"Graduate Assistant: Disability Services (2026-2027)"

Graduate Assistant: Disability Services (2026-2027)

Location: Geneva, NY

Open Date: Dec 02, 2025

Description

Hobart and William Smith Colleges is accepting applications for admission into the Master of Arts, Higher Educational Leadership program. Our two-year Master's in Higher Education Leadership (MHEL) program will prepare you to challenge the current state of higher education and lead the change needed to support the next generation of college students. Courses encourage you to analyze and critique the history and policy of higher education, identify ways to build community for all students, and investigate and develop leadership and innovation techniques. Admission is now open for the 2026-2027 academic year for both Graduate Assistantships and admission! The program boasts a wide array of Graduate Assistantships which include tuition remission in the HWS MHEL program and an annual $20,000 stipend. GAs are also eligible for regional professional development opportunities and can apply for financial assistance for a national conference during their final year in the MHEL program. Priority consideration for this position will be given to applications received by March 1, 2026.

Come join a program and campus named #12 Best School for Internships, #10 Best Alumni Network, and #10 Best Career Services by The Princeton Review.

The Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) collaborates with students, faculty and colleagues to serves as a catalyst for excellence in teaching and learning and to foster an engaged, productive, creative, accessible, and inclusive intellectual community for students and faculty. The CTL Graduate Assistant will work closely with our Student Enrichment programs as well as with students who receive academic accommodations through Disability Services.

The CTL Graduate Assistant position will work with the CTL staff to provide an inclusive, student-centered environment. The position will research and create outreach programs that support student retention and broaden the resources available to students.

According to a June 2023 report in the Chronicle of Higher Education, Disabilities Services is one of the growing sectors in higher education and, while national rates of students reporting documented disabilities range from 10-19%, HWS has had a 29-32% rate of students with documented disabilities. These factors make this assistantship an important learning opportunity for students in the Master's in Higher Education and Leadership program as well as their future work in higher education.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Support CTL academic enrichment programs and initiatives.
• Assist with program management for CTL student academic enrichment programs and initiatives, including scheduling, communication, resource development, and assessment of student success efforts.
• Contribute to the training and ongoing support of our academic peer mentors (including Teaching Fellows, Study Mentors, Writing Fellows, and Athletic Study Mentors) with a focus on accessibility awareness, inclusive practices, and supporting diverse learning needs.
• Gather and analyze Disability Services data short- and long-term trends to inform programming and CTL decision making.
• Research and develop student-centric social and educational outreach and programming for the HWS community, including but not limited to events, training, social media, Residential Education and Admissions collaboration, newsletters, and reports.
• Research and establish student enrichment programming aimed at students with documented disabilities, such as inclusive prospective student and pre-orientation programs, disability Honors society, and retention-focused peer mentoring.
• Assist in improving student experience of testing accommodations, including scheduling, communication, and implementation.
• Foster a welcoming environment for prospective and current students, faculty, staff, and community members via front-desk support and clear communication practices.
• Support professional staff in administrative tasks as needed.

About HWS

A liberal arts and sciences institution, Hobart and William Smith is known for consistent success in preparing students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers through an outcomes-based focus on their futures. Our nationally ranked faculty are accessible teachers and scholars known for the impact of their research and distinguished by the depth of their mentorship. World challenges are studied in the classroom where critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are honed. In the field, knowledge turns into discovery. In office hours, plans are carefully crafted to tie interests and talents to an academic path that motivates beyond graduation.

Our location in the heart of the Finger Lakes allows faculty, staff and students to live and work collaboratively on the banks of a resource-rich lake. Student-athletes play for 30 varsity teams boasting 24 national titles, including the 2023 and 2024 NCAA DIII Men's Ice Hockey Championships. With three graduate programs, students can build on their undergraduate degree with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master of Science in Management. Together, the experiences and mentorship at HWS prepare students to lead lives of consequence.

Other Information:

This is a part-time, temporary, non-benefits eligible position. This position description is not all-inclusive as other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of one year of leadership experience, preferably in a related area
• Strong in-person communication skills and ability to connect easily with all groups of people
• Demonstrated ability to work with a diverse population and enjoy engaging with people
• Student-centered with a collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Brings positive energy and a sense of humor to the role
• Ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with individuals from different cultures or backgrounds

Terms of Employment:

• Must maintain a cumulative GPA of a 3.00
• Employment begins August 1, 2026, and ends May 31, 2027

All Graduate Assistantships must be accepted into the Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership at Hobart and William Smith Colleges as full-time students, as Graduate Assistantships have a maximum term of two consecutive years. Maintaining good academic standing, contributing in the classroom setting, managing their time effectively and balancing their schoolwork along with their GA duties is a priority for all parties.

Application Instructions

For more information and to apply, visit https://apply.interfolio.com/178489

The Colleges are an equal employment opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities against employees or applicants based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, caregiver status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, social class, or any other category or characteristic protected by applicable law.