Graduate Assistantships

The Office of Admissions offers two assistantships each academic year. Graduate Assistants (GAs) will gain a thorough background in the admission profession through various practice-related responsibilities including:

• attend and fulfill specific assignments on the day of on-campus visit programs.
• conduct campus tours on an as-needed basis.
• assist with weekend office coverage.
• conduct information presentations for prospective students and families.
• perform application review.
• participate in at least three college fairs and three days of high school visits with full-time professional staff; and assist in the supervision of undergraduate tour guides and tele-counselors and undergraduate interns.

Through these and other responsibilities, GAs will be involved in virtually all admission functions. This assistantship requires daily interaction with prospective students, families, and guidance counselors, in both one-on-one and large group settings.

Graduate Assistants in the Career Center assist professional staff with events, advising, and instructional programs. GAs:

• conduct workshops with and give presentations to students.
• advise students and alumni on a variety of career and job-search issues related to assessing values, skills, and interests, exploring career options and academic majors, building job search skills, gaining career related work experience and internships, finding full-time professional employment, and preparing for graduate school.
• represent the office with academic departments and student organizations during outreach activities and presentations.

Skills that are important to success in this position are strong planning and time management skills, ability to manage multiple priorities, group presentation skills, ability to develop and deliver interactive presentations, ability to lead and work cooperatively in a team, and effective written and verbal communication skills.

Graduate Assistants in Disability Services have a broad exposure to disability in higher education and specific knowledge of the provision of services to students with disabilities.

Responsibilities include:

• assist with the writing and editing of Disability Services’ semi-annual newsletter and coordinate the printing of the newsletter.
• conduct pre-admission contacts with students, parents, and high school personnel inquiring about support services for students with disabilities.
• meet with current students to discuss accommodations, services, and campus resources.
• represent the office at Admissions events and other classroom and campus presentations.
• assist with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs aimed at increasing disability awareness, including awareness month programming in March.
• assist with the coordination of support services for students with disabilities (i.e., readers, notetakers, and sign language interpreters).
• assist with the Disability Services orientation sessions for various disability groups.
• advise Alliance for Disability Awareness (ADA) and other specific committees as determined by the Director.
• assist in the maintenance of the office’s website.

Graduate assistants will assist office staff in maintaining records, assist with general office operations, and perform other duties as assigned.

The Graduate Assistant for Diversity and Equity Initiatives serves as an advisor in support of the Office of Student Life and its sponsored multicultural student organizations.

This position will assist in the advocacy, accountability, and success of:

• Asian American Student Association (AASA).
• Black Student Association (BSA).
• Latinx Student Union (LSU).
• Spectrum.

general Student Life programs and services.

Download Full Description (PDF)

The graduate assistantship in the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships gives the student a broad-based understanding of the financial aid profession. This work experience will prepare the graduate assistant to take an entry level position within the financial aid community upon graduation.

As a part of the assistantship experience the graduate assistant will:

• learn about need analysis, packaging, verification, and the processing of student aid.
• gain a great deal of front-line experience in counseling with students and their families regarding all aspects of the financial aid process.

The major project assigned during the assistantship is coordination of our Financial Aid Awareness activities.

The Office of Student Conduct has one assistantship available. The graduate assistant is responsible for assisting the director and assistant director in all aspects of the disciplinary processes of the university including: one-on-one adjudication with students accused of violations of university policy as well as participation in administrative hearings and in formal board hearings.

The GA supports other office functions including:

• student board member training.
• review of applicants disclosing felonies.
• administration of the emergency aid fund.
• assessment.
• outreach.

The Graduate Assistant for Leadership Programs serves as the program coordinator and advisor in support of the Office of Student Life and its sponsored leadership initiatives.

This position will assist in the development and execution of:

• the Excellence Leadership Program.
• Student Organization Leader/Advisor Workshops.
• the Beneficence Leadership Conference.
• general Student Life programs and services.

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The primary function of the Graduate Assistant in the Multicultural Center is to provide project creation, management and support for Multicultural Center goals, objectives, and programs.

The assistantship is designed to provide the graduate student with:

• insight and skills in student affairs related to multicultural program development direction.
• budget management.
• general student advisement.
• site management.

In addition, the graduate assistant is to provide office support as needed including mentorship of students in need of co-curricular direction.

The graduate assistant in Cardinal Central is responsible for:

• assisting in services related to the office functions.
• including interpreting university policies and procedures for students.
• coordinating events for students.
• assisting students identified as at-risk of leaving the University or off-track from timely graduation.

Particular emphasis is given to serving freshman commuter students, as well as 21st Century Scholars.

The graduate assistant also assists with coordination for the SAAHE Graduate Student Interview Day and other projects and duties as assigned.

The graduate assistant is expected to become familiar with relevant campus resources, university policies and procedures in order to offer assistance to students, and others. The graduate assistant will understand and adhere to the ethical principles and respect for confidentiality associated with the work performed in the office.

The Graduate Assistant for Service Opportunities serves as an advisor in support of the Office of Student Life and its sponsored service initiatives.

This position assists in the recruitment and facilitation of service opportunities and events for:

Student Voluntary Services (SVS).

Cardinal Kitchen (CK).

Alternative Breaks Association (ABA).

This Graduate Assistant works directly with nonprofit agencies in the community to develop and strengthen service opportunities for students, recruit students to participate in service projects, and general OSL programs and services.

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Graduate assistants in the Office of Student Center Programs works with Student Center staff to help advise the University Program Board (UPB) and Late Nite.

UPB is one of the largest student organizations on campus, and it provides many student-centered events and activities for the Ball State community including movies, coffeehouses, comedians, and speakers. This position advises UPB members on issues of event planning, budget management, and event promotion, as well as other student development issues.

Additionally, this position assists with other office programs including Late Nite at Ball State.

This assistantship will enable one to:

• enhance/develop advising skills for working with individual students as well as student groups.
• provide practical experience in event planning and promotion.
• help prepare a graduate student for work advising student groups in a student activities office or similar environment.

The Office of Victim Services (OVS) offers one assistantship each academic year. The Graduate Assistant (GA) is responsible for assisting the Victim Advocate in all aspects of educational programming, response, and inclusive supportive services related to interpersonal violence, through various practice-related responsibilities including:

• working directly with survivors of gender based violence to advise them of their reporting options and campus and community resources.
• providing timely information, survivor centered support, and referral information.
• responding to the impact of interpersonal violence by participating in an on-call rotation to provide after-hour crisis intervention to survivors of physical and sexual assault.
• ability to develop and conduct interactive workshops or presentations to classrooms, student organizations, and residence halls.
• assisting with the recruitment, training, and facilitation of the Peer Victim Advocate (PVA) team.
• daily interaction with students and the campus community, both one-on-one and large group settings.

The graduate assistant is expected to become familiar with campus resources, relevant university policies and procedures, as well as Indiana law in order to offer assistance to students.

This assistantship requires maturity, discretion, and sound judgment because OVS deals with highly confidential information that is restricted by state law. Through these and other responsibilities, the GA will be involved in virtually all OVS functions.