Assistantship and Hourly Opportunities

On Campus Graduate Assistantship Vacancy Notice
 

Type of Appointment: Teaching Assistant (TA)

Dates of Appointment: 9/6/2026 to 5/29/2027
Hours/wk: 20
Stipend: $41.24/hour
Application deadline: Friday, May 29th
 

Job Description:
The Judaic Studies Teaching Assistant will provide course assistance to Judaic 101 ("The Jewish Experience: From Ancient to Medieval Times") and Judaic 102 ("The Jewish Experience: From Medieval to Modern Times). These are Gen Ed courses, each enrolling approximately 50 students per semester. Candidates for this TA position will be expected to attend all meetings of the classes to which they are assigned.
 

Experience Required:
The ideal candidate will have some background in Jewish history and culture, as well as some knowledge of the Hebrew language, although neither is required. A broad background in history, literature, and/or anthropology or related disciplines is desirable. Previous ability to use Canvas, including managing its grading components, is desirable and will be expected once the Fall semester begins.

How to Apply:
To apply, please send a letter detailing your interest and background, along with a CV that includes two academic references, to Rachel Diana at [email protected], as soon as possible and in no case later than Friday, May 29th.

NOTE: Applicants must confirm with their home academic department before applying that they are eligible to receive assistantships that provide tuition waivers. 
Department Name: Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies
Email contact: [email protected] (Rachel Diana, Department Administrator and Office
Manager)
 

Title: Diversity Education and Training Assistant
Department: Advocacy, Inclusion, and Support Programs
Program: Diversity Education and Training
Supervisor: Assistant Director of Diversity Education and Training
Weekly Hours: 20
Stipend: $41.24 per hour for the appointment term, paid bi-weekly
Appointment Term: September 6, 2026 to May 29, 2027
Periods of Non-Responsibility: Please submit requests for time off to supervisor in advance.
Appointment Renewal: Appointments are for the stated appointment term only, and there is no guarantee of appointment renewal.
 

To apply, please send a letter detailing your interest and background, along with a resume that includes two academic/professional references, to Angélica Castro at [email protected] by June 15, 2026.

Student Affairs and Campus Life (SACL) is committed to providing meaningful assistantship experiences for graduate students, particularly when these experiences enhance SACL priorities and are relevant to the pursuit of a graduate assistant’s professional goals. It is within this context that SACL makes this assistantship available.
 

General Summary of Position
Work with staff in Diversity Education and Training to actively promote inclusive and equitable communities and support the development and implementation of curricular and co-curricular diversity/social justice education, dialogue, and leadership initiatives. This position offers opportunities to critically apply theoretical and conceptual frameworks of student development, identity development, and social justice education, while gaining practical experience in project management, event planning, facilitation, and curriculum design. Reappointment is dependent on department needs, performance evaluation, experience, academic standing, and funding availability.
 

Typical Duties and Responsibilities
A. Peer Dialogue Facilitation Program, Workshops, and Conference Coordination and Design
1. Provide administrative, logistical, and supervisory support for PDFs, workshops, initiatives, and mini-conference-SACL Proactive Practitioners: Prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
2. Support curriculum design and co-facilitation for programs, workshops, and leadership development for SACL student employees/leaders and graduate assistant/professional staff.
3. Support assessment design and implementation for PDFs, workshops, and other learning experiences. Depending on their prior experience, the Diversity Education GA will also cofacilitate workshops for AISP student leadership programs and sustained learning experiences.
B. Intergroup Dialogue Initiative Circles and Courses
In partnership with the Social Justice Education concentration in the College of Education, SACL works to increase students’ capacity to engage in dialogue across differences by offering and supporting Intergroup Dialogue Initiative Circles and Courses: EDUC 395Z (1-credit weekend seminars). Examples of responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
1. Lead student recruitment efforts for Intergroup Dialogue circles and courses (IGDI and EDUC 395Z) under the advisement of the Director of Diversity Education and Training and College of Education course instructor(s).
2. Communicate with prospective and enrolled students about section placement, orientation, advance preparation assignments, and other course logistics.
3. Coordinate logistics for all EDUC 395Z sections including purchasing food, reserving class meeting spaces, preparing seminar materials, and supporting facilitators.
4. Update and maintain course syllabi, reading materials, and online course management (e.g.Moodle) for EDUC 395Z.
5. Manage recruitment, placement, and grading of students for all EDUC 395Z sections.
6. Increase visibility and awareness of Intergroup Dialogue Initiative and courses by cofacilitating intergroup dialogue information sessions on campus.
7. Archive SACL intergroup dialogue history, including compiling past syllabi and facilitation designs.
8. Support assessment and reporting for SACL co-sponsored intergroup dialogue initiatives.
9. Co-facilitate EDUC 395Z curriculum, and review/grade pre and post reflection coursework.
 

