Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and
Contribute to Your University Community. This position is
available only to enrolled American University students.
Most student positions at American University are eligible to
use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS
funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or
sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS
funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial
Aid.
Important guidance for current American University employees:
American University current employees, including those employed in
student positions, must apply through their employee Workday
account. If you are a current employee at American University,
please log into your employee Workday account and select the
Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career
listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may
cause delays in a hire process.
Department:
Student Equity, Access & Retention
Time Type:
Part time
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Job Description:
Summary:
The Center for Student Belonging (CSB) is one of the key units
within the Student Engagement portfolio of the Division of Student
Affairs. CSB fosters an inclusive, identity-conscious, and
belonging driven campus environment where students can explore
their identities, build connections, and develop leadership skills.
Graduate Assistants are central to the Center’s mission, helping to
plan and implement programs, support students, and contribute to a
campus culture that promotes belonging and community
engagement.
The Student Belonging Initiatives Graduate Coordinator advances the
Center for Student Belonging’s (CSB) commitment to creating an
affirming, inclusive, and student-centered campus environment
through the coordination and implementation of key student
belonging initiatives, including the Daily Essentials Cabinet,
Rooted in Culture Heritage Celebrations, and Student Engagement
Initiatives.
Reporting to the Associate Director(s), the Graduate Coordinator
supports the planning, implementation, assessment, and continuous
improvement of programs designed to strengthen students’ sense of
belonging, connection, engagement, and access to essential
resources. The Graduate Coordinator works closely with CSB staff,
campus partners, student leaders, and community stakeholders to
develop meaningful opportunities for students to build community,
celebrate identity and culture, access resources, and engage with
the broader university community.
This position combines program coordination, student engagement,
community building, resource navigation, event management, and
assessment. The Graduate Coordinator will assist in identifying
student needs, developing responsive programming, coordinating
logistics and communications, collecting and analyzing
participation and feedback data, and translating student
experiences into recommendations that strengthen CSB
initiatives.
Through this work, the Graduate Coordinator contributes to CSB’s
broader mission of fostering a campus environment where students
feel seen, supported, connected, affirmed, and empowered to
thrive.
Essential Functions
1.) Coordinate the Daily Essentials Cabinet
- Support the day-to-day operations, accessibility, and
sustainability of the Daily Essentials Cabinet as a resource
available to students.
Monitor inventory, usage patterns, and student needs to help
ensure the Cabinet remains responsive to the needs of the campus
community.
Assist with procurement, organization, restocking, and
maintenance of essential items.
Develop and maintain relationships with campus and community
partners that can support the Cabinet through donations, resources,
or collaborative initiatives.
Track utilization and identify trends that may inform future
resource offerings and student support strategies.
Promote awareness of the Daily Essentials Cabinet through
outreach, campus communications, tabling, events, and student
engagement efforts.
Ensure the Cabinet is implemented in ways that protect student
dignity, accessibility, privacy, and sense of belonging.
2.) Support Rooted in Culture Heritage Celebrations
- Assist with the planning, coordination, and implementation of
CSB’s Rooted in Culture heritage celebrations and related cultural
programming.
- Collaborate with CSB staff, student organizations, faculty,
staff, and campus partners to develop culturally responsive
programs that recognize and celebrate the identities, histories,
experiences, and contributions of students and communities.
- Support event logistics, including space reservations,
catering, vendors, supplies, schedules, registration, volunteer
coordination, and event-day operations.
- Assist with identifying and coordinating speakers, performers,
artists, community partners, and other contributors.
- Support the development of promotional materials and outreach
strategies to increase student participation and engagement.
- Ensure programs are accessible, welcoming, and responsive to
the diverse experiences of the American University community.
- Gather student and participant feedback to assess the
effectiveness and impact of heritage celebrations and identify
opportunities for continued improvement.
3.) Develop and Support Student Engagement Initiatives
- Assist in developing and implementing student engagement
opportunities that foster connection, community, belonging, and
participation across the university.
- Collaborate with student leaders and student organizations to
identify emerging interests, needs, and opportunities for
engagement.
- Support CSB workshops, social programs, community-building
initiatives, and other engagement opportunities throughout the
academic year.
- Develop strategies to engage students who may be less connected
to traditional campus programming or who experience barriers to
participation.
- Assist with outreach and recruitment efforts designed to
increase awareness and participation in CSB programs and
services.
- Create opportunities for students to provide feedback, share
experiences, and contribute to the development of future
initiatives.
