Graduate Assistantships
Graduate Assistants hired within the Division of Student Life receive a monthly stipend and full tuition scholarship (fee waiver) and gain valuable professional experience in a variety of higher education work environments.
Availability of openings will vary from year to year and from department to department.
CARES Center
The primary role of graduate assistants within the CARES Center is to support efforts to reduce food insecurity and other basic needs barriers that impact students’ academic success. Graduate assistants assist with the day-to-day operations of the CARES Center, including welcoming and supporting CARES Center guests, responding to student inquiries, and helping ensure services run smoothly and compassionately. This role also supports the daily operations of campus food security initiatives, including two campus pantries, educational outreach at resource fairs, and digital engagement efforts. Additionally, graduate assistants contribute to data-informed decision-making and incorporate student feedback to enhance program visibility and help develop new solutions that address emerging basic needs challenges. Through this work, graduate assistants play a vital role in both ongoing operations and the continuous improvement of the CARES Center’s mission to deliver compassionate, coordinated support that addresses students’ basic needs through advocacy, education, and resource connection—empowering students to persist and achieve their educational goals.
Email CARESCenter@kent.edu to learn more!
Center for Adult & Veteran Services
The graduate assistant positions in the Center for Adult and Veteran Services are 9-month positions (Fall/Spring semesters). The positions are considered as one of the professional staff in the office. Activities include advising and counseling adults, military-connected, and parenting students who are interested in returning to college and need guidance in adapting this role to a life already filled with other necessary adult responsibilities. The graduate assistants provide help with understanding what the academic environment consists of and how the student can prepare and adjust for the changes that occur, sharing and guiding the adult through the institutional processes and procedures, assisting with the development of programming for these populations, writing newsletters, social media content creation and management, and helping with programs, events, initiatives, and services designed for these populations.
Email cavs@kent.edu to learn more!
Center for Student Involvement
The Center for Student Involvement offers graduate assistantships in a number of areas, including leadership development, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Civic and Community Engagement, Intercultural Student Life and student programming. Graduate assistants are directly involved in program development and implementation, workshop coordination, one-on-one and group advising, and the day-to-day operations of a dynamic, multi-faceted office environment. Throughout their experience, graduate assistants in campus life work closely with university faculty and staff, community leaders, and a diverse student population. Assistantships are designed to provide relevant experience for individuals seeking full-time professional student activities-related positions.
Email csi@kent.edu to learn more!
Marketing & Communications
The Student Life Marketing & Communications (MarCom) team offers multiple graduate assistant positions. The team includes five full-time professionals and more than 20 student employees who collaborate to support all Student Life departments. MarCom provides comprehensive creative and strategic services, including graphic design, website management, video and photography, and storytelling. Currently, MarCom offers three graduate assistantship opportunities: Graphic Design, Social Media & Marketing Strategy, and Marketing & Communications. These roles are designed to support full-time staff, provide hands-on, real-world experience in your field of study, and offer leadership opportunities through mentoring undergraduate student staff.
Email DSLMarCom@kent.edu to learn more!
Parents and Families Engagement
The graduate assistant in Parents and Families Engagement is responsible for supporting the vision, initiatives, programs, and daily operations of the office. Specific duties include the design and implementation of family programs (i.e., orientation, Parents and Families Weekend, Game Day Experience) and social media content. This position requires a great deal of collaboration with other departments to maintain strong programming efforts and to serve as a cohesive resource for parents and family members. Additionally, the position calls for strong social media experience, including content creation across multiple platforms. The position operates on a year-round basis.
Email kentparents@kent.edu to learn more!
Student Life Assessment
Graduate assistants are responsible for using data to tell the story of student success by looking for patterns and connections in how students are doing. They translate numbers into summaries that help the university understand what is working well for students. Beyond working with data, assistants serve as representatives of the office in various meetings and learning sessions. They also take an active role in organizing and running events for the entire division. By balancing research with teamwork, they help improve the campus experience for everyone.
Recreation & Wellness Services
Graduate assistants in the Department of Recreation & Wellness Services are responsible for assisting in the overall administration and continued development of a comprehensive recreation and wellness department. Specific areas of opportunity include competitive sports, the º£½ÇÔ´´ of Well-being, marketing, and facility management of the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the KSU Ice Arena. Responsibilities in these areas include human resource management, market research, providing quality customer service delivery, budget development, program planning, implementation and evaluation, risk management, building supervision and setting goals and objectives. Each graduate assistant will create a professional development plan that prepares them to attain a position in their field upon graduation. Graduate assistants will have the opportunity to work with a wide range of students and community members at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the department's satellite facilities (i.e., the Allerton Sports Complex, the Ice Arena, Student Recreation Fields, Tri – Rec, etc.).
Email RecWell@kent.edu to learn more!
University Housing
As a residential campus, º£½ÇÔ´´ firmly believes that living in the residence halls is an integral component of student learning. University Housing creates a community where students are safe, supported, and empowered to thrive. University Housing is proud to employ the largest number of graduate assistants in the Division of Student Life! Graduate assistants in Housing have a meaningful and critical role in fulfilling this purpose! Each graduate assistantship offers opportunities for the practical application of student development and counseling theories. Assistantships provide unique opportunities for graduate students to live in residence halls and directly shape the total collegiate experience of students. Practical experience is gained in numerous areas, including, but not limited to, the following: area program coordination, hall council advising, student development assessment, leadership development for student staff, administrative "duty" assignments, conflict management, and student conduct facilitation. The comprehensive University Housing program at º£½ÇÔ´´ offers an abundance of opportunities for energetic, creative persons interested in becoming members of a progressive student development team. Exciting day-to-day interactions and challenges with residents, student staff and professional colleagues exist for graduate assistants in University Housing.
Email housing@kent.edu to learn more!