Graduate Assistantship - EXCEL-First Year Experience

Department: EXCEL/Academic Affairs

Graduate Assistant for Academic Support
20 Hours per Week

Unit/Division:  EXCEL/First Year Experience

Semester(s) Graduate Assistant is Needed:  Fall 2023, Spring 2024

Name of Person who will Supervise GA:  Mallory Bower

Supervisor Job Title:  First Year Coordinator

GA Supervisor Email:  mallory.bower@oswego.edu

Number of Hours Expected to Work Each Week:  20

Location where GA will Report to Work:  145 Marano Campus Center

Job Description and Key Responsibilities, including Virtual/Remote Expectations:
Up to 25% Remote work possible.

Position Description: First Year Experience (FYE) helps students integrate into the SUNY Oswego community by introducing them to campus-wide resources, services, and experiences that will help them thrive academically and socially. The First Year Experience Graduate Assistant will assist the FYE Coordinator and EXCEL: Experiential Courses and Engaged Learning in administering high-impact transition and retention programming. 

This is a campus-based position, but some work may be done remotely with the supervisor’s permission.

Responsibilities:

• Assist with hiring, training, supervision, and professional development for 15-20 First-Year Success Coaches
• Facilitate 1-2 sections of a 1-credit transition course
• Research changing needs of incoming first-year college students 
• Develop helpful and timely resources for first-year students and peer mentors
• Provide support for academic programs such as FYE courses, Service-Learning, and First-Year Signature Courses
• Assist with the assessment of first-year experiences and programs through surveys, focus groups, and other appropriate methods 
• Analyze first-year experience data and design compelling reports for the campus community
• Update First Year Experience website, social media posts, and other written materials
• Manage communication with students, families, faculty, and staff through email, phone, listservs, and newsletters 
• Provide support for EXCEL initiatives as needed

•  Desire to work with new SUNY Oswego students during their transition to campus
• Creativity and the willingness to “think outside the box”
• Positive attitude and ability to demonstrate empathy for first-year students and their families
• Ability to work effectively with diverse populations of first-year students and peer mentors
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with proven interpersonal skills
• Ability to collaborate and work with a dynamic and diverse team
• High level of organization and attention to detail
• Motivation to take the initiative, work independently, and meet important deadlines
• Proven problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
• Ability to collaborate with other offices to plan events for first-year students 
• Confident in making decisions that can alter the campus community 
• Advanced computing skills, including database management, word processing, and website design (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Apps, Drupal, etc.)

Preferred Skills/Competencies:

• Knowledge of SUNY Oswego campus resources
• Prior involvement in student organizations, other on-campus activities, or employment
• Career goals that include teaching, counseling, higher education, or wellness management

Learning Outcomes related to the GAs Academic Program:
- Demonstrate effective facilitation and teaching strategies
- Utilize strategies to motivate first-year college students and peer mentors
- Develop mentorship/supervisory skills that can be transferred to multiple industries