- Support initiatives that encourage students to develop
leadership, community connection, and a sense of ownership within
the CSB community.
4.) Support Program Planning and Implementation
- Assist CSB staff in developing annual program plans, timelines,
goals, and implementation strategies for assigned
initiatives.
- Coordinate program logistics and ensure that activities are
implemented effectively and in alignment with CSB priorities.
- Develop project timelines, task lists, event plans, and other
organizational tools to support successful program
implementation.
- Communicate regularly with campus partners, vendors, student
leaders, and other stakeholders to coordinate program
activities.
- Support the development and implementation of student-centered
programs that respond to emerging campus needs and
priorities.
- Assist with managing program-related supplies, materials, and
resources.
- Participate in CSB planning meetings and contribute ideas
related to student engagement, belonging, and community
building.
5.) Assess Student Engagement and Program Impact
- Develop and implement appropriate methods for collecting
student feedback and evaluating the effectiveness of assigned
programs and initiatives.
- Track participation, engagement, utilization, and other
relevant program indicators.
- Develop surveys, feedback forms, focus groups, interviews, and
other assessment tools as appropriate.
- Analyze quantitative and qualitative information to identify
student needs, trends, successes, and opportunities for
improvement.
- Ensure assessment practices are inclusive, accessible,
culturally responsive, and aligned with CSB’s mission and
values.
- Translate assessment findings into practical recommendations
for program enhancement.
- Contribute to annual program reviews and reports that
demonstrate program reach, impact, and areas for continued
development.
6.) Advance Student-Centered and Culturally Responsive
Practice
- Center student voice and lived experience in the development,
implementation, and assessment of CSB initiatives.
- Apply principles of equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural
responsiveness to program planning and implementation.
- Identify barriers that may prevent students from accessing
resources or participating in CSB programs and recommend strategies
to address those barriers.
- Support the development of programs that recognize and affirm
the diverse identities, experiences, and cultural backgrounds
represented within the university community.
- Maintain an awareness of emerging student needs, campus trends,
and best practices related to belonging, engagement, and student
success.
7.) Develop Communications and Outreach
- Assist with developing outreach strategies that effectively
communicate CSB programs, resources, and opportunities to
students.
- Draft and distribute student-facing communications, including
email announcements, newsletters, social media content, flyers, and
event reminders.
- Collaborate with CSB staff and campus communications partners
to ensure messaging is accurate, accessible, inclusive, and aligned
with CSB branding.
- Support the development of marketing materials for Rooted in
Culture celebrations, Daily Essentials Cabinet initiatives, and
student engagement programs.
- Identify innovative strategies for reaching students through
digital, in-person, and peer-to-peer communication channels.
8.) Build and Maintain Campus Partnerships
- Develop collaborative relationships with campus departments,
student organizations, faculty, staff, and community
partners.
- Identify opportunities for cross-campus collaboration that
strengthen student belonging and engagement.
- Coordinate with campus partners to connect students with
additional resources and services when appropriate.
- Represent CSB at meetings, events, and collaborative
initiatives as assigned.
- Maintain professional and responsive communication with
partners and stakeholders.
9.) Maintain Program Systems and Documentation
- Maintain accurate records related to program participation,
events, resources, partnerships, and assessment activities.
- Utilize appropriate university platforms and tools to manage
registration, communication, data collection, and program
tracking.
- Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, event
planning documents, resource guides, and other program
documentation.
- Maintain organized records to support continuity and
institutional knowledge across academic years.
- Assist with tracking program budgets, expenditures, purchasing,
and other administrative processes as assigned.
10.) Support Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to CSB’s annual strategic planning and program
review processes.
- Use student feedback, participation data, emerging needs, and
program outcomes to inform recommendations for future
programming.
- Identify opportunities to expand, improve, or reimagine student
belonging initiatives.
- Assist with developing short- and long-term goals for assigned
initiatives.
- Contribute to reports, presentations, and other materials that
communicate program accomplishments, challenges, and future
priorities.
- Participate in ongoing professional development related to
student affairs, belonging, engagement, cultural programming, and
student support.
11.) Other Duties
- Attend and support CSB events outside of regular business
hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
- Participate in CSB staff meetings, retreats, professional
development, and planning activities.
- Support other Center for Student Belonging programs and
initiatives as needed.
- Assist with special projects related to student belonging,
engagement, access, retention, and success.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Director(s)
or designated CSB leadership.
Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
- Commitment to student belonging, equity, inclusion, and
access.
- Experience working with college students and/or student
organizations.
