Assistantship and Hourly Opportunities

Type: Internship
Department: Graduate School Office of Professional Development
Hours per week: 10 hours
Hourly rate: GEO minimum 

Open only to current UMass doctoral students

Office Location: Goodell Building, with some remote work possible
Appointment Dates: August 3-November 8, 2025 (dates are firm)

Priority application deadline: June 12, 2025 

Job Description:

The Graduate School Office of Professional Development invites applications from doctoral students to provide fellowship application support to students. 

Based at the Graduate School Office of Professional Development, this internship will offer exposure to the work of fellowship advising and provide advising experience to complement skills graduate students obtain through their degree program. 

August-October is the busiest time in the fellowship cycle, as most deadlines fall during this period. The internship dates of August 3-November 8 are firm. While some remote work may be possible during the internship period, most of the work for this position will take place in person, on campus. 

The intern will carry out the following tasks under the supervision of OPD’s Associate Director for Grants & Fellowships:

• Participate in training to learn OPD’s fellowship advising system and workflows.
• Learn databases for graduate student grants and fellowships; provide assistance and instruction to students on effective use of these tools.
• Coordinate and deliver workshops.
• Coordinate and facilitate fellowship writing groups and drop-in office hours for applicants.
• Read drafts of fellowship applications using review rubric.
• Provide feedback to fellowship applicant via one-on-one consultation (in person or via zoom) or email.
• Record post-consultation notes.
• Create and/or update website content on graduate student fellowships.
• Promote fellowship opportunities via email, social media, web content, or other marketing tools.
• Prepare report on internship duties and participate in exit interview at the end of the internship.
• Other duties as assigned

The desired qualifications include:

• Advanced graduate training, with familiarity in one or more of the disciplines most commonly relevant to nationally-competitive fellowship opportunities: CNS, Engineering, SBS, HFA, and Education.
• Experience applying for grant(s) or fellowship(s).
• Professionalism and a commitment to respectful engagement with OPD team, collaborators, faculty, and student fellowship applicants.
• Commitment to using an understanding of the diversity of human experience in working with students.
• Willingness to provide feedback to students in a constructive manner, sensitive to various skill levels, experiences, and needs.
• An interest in exploring a career in higher education beyond a tenure-track faculty position. 

We are looking for a curious, conscientious, detail-oriented person who wants to support student success and learn more about alt-ac careers in higher education. The internship will require ten hours of work per week for 14 weeks. The position does not qualify for tuition remission or health benefits but would provide some supplemental income for a TA or RA position. Additionally, the position provides the chance to explore the work world of higher education outside teaching and research to consider it as a potential career pathway and provide practical experience. Many colleges and universities employ a fellowship advisor to support students applying for nationally-competitive grants and fellowships; over 85% of fellowship advisors have graduate degrees, and 50% hold a doctorate. 

How to Apply: 

All application materials (cover letter and CV/resume) should be submitted through this form. In your cover letter, please describe your interest in alt-ac careers in higher education, any previous experience applying for grants or fellowships, and how this experience will contribute to your professional goals. Additionally, please discuss your understanding of diversity and how you would like to bring that understanding to the work of fellowship advising.

Applicants will be asked to confirm that they are able to work for the full 14-week internship period (August 3-November 8, 2025) and that they are eligible, per University policy, to accept this 10-hour assistantship.

Questions about this position or the application may be sent to Heidi Bauer-Clapp, hbauerclapp@umass.edu.

Equal Opportunity Office:

The Equal Opportunity Office (‘EO”) is committed to ensuring UMass Amherst is free from harassment and discrimination. EO administers the University's Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment, and Related Interpersonal Violence, the Title IX Policy and Procedures, and the Affirmative Action and Non-Discrimination Policy.

Equal Opportunity conducts intakes and investigations in accordance with the university policy to address allegations of harassment or discrimination based on protected civil rights, as well as, allegations of retaliation for filing a complaint. EO provides advice and counsel to the campus on civil rights and related issues.

