Graduate Assistant – International Student Services
Saginaw Valley State University
7400 Bay Road, University Center, Michigan 48710
2020-2021
Brief overview of organization: Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) is a mid-sized, public university in Michigan’s beautiful Great Lakes Bay Region. With an overall student population of approximately 8,500 students, including 500 international students from 56 different countries, SVSU is a diverse suburban campus with much to offer. The graduate assistant (GA) position is housed within the International Programs Office. More information can be found here: www.svsu.edu/oip
Job description (part-time): The GA will play a vital role in the implementation of several key SVSU programs aimed to provide transition support, social integration, and enrichment to current and incoming international degree seeking and guest students throughout the academic year, as well as for students participating in Summer Programs. This position will support every aspect of the programs overseen by the International Programs Office, including the International Student Orientation Program, which is directed by one of the office’s three International Student Advisors. In addition, the GA will manage social activity coordination, orientation leader recruitment and training, guest speaker coordination, large-scale community events, overall event logistics, and post-event evaluation. This includes events during the academic year as well as Summer Programs. (Additional details are included in the Duties
section below.) The position requires an average of 29.5 hours per week for a 12-month period, from May 2020 to April 2021, with flexible scheduling.
Expectations:
The GA should be eager to learn in a team setting, but also a capable self-starter and problem solver. Our ideal candidate will take initiative to anticipate the needs of internationalization on campus and serve as an advocate on our students’ behalf.
Duties:
- Assist in the planning and implementation of the August and January international student orientations, with a focus on interactive programming and cultural elements
- Work closely with campus offices such as Student Life, Residential Life, Community Engagement, and Multicultural Student Affairs, as well as existing student organizations such as the International Student Club and #GlobalTakeover, to create intercultural programming for international and domestic students throughout the academic year
- Assist the English Language Program with its yearly Passport to the World and Thanksgiving Dinner events
- Collaborate with the International Programs Office’s social media interns to create content and promote relevant campus news and events
- Plan and supervise International Education Week events, with the support of International Programs Office staff
- Assist the International Programs Office with community outreach and engagement events, including the Traveling Tap monthly speaker series, overseeing the International Friends and Family Program, and other initiatives
- Track and report all expenses as requested for event materials and catering
- Update GA training manual and handover materials for future use
- Assist International Partnership Liaison as needed with the planning and implementation of Summer Programs and other related events
Required qualifications:
- Master’s degree candidate with a demonstrated interest in International Education
- Currently enrolled at a graduate institution (Proof of enrollment will be required)
- Previous experience as a study abroad student or as an employee in an international education office at a university
- Previous experience designing cultural and/or orientation programming
- Comfortable with public speaking and training
- Previous experience working with student leaders
- Ability to work evening and/or weekend hours
- Valid US driver’s license
Compensation:
- Non-SVSU graduate student:
- Housing stipend of $600 per month (Total: $7,200 for the 12-month assistantship)
- SVSU graduate student:
- Tuition and fees for 2 classes during Fall and Winter semesters and
- Tuition and fees for 1 class either during Spring or Summer semester and
- $600 per month housing stipend during months of May, June, July, and August only
- Or the GA may choose the Non-SVSU graduate student option above
- Note: The GA is responsible for securing her/his own on-campus (if an enrolled SVSU graduate student) or off-campus housing and reliable transportation to/from the university
Position start date:
Monday, May 4, 2020
Position end date:
Friday, April 30, 2021
Required documents
- Current resume or CV
- Cover letter detailing how s/he would contribute to this position.
- 500-word proposal for an event or ongoing project to be implemented during the assistantship
Application process:
- All documents must be emailed to Whitney Cohen: wlcohen@svsu.edu by April 1, 2020
- Final candidates will be invited to an on-campus or Skype interview