Graduate Assistant Intern for Academic Initiatives

The Graduate Assistant Intern (GA/I) for Academic Initiatives works in partnership with the Office of Housing & Residence Life (HRL) leadership to enhance the residential experience for students on the Youngstown State University (YSU) campus by facilitating engaging, development-focused initiatives that foster and support student academic success. Through high-level engagement across several areas of the YSU community, the GA/I for Academic Initiatives is a visible, active member of the campus community and identifies strategies that foster academic achievement and personal well-being among students. This individual must be enthusiastic and passionate about student engagement and development, and should have knowledge of current trends and effective practices to remain proactive and impactful in executing development-focused initiatives and programs.

Expectations & Responsibilities

As an essential member of the HRL team, the GA/I for Academic Initiatives shall:

Schedule and maintain a weekly schedule of approximately 20-hours for office hours and position responsibilities during the Fall and Spring academic semesters
Initiate, foster, and maintain positive relationships with essential campus partners and offices that provide services for students to develop and maintain effective strategies for academic success and personal well-being
In coordination with Housing Coordinators, assist with supporting and developing Living-Learning Community (LLC) communities, including regular engagement with campus partnership
Plan, organize, and implement regular programs and initiatives for residential students that foster strategies for academic and personal well-being and success
Assist with the identification, tracking, and follow-up of students living on campus with identified academic and wellness concerns
Create and maintain effective documentation of HRL activities, operations, and initiatives
Conduct and provide reporting for impactful assessment of HRL and campus strategies, operations, and initiatives
Assist with the development and implementation of training for HRL student staff
Serve in an after-business hours on-call capacity as part of the HRL professional and graduate staff on-call rotation to support and lead student staff and students through after-business hours crisis, facilities, and general administrative concerns
Attend regular HRL meetings, including weekly meetings with the supervisor, weekly HRL team meetings, and division meetings
Engage in regular campus, division, HRL, and individual professional development opportunities
Serve on HRL, division, or campus committees as requested
Serve as an HRL representative at YSU-sponsored events for potential, incoming, current, and alumni students
Additional duties as assigned to support department and campus operations, initiatives, and goals

Supervision

The GA/I for Academic Initiatives will be directly supervised by the Associate Director of Residence Life and will be indirectly supervised by the Director of Housing & Residential Life.

Compensation

More information on institutional benefits for a student appointed as a graduate assistant or doctoral fellow during the fall or spring terms (GA, GRA, TA, and GA/I) is available at academics | graduate studies | assistantships and fellowships, including:

A total pre-tax stipend of $7,500 for the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters)
Remission of instructional fees (up to 18 semester hours each fall and spring) and remission of the non-resident surcharge (if applicable)
Remission of the parking permit fee for each term of appointment as a fringe benefit

In addition, Graduate Assistant Interns with HRL receive

An apartment within a YSU-owned housing facility
A designated meal plan during semesters of employment
For hours worked during weeks when Fall and Spring semester classes are not in session, the GA/I will be paid an hourly wage of $12.00

Time Commitment

Per YSU policies, assistantships require 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters, including exam week, for duties to be assigned by the department chair.

GA/I responsibilities for the Fall academic semester begin approximately three weeks before the first day of classes. GA/I responsibilities for the Spring academic semester begin approximately one week before the first day of classes. Responsibilities for both the Fall and Spring academic semesters conclude no later than the Saturday following the final day of semester final exams.

Due to the unique focus of this role on residential programming and events for residential students, qualified applicants must be willing and able to work evening and weekend hours. Please check your program’s requirements and class schedule to see if you will have availability during these times.

Per YSU policies, a GA/I is not required to work during breaks or University closings.

Summer Employment

While employment with HRL may be available during the summer months, institutional benefits such as the institutional stipend and remission of instructional fees, are not available for the summer terms. Any summer employment with HRL would be a separate appointment with its own terms, responsibilities, and remuneration.

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for the Graduate Assistant Intern for Academic Initiatives position for the upcoming academic year, please complete that application at https://roompact.com/staffing/ysu/job/47.

The initial review of applications will begin March 23, 2026, and the position will remain open until filled.

Eligibility for Employment

To hold and maintain a Graduate Assistant Intern position, a student must:

Maintain full-time enrollment in graduate-level coursework through YSU, a minimum of 6 semester hours of degree-credit coursework per term for the academic year
Maintain good academic standing with YSU
Maintain an active Housing Contract with YSU HRL

Preferred Experience

Experience with Housing & Residence Life as an undergraduate and/or experience with academic support programming or services.