General Summary of Position:

Under general direction of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Equal Opportunity, ADA and Title IX Coordinator, the Graduate Project Assistant – Intake will assist with the coordination of EO’s reporting and complaint intake function by conducting intake and assessment into discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, ADA compliance matters, and Title IX sexual harassment reports and/or complaints submitted by university students and employees.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate the complaint intake function for the office by conducting the intake and assessment of incoming discrimination, harassment and Title IX sexual harassment reports and/or complaints;
• Acknowledge reports and/or complaints and provide the initial response to complainants and reporting parties.
• Assess whether the reports/and or complaint received fall under applicable university policies and procedures;
• Assess whether there is an immediate safety concern to the reporting party(s), complainant, and/or the campus.
• Schedule and perform intake interviews;
• Provide reporting party(s) and/or complainants copies of the applicable university policy(ies) regarding their report;
• Provide referrals and resources to individuals involved in the complaint;
• Assist the Associate Vice Chancellor and/or the AVC’s designee with proposing interim safety, welfare, and supportive measures as needed for discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, and Title IX sexual harassment reports and/or complaints.
• Monitor and oversee interim and supportive measures throughout the investigation, informal resolution, adjudication, and appeals process
• Work closely with the Associate Vice Chancellor and EO Director to coordinate the transfer of complaints to Equal Opportunity Investigators.
• Document and record the incoming concerns, reports, and complaints, including communication with reporting parties, complainants, university designated Responsible Employees, Officials With Authority, and other third-party reporters;
• Ensure that all case management data and documentation of outreach, interim and supportive measures provided is accurate, up-to-date, and retained.

Compliance Requirements

Graduate students filling assistantships in the EO Office have specific expectations placed on them as employees of the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Among these is the requirement to fulfill reporting responsibilities as prescribed and required under applicable federal and State laws. These include but may not be limited to requirements under Title IX; Clery Act; FERPA; HIPPA; Massachusetts Conflict of Interest laws. Additionally, this applies to adhering to University policies and agreements (e.g., collective bargaining agreement).

Fulfilling these expectations includes maintaining privacy and confidentiality when receiving reports of suspected policy violations furnished by students, staff, faculty or others. Related training will be provided to the EO Graduate Assistant. These expectations may be amended in conjunction with changes in Federal and/or State mandated reporting requirements, and/or University policies or agreements. Graduate students unwilling to meet these requirements are not eligible for appointment to an EO graduate assistantship.

Minimum Required Qualifications

1. Enrollment as graduate student in good standing during entire term of appointment.
2. Eligibility for appointment to this assistantship, as determined by your academic program / students Graduate Program Director.
3. Availability to serve the entire assistantship term.
4. Willingness to perform all position requirements as well successful completion of EO and university training requirements.
5. Experience in working in civil rights, including Title IX or Title VII, the ADA OR experience with the intake and triaging of reports from persons in crisis (e.g. counseling intakes, intimate partner violence resource providers, confidential resource advocacy, sexual assault crisis counseling, etc.)
6. Ability to work with diverse populations of students, employees, faculty, staff, and administrators.
7. Excellent communication, written and verbal, skills.
8. Ability to use MS Word and Excel in Windows or comparable computer software; experience using the Internet for Web pages and email.
9. Must be highly motivated and willing and able to take the initiative when necessary.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment. Working Hours are M-F, normal business hours (8:30 – 5 PM). Hiring dates are 8/31/25 - 5/16/26 and the hourly rate is the GEO contracted minimum of $38.89.

Compensation and Benefits

Specific compensation and benefits accruing to graduate assistantships are informed by the collective bargaining agreement (“Contract”) with the Graduate Employees Organization

(“GEO”) in force during the appointment period. All Graduate Assistants should review this agreement carefully for detailed explanations of compensation and benefits that may apply. Generally, however, Graduate Assistants receive:

1. A stipend based on the number of weekly hours allocated to the applicable assistantship;
2. Tuition waiver (as provided in the GEO Contract) *Tuition Credit is not eligible on UWW+ Course fees or UWW+ Registration fees during both the Academic Year and Summer Sessions.*
3. Reduced fees for health coverage
4. Vacation leave

Please submit cover letter, resume and reference to Ryan Morse at rkmorse@umass.edu.