Graduate Assistant - Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ)

Posting Details

Position Information

Title Graduate Assistant - Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) Position Description

The Graduate Assistant (GA) will work 20 hours per week and receive up to 24 credits of tuition and student fee waivers: 9 for fall, 9 for spring and 6 for summer.

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The mission of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) is to build knowledge about social justice, to develop skills for advancing social justice through individual and collective action, and to serve as a catalyst for actualizing Bridgewater State University's commitment to social justice.

The MRISJ provides learning opportunities, events, and resources relating to social justice and civic engagement. We host team experiences, speakers, panels, and discussions about critical issues affecting our society and offer ways for students to make positive change. The MRISJ Graduate Assistant (GA) will provide support for the MRISJ's signature civic engagement, social justice, and service initiatives.

For more information about the MRISJ visit: http://bit.ly/bsumrisj

Additional Information: The GA will be required to commit to occasional evening hours as required by programs.

Supervision: The MRISJ Director of Programs will supervise the Graduate Assistant.

CORE DUTIES

Student Leadership Program Support:

The Graduate Assistant (GA) will serve as an advisor to one of the MRISJ's existing student leadership cohorts, with placement based on their skills and interests. The two options are: (1)

Alternative Break or (2) Voting and Civic Action Ambassadors.

The GA will support and contribute to the cohort's activities by helping with program planning and implementation. The GA will help to deliver a range of student-led civic action, community service, voter engagement, and social justice events and initiatives. The GA will provide guidance and support to 4-8 undergraduate student employees (depending on cohort). The GA will gain experience in successfully coordinating educational programs before, during, and after events. The successful candidate will have an interest in helping undergraduate students develop skills for civic action, community engagement, and social justice.

• Support undergraduate student employees through the event planning process by addressing their concerns, offering advice, and helping to develop creative solutions.
• Support program activities, including informational meetings, marketing events, program orientations, workshops, reflection sessions, and student trainings.
• Create and analyze pre/post surveys, program evaluations, and feedback forms, and prepare written reports for the program participants, including preparation and submission of IRB proposal(s).
• Assist in the creation and preparation of programmatic materials (e.g., itineraries, participant lists, weekly agendas, reference materials, voter registration and education, etc.
• Assist with learning consolidation and reflection activities with students and student employees.
• Assist with creating and preparing meeting materials, collecting and tracking meeting attendance, and researching and compiling social justice and civic engagement educational resources for use by undergraduate students.
• Serve as a member of the Alternative Break selection committee

MRISJ Program Support:

• Attend campus events, staff information tables, and assist with creating and disseminating AB marketing materials, etc.
• Serve as a MRISJ representative for classroom presentations, campus fairs, and BSU orientation programs as schedule allows.
• GA will be encouraged to attend any MRISJ events that work with their schedule and their interest.
• Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Available to work evening hours (that do not conflict with class schedule), particularly on either Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 5-7pm.
• Experience in event planning or student programming (undergraduate experience qualifies).
• Strong organization abilities and attention to detail.
• Ability to relate well to others.
• Good skills with Outlook email, Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint/Google slides/Canva, and willingness to learn and use the Qualtrics survey platform (free account provided to all students and employees).
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Public speaking experience.
• Ability to follow instructions, take directions, and to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated leadership and initiative.
• Enjoy working with college students and have a desire to interact with college students.
• Have an open mind and be flexible.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience or strong interest in student development, advocacy, civic engagement, community service and/or social justice work.
• An interest in engaging students in conversation through the lens of civic engagement and social justice.
• An understanding and appreciation for co-curricular education.
• Experience in producing creative publications and marketing materials.
• Experience working with college students, faculty, and staff (undergraduate experience qualifies).
• Demonstrated passion for social justice and civic engagement along with a steadfast commitment to creating an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Physical Demands

Physical Demands:

• Typing.
• Combination of desk work at MRISJ office and engaging with BSU community at outreach for MRISJ events, tables, fairs.

Special Conditions for Eligibility

Please be aware that employment at Bridgewater State University is contingent upon completion of a successful background check.

EEO Statement

Bridgewater State University is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers all qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability status, veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition or any other characteristic protected by law.

Hourly Rate $15

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number Stu05852P Open Date Close Date Open Until Filled Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants should indicate their preference for one of the cohorts or indicate they would be

willing to work with either cohort in their cover letter.

For more information please contact:

Jennifer Thibodeau, MRISJ Director of Programs

J1thibodeau@bridgew.edu

508-531-6152

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Are you a Bridgewater State University graduate student accepted into a graduate degree program?

• Yes

• No

• • Which Graduate program have you been accepted into?

(Open Ended Question)

• • Have you held a Graduate Assistantship or Writing Fellowship in the past?

• Yes

• No

• • Have you ever worked on campus before?

• Yes

• No

Documents Needed To Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

• Class Schedule