational materials (presentations, handouts, lab-tour guides, curricula outlines) that communicate EARTH’s mission and goals to diverse audiences (high school students, parents, community partners).
- Maintain records: participant lists, scheduling, communication with programming faculty or external partners, outreach contacts, programming calendars and events.
- Assist with correspondence, email follow-ups, and coordination between EARTH, program faculty, external participants, KU departments and external vendors.
- Help with materials procurement, supplies management, and basic event planning tasks under supervision.
20% Communications & Documentation:
- Support social-media, website, or newsletter updates summarizing outreach, events, student participation, and education-related milestones.
- Document events and program outcomes (photos, attendance, feedback surveys), assist in compiling reports or summarizing results for internal review or public outreach.
- Help collect feedback, reflect on program success, and propose improvements or future ideas to the Education Director.
- Participate during outreach events (lab tours, hands-on demos, summer-venture programming), interacting with middle/high-school students, parents/guardians, and educators.
- Provide support and guidance during hands-on sessions.
- Assist in supporting mentorship programming by graduate students participating in summer programming.
Required Qualifications
- Enrollment in a graduate program at KU.
- Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Interest in higher education, outreach, workforce development, or STEM education.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with outreach, education, tutoring, event coordination, or student programming.
- Comfort engaging with diverse audiences, including students, educators, and community members.
Position Requirements
During the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).
Employment Conditions
(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.
Additional Candidate Instructions
Students should apply through the KU employment portal, under the Student Jobs section. Position follows KU student employment policies and hourly wage guidelines. Contact Jennifer Sprague with questions.
Contact Information to Applicants
Jennifer Sprague, M.S.E.
Education and Outreach Director
EARTH ERC, University of Kansas
j.sprague@ku.edu
Education and Outreach Director
EARTH ERC, University of Kansas
j.sprague@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$16.34/hr
Anticipated Start Date
Friday May 1, 2026
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Posting Information
- Posting ID: 31889BR
- Department: Wonderful Inst fr Sustnbl Engr
- Primary Campus: University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
- Reg/Temp: Temporary
- Employee Class: S-Student
Salary : $16