Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships (GA) are available for first and second year students in the On-Campus program. The total number available varies year by year pending funding and may be competitive. A graduate assistantship consists of 20 hours per week with a current salary of just over $10,100 for the year. Some assistantships may involve less hours per week and some may involve an earlier start date than the traditional academic calendar (and earn more beyond the base salary). Students who get graduate assistantships also pay full tuition (ie... it is not waived). The out-of-state tuition fee may be waived for students who are coming to the program from out-of-state so that they pay the same tuition cost as in-state students.  Note that you must be enrolled full-time (9-12 credits)to be eligible for a graduate assistantship. 

Interviews for graduate assistantships take place as part of the interview process for admission to the program. Students and departments indicate their preferences and these lists are then considered when final decisions are made. Some students elect to stay in the same GA position both years while others select a different position their second year to perhaps gain more experience in an area of interest. Interviews are conducted in the spring for first year students who want to obtain a different GA position during their second year in the program. 

Although we can't guarantee every student in our program a GA position, we have a good reputation within the campus community and work hard to offer a variety of student affairs-related GA positions every year. The budget situation for each individual office determines whether they can fund an assistantship for the year or not. If you don't see an area listed here that you might be interested in related to your career goals, we would encourage you to pursue an internship opportunity in that office during your second year in the program. For example, our Office of International Education does not have any GA positions this year but we have several students who will be doing internships there during this academic year. The following departments have graduate assistantships for the 2008-09 academic year and most of them offer GA opportunities every year (*some have several positions):

  • Academic Advising Center
  • Career Services
  • College of Liberal Studies
  • College of Science & Health
  • Office of Multicultural Student Services
  • Psychology Department
  • Residence Life*
  • Student Affairs Administration
  • Student Life Office
  • University Centers*
  • Western Technical College/Residence Life

The descriptions are as follows:

Academic Advising Center
Graduate assistants work individually and in workshop format to assist undeclared students make academic and career decisions. The assistants are involved with individual advising, campus outreach, vocational testing, and electronic career information and guidance systems like DISCOVER, World Wide Web, and WCIS (Wisconsin Career Information System).

Career Services
The assistantship in Career Services could include any of the following activities: Advising students regarding their job search, conducting workshops on job search topics, speaking to classes, organizing special events such as job search seminars and career panels, developing employer contacts, assisting with research projects and designing office literature. The specific activities of each assistantship are dependent upon the interests and abilities of the graduate student as well as the needs of the office.

College of Liberal Studies
The purpose of the position is to involve the graduate student with the academic advising process in the College of Liberal Studies. The experience provides hands on training in the field of academic advising and exposure to the literature, theory and practice of advising. In addition, the experience is designed to acquaint the student with the many academic policies of the University and provide an understanding of how academic policy is implemented.

College of Science & Health
This position is similar to the position in the College of Liberal Studies in that it involves academic advising and offers hands on training in the many academic policies and processes in the College.

Office of Multicultural Student Services
Graduate students interested in an assistantship in the Office of Multicultural Student Services have the option of working in three distinct program areas. These areas include Retention (Peer Tutoring Academic Advising, Academic Success Group, Orientation, Leadership Development ) Pre college (tutoring and enrichment program, Blue Wing, S.E. Asian, Native American, and Community Outreach), and Cultural Programming (Awareness Weeks, Student Organizations, Coalition Building, Leadership Conference, and Student Advisory Committee). Graduate assistants are expected to be committed to culture, community, and consciousness.

Psychology Department
The primary purpose of this position is to provide academic advising to pre-psyc and psychology majors. Working with the Psychology faculty, other duties may be assigned as well that make this a well-rounded experience in this highly respected department.

Residence Life
Assistant Residence Hall Directors will by assigned to work in one of the three large halls and report directly to the Hall Director of that particular hall. As a live-in position, specific responsibilities could include: Assist the Hall Director in advising hall government, act as resource for and liaison between the Resident Assistants and Hall Director, attend Residence Life, Development, and Area meetings, supervise the residence hall in the Hall Director's absence.

Residence Life Graduate Assistants will be assigned to work with an area of residence halls and report to an Area Coordinator. As a live-off position, specific responsibilities could include: Assisting Hall Directors in advising hall government, oversee educational programming of a special project, and attending Residence Life, Development, and Area meetings.

Student Affairs Administration (SAA)
The GA for the SAA program will be involved in a variety of projects to support the overall SAA program. This year, an emphasis will be on alumni relations and assisting with international aspects of the campus community in addition to assisting with the needs of the newer Online program.

Student Life Office
In the Office of Student Life the graduate assistant is responsible for the following:

  • Initiation of university withdrawal procedures
  • Serve as advisor to the Returning Adult Student Organization
  • Respond to student crises as appropriate
  • Serve as editor of the College Student Development and Administration program's newsletter
  • Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

University Centers
Assistantships are focused on advising student organizations and providing programming experience. Some possible areas of employment are:

  • Campus Activities Board
  • Leadership
  • Diversity Resource Center
  • Involvement Center
  • Cellar programming
  • Student employment
  • Sports and Activities Club Council
  • Lectures and Concerts Committee
  • Greek Organizations

Administrative positions are also available in Dining service and recreation--including the Recreational Eagle Center.

Western Technical College/Residence Life
Similar to our UWL Residence Life positions, this graduate assistantship is assigned to be an Assistant Hall Director at our neighboring campus, Western Technical College. This GA position requires involvement in all aspects of a residence life operation in an on-campus setting.