Compliance Requirements
Graduate students filling assistantships in Student Affairs and Campus Life 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 addressing and reporting related violations by students, staff, faculty or others. Related training will be provided to all SACL graduate assistants. 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 a SACL 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 the Graduate School. Student must be enrolled in a degree granting graduate program that permits their students to hold assistantships. (Confirm your eligibility with your program before applying)
3. Availability to serve the entire assistantship term.
4. Willingness to perform all mandated compliance reporting and related requirements.
5. Experience working with diverse populations.
6. Understanding of social identity issues faced by students, and the ability to support students at different stages of identity development.
7. Knowledge of campus resources to support students from diverse social identities, particularly religious, ethnic, and cultural identities.
8. Experience planning small- and large-scale events.
9. Experience facilitating meetings, workshops, and trainings.
10. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
11. Competence with Microsoft Office computer applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), email, and social media.
12. Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
 

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 and curriculum fee scholarship waiver (as provided in the GEO Contract);
3. Reduced fees for health coverage; and,
4. Vacation leave
 

Collective Bargaining Agreement
Graduate Assistants are employees of the University. Appointments to graduate assistantships must be approved in advance by the Graduate School. Employment matters are guided and informed by University policy and by provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (“Contract”) with the Graduate Employee Organization (“GEO”), a recognized employee union at the University. GEO is affiliated with the United Auto Workers.
 

Title: Communications Project Assistant

Hourly Pay Rate: GEO minimum ($38.89 summer 2026 - $41.24 fall 2026/spring 2027/summer 2027)

Hours per week: 20

Position dates: August 9, 2026-May 29, 2027, with the possibility of continued work in summer 2027

Location: Goodell Building, UMass Amherst (Must be available to work the majority of the 20 hours each week in person, on campus.)

Priority application deadline: June 26, 2026

Open only to current doctoral students. This is a GEO benefit eligible position. The applicant must confirm with their home department that they are eligible to receive tuition remission via an assistantship before applying. 

Description:

The Graduate School seeks a Communications Project Assistant able to support ongoing events and special projects between the school’s internal office of communications, and the office of grants and fellowships. This role will work under the direction of the Graduate School Director of Communication and Events and the Director of the Office of Grants and Fellowships and will be tasked with the following responsibilities:

• Provide support to external grant and fellowship applicants, including workshops, writing groups, and consultations with students to provide feedback on application drafts. 
• Draft and distribute monthly communications to key stakeholders including Graduate Program Directors and advisors.
• Support storytelling efforts that highlight graduate student achievements by writing News and Story profiles about award recipients and individuals of note within the graduate community.
• Contribute to the facilitation and promotion of the annual Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition and related academic showcase events.
• Distribute Graduate School content and stories to stakeholders across the University, including submissions to Inside UMass.
• Design and support communication campaigns launched through digital and print channels, including social media (Instagram) and the Graduate School’s website.
• Support the Public Writing Fellows program through co-facilitation of workshops and post-program storytelling.
• Enhance the Graduate School’s engagement with graduate students through marketing research, including focus groups and post-event surveys.

Qualifications and Experience

• Must be enrolled as a doctoral student at UMass Amherst. 
• Professionalism and a commitment to respectful engagement with the Graduate School team, collaborators, faculty, and graduate students.. 
• Willingness to provide feedback to students in a constructive manner, sensitive to various skill levels, experiences, and needs. 
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills. 
• Project management experience, which could include research or teaching. 
• Must be available to work the majority of the 20 hours each week in person, on campus. 

How to Apply: 

All applicants must complete the application form and upload a cover letter and resume. You may also submit an optional writing sample—do not submit academic writing such as a proposal, research paper, conference paper, manuscript etc. If you submit a writing sample, it should be an example of your own original writing for a general audience. 

Applicants will be asked to confirm that they are eligible, per University policy, to accept this 20-hour assistantship.

Questions may be sent to Heidi Bauer-Clapp, [email protected].