McNair Graduate Student Assistantships
Program Overview:
The federally-funded TRIO, Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program at EWU, selects motivated and talented sophomores and juniors who are first-generation and low-income college students and/or from groups underrepresented at the doctoral level to introduce them to academic research and provide them with effective strategies for getting into and graduating from Ph.D. programs. Operating on a cohort model, the program provides services to prepare undergraduates for success as graduate students, professors, and professional researchers. McNair services include classes, workshops, seminars, advising, tutoring, faculty mentoring, paid summer research internships, academic conferences, and McNair staff dedicated to participant success.
We have two Graduate Student Assistantship (GSA) positions: the Program GSA and the GSA for STEM & Departmental Outreach. These positions are ideally for recently accepted graduate students nominated to us by their department but we will accept general inquiries and second year graduate students.
Position 1: EWU McNair Program GSA • filled for the 2024-25 school year, but we will take applications in 2025 for the 25-26 school year
Job Summary/Essential Functions:
The McNair Program GSA supports all efforts of the program with an emphasis in student support, developing student resources, filing, and communications. This will be accomplished by performing the following essential functions and responsibilities/duties.
- Assist with program documentation, evaluation, and maintenance of records.
- Help students in all aspects of the graduate school application process, especially providing feedback on students’ writing of statement of purpose, curriculum vitae, and academic writing samples.
- Assist McNair Staff in advising and monitoring student academic preparation and progress towards graduate school, including reading, writing, and research strategies.
- Assist McNair Staff in content development of seminar syllabuses and teaching responsibilities for the seminars.
- Assist students with preparing for interviews and research conference presentations.
- Search for and develop student resources regarding graduate schools, summer research opportunities, scholarships, and graduate school funding.
- Write, and share on social media, articles that celebrate the achievements of scholars and alumni as well as providing information to the campus community about program goals, objectives, services, and eligibility.
- Assist in all aspects of the plan of operation, meeting objectives, and maintaining documentation. These varied tasks provide the opportunity to work with highly motivated students and their faculty mentors and interact with all levels of the university.
- Maintain a positive working relationship with McNair scholars, staff, faculty mentors, and work-study students while fulfilling key office responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Current enrollment as a graduate student at EWU, ideally nominated by a department chair or program director.
- Understanding of and experience in graduate school application process and academic research, with excellent academic/technical writing skills.
- Understanding of experience working with a target population of low income, first-generation in college, and students from groups underrepresented in graduate school.
- Demonstrated commitment to promoting and enhancing the concepts of social justice and cultural competency.
- Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
- Ability to incorporate multicultural perspectives and issues into everyday conversations.
- Have a general knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
- Have a solid understanding of the McNair mission and a sincere appreciation for working with underrepresented students.
Preferred Qualifications:
- To have work/participant experience in TRIO programs or any federal-funded programs for students’ access and retention.
- Multicultural experience and bilingual proficiency in world languages.
- Knowledge in research methodology and research writing, with a desire to teach/instruct in program seminars.
| % of Time | Responsibility / Duty | Essential Function Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Assist students in preparing graduate school application documents, including statements of purpose, curriculum vitae, and writing samples. | Yes |
| 20 | Assist students in academic preparation, including instruction of seminars in writing and research strategies. | Yes |
| 10 | Support students in collaborating with faculty and developing and carrying out their research projects. | Yes |
| 30 | Assist in the development of program documents, correspondence, and promotional materials, including maintaining and updating the website and social media accounts. | Yes |
| 10 | Assist in planning and implementing day-to-day services of the McNair Scholar Program. | Yes |
Position 2: McNair GSA for STEM & Departmental Outreach • this position is filled for the 2024-25 school year
Job Summary/Essential Functions:
The McNair GSA for STEM & Departmental Outreach supports all efforts of the program with an emphasis in recruitment with special attention on STEM, student support in research activities and attending research conferences, maintaining McNair office files regarding recruitment and McNair applications, and assisting students with applications to research internships and fellowships. This will be accomplished by performing the following essential functions and responsibilities/duties.
- Assist with recruiting potential McNair Scholars from all disciplines, focusing on fields where students from McNair populations are particularly underserved.
- Collaborate with EWU colleges and faculty to increase the number of McNair Scholars doing research, including presenting about McNair in classes.
- Develop and disseminate in-person and digital recruitment materials.
- Support students in developing research posters and presentations for conferences and coaching in conference networking.
- Assist students in applying for research internships and get involved in other opportunities that serve as preparation for graduate school.
- Collect and organize student applications for McNair as well as liaise with interested students in understanding and completing all application materials.
- Support retention efforts including meeting with students, developing a strong understanding of university resources, and referring students to these resources.
- Assist in all aspects of the plan of operation, meeting objectives, and maintaining documentation. These varied tasks provide the opportunity to work with highly motivated students and their faculty mentors and interact with all levels of the university.
- Maintain a positive working relationship with McNair scholars, staff, faculty mentors, and work-study students while fulfilling key office responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
- A graduate student at EWU, ideally nominated by a department chair/director.
- Understanding of and experience in graduate school application process, academic research knowledge, excellent academic/technical writing skill.
- Understanding of experience working with a target population of low income, first-generation in college, and students from groups underrepresented in graduate school.
- Demonstrated commitment to promote and enhance the concepts of social justice and cultural competency.
- Demonstrated commitment to inclusion and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
- Ability to incorporate multicultural perspectives and issues into everyday conversations.
- Have a general knowledge of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, and Outlook.
- Have a solid understanding of the McNair mission and a sincere appreciation for working with underrepresented students.
Preferred Qualifications:
- To have work/participant experience in TRIO programs or any federal-funded programs for students’ access and retention.
- Multicultural experience and bilingual proficiency in world languages.
- Knowledge in research methodology and research writing, desire to teach/instruct in program seminars.
| % of Time | Responsibility / Duty | Essential Function Indicator |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Recruit students to participate in McNair, track all application materials, meet with students to retain and support through the application process, present about McNair across campus and individually orient students to McNair | Yes |
| 30 | Assist students in academic preparation, including instruction of seminars in writing and research strategies, tutoring, and feedback on grad applications. | Yes |
| 10 | Use and update social media with regards to recruitment, retention, and McNair applications. | Yes |
| 10 | Assist in planning and implementing day-to-day services of the McNair Scholar Program. | Yes |
