Join Our Team: Become a Student Success Assistant
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Join the Honors College Student Success Team!
Job Title: Student Success Assistant (Student Staff Position)
Department: Commonwealth Honors College (CHC), UMass Amherst
Hours & Pay: ~8 hours per week, $16.50/hour (1–2 positions)
Start Date: Fall 2026
Hiring Period: Academic Year (Fall & Spring)
About the Role
The Student Success Assistant (SSA) supports student success initiatives at the Commonwealth Honors College by helping deliver peer-facing academic support, community-based programming, and assessment-informed improvements to CHC resources.
In practice, this role blends student support, facilitation, and applied assessment. Student Success Assistants play an active role in supporting Honors Thesis writers, contributing to the ongoing improvement of CHC Canvas-based resources, and helping CHC better understand student experiences through structured feedback and outreach.
This position is ideal for students interested in student success, academic support, higher education, research, or community-building, and who want hands-on experience working alongside professional staff.
Key Responsibilities
Honors Thesis & Academic Support
- Support Thesis Tuesdays, CHC’s weekly co-working and accountability space for Honors Thesis students
- Help welcome students, support goal-setting, and foster a focused, inclusive writing environment
- Assist with light peer support and referrals to CHC resources (advising, Writing Coach, Toolkit, etc.)
- Serve as a student-facing support presence for Honors Thesis writers navigating common challenges (planning, motivation, time management, resource awareness)
Canvas Toolkit & Resource Development
- Support ongoing updates to the Honors Thesis Toolkit and other CHC Canvas-based student success resources
- Help review student feedback, identify common questions or gaps, and suggest improvements to content, organization, or clarity
- Assist with content testing and development, usability feedback, and student-centered review of Canvas materials
- Contribute to short-form resource development (e.g., FAQs, guides, reflections, or prompts) as directed by staff
Student Experience & Assessment Support
- Assist with student success assessment efforts, which may include:
- Surveys, focus groups, listening sessions, or structured feedback collection
- Synthesizing themes from student input to inform CHC programming and resources
- Support research and reflection related to:
- Honors student sense of belonging and engagement
- Experiences of transfer, first-generation, non-CHCRC, and underrepresented students
- Academic and co-curricular barriers to participation or persistence
- Help document findings in accessible formats (summaries, slides, reflections)
Programming & Community Engagement
- Assist with CHC student success programming, workshops, or events as needed
- Collaborate with other CHC student staff (Peer Advisors, Ambassadors, etc.) to support community-building efforts
- Serve as a student voice in conversations about improving the Honors student experience
- Participate as a student member of the Student Success Collective, when appropriate
Preferred Qualifications & Skills
- Interest in student success, academic support, or higher education
- Strong communication skills and comfort engaging with other students
- Interest in assessment, reflection, or research-informed decision-making
- Ability to work thoughtfully with diverse student populations
- Experience with (or interest in learning) surveys, focus groups, or qualitative feedback methods
- Organized, reliable, and comfortable working both independently and collaboratively
- Willingness to complete professional development or training (e.g., Narrative 4, facilitation, assessment tools)
Position Requirements
- Must be an undergraduate Commonwealth Honors College student in good standing (Rising Juniors preferred; rising Sophomores will be considered).
- Able to commit to a full academic year (Fall & Spring)
- Comfortable working in student-facing spaces and collaborating with staff
- Must be available for online Focus Group Training on May 28-29, 2026.
- Must be available in person at UMass Amherst for Student Staff Training beginning Thursday, August 27, 2026.
Application Process
To apply, complete the Student Success Assistant Application by Friday, February 13th, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Questions may be directed to:
Alice Feldman
Honors Experience & Student Success Coordinator
alicefeldman [at] umass [dot] edu (alicefeldman[at]umass[dot]edu) | 413-545-7340
Position Details
- Hourly Pay Rate: $16.50
- Hours per Week: ~8
- Work Study: Either Work-Study or Non-Work-Study
- Location: On-campus (on bus route)
- Department Address:
Commonwealth Honors College
157 Commonwealth Avenue
Amherst, MA 01002