- Strong event planning and project management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and competing
priorities.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty,
and community partners.
- Cultural humility and the ability to work effectively across
differences.
- Strong organizational and administrative skills.
- Interest in using student feedback and data to improve programs
and services.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and
professionalism.
- Creativity and initiative in developing student-centered
engagement opportunities.
- Advising and Supporting: Addresses the knowledge, skills, and
dispositions related to providing advising and support to
individuals and groups through direction, feedback, critique,
referral, and guidance. Through developing advising and supporting
strategies that take into account self-knowledge and the needs of
others, we play critical roles in advancing the holistic wellness
of ourselves, our students, and our colleagues.
- Social Justice and Inclusion: While there are many conceptions
of social justice and inclusion in various contexts, for the
purposes of this competency area, it is defined here as both a
process and a goal which includes the knowledge, skills, and
dispositions needed to create learning environments that foster
equitable participation of all groups while seeking to address and
acknowledge issues of oppression, privilege, and power. This
competency involves student affairs educators who have a sense of
their own agency and social responsibility that includes others,
their community, and the larger global context. Student affairs
educators may incorporate social justice and inclusion competencies
into their practice through seeking to meet the needs of all
groups, equitably distributing resources, raising social
consciousness, and repairing past and current harms on campus
communities.
- Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: The Assessment,
Evaluation, and Research competency area focuses on the ability to
design, conduct, critique, and use various AER methodologies and
the results obtained from them, to utilize AER processes and their
results to inform practice, and to shape the political and ethical
climate surrounding AER processes and uses in higher
education.
- Leadership: The Leadership competency area addresses the
knowledge, skills, and dispositions required of a leader, with or
without positional authority.
- Leadership involves both the individual role of a leader and
the leadership process of individuals working together to envision,
plan, and affect change in organizations and respond to broad-based
constituencies and issues. This can include working with students,
student affairs colleagues, faculty, and community members.
- Organizational and Human Resources: The Organizational and
Human Resources competency area includes knowledge, skills, and
aptitude used in the management of institutional human capital,
financial, and physical resources. This competency area recognizes
that student affairs professionals bring personal strengths and
grow as managers through challenging themselves to build new skills
in the selection, supervision, motivation, and formal evaluation of
staff; resolution of conflict; management of the politics of
organizational discourse; and the effective application of
strategies and techniques associated with financial resources,
facilities management, fundraising, technology, crisis management,
risk management, and sustainable resources.
- Student Learning and Development: The Student Learning and
Development competency area addresses the concepts and principles
of student development and learning theory. This includes the
ability to apply theory to improve and inform student affairs and
teaching practice.
- Technology: The Technology competency area focuses on the use
of digital tools, resources, and technologies for the advancement
of student learning, development, and success as well as the
improved performance of student affairs professionals. Included
within this area are knowledge, skills, and dispositions that lead
to the generation of digital literacy and digital citizenship
within communities of students, student affairs professionals,
faculty members, and colleges and universities.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
- Part-time.
- 20 hours per week.
Salary Range:
Required Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree.
- Enrollment in AU’s School of Education graduate programs.
- Experience in student programming and/or leadership
development.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Experience designing or leading large-scale student
programs.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing
environment.
- Experience working effectively with diverse
constituencies.
- Collaborative work style and team orientation.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
1.) Learning and Professional Development Opportunities
- Student affairs and higher education administration.
- Student belonging and engagement.
- Cultural and heritage programming.
- Event planning and program management.
- Basic program assessment and evaluation.
- Student leadership development.
- Community partnership development.
- Resource coordination and basic program operations.
- Marketing, communications, and student outreach.
- Data-informed decision-making.
- Equity-centered and culturally responsive student support
practices.
2.) Work Environment
- Primarily in-person, with occasional virtual support.
- Flexible scheduling with an expected part-time commitment of up
to 20 hours per week.
- Position requires collaboration with students, staff, and
campus partners.
- Evening availability and core day availability (Wednesday,
Thursday, and/or Friday).
Other Details
- This position is available only to enrolled American
University students.
- Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or
contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or
responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time
with or without notice.
- American University is an
E-Verify employer.
- Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/
for additional information about American University employment and
benefits.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees (including those employed in
student positions) must apply through their employee Workday
account. If you are a current employee at American University,
please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will
take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University
careers site, email
theworkline@american.edu
.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy),
age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal
appearance, gender identity and expression, family
responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran
status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases
under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its
programs and activities.
