Graduate Assistant Residence Life, Staff Selection & Training

Working Title: Graduate Assistant - Residence Life Staff Selection & Training

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Graduate Assistant

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: Residence Life

Department: 300000 - Residence Life Admin

Pay Band:

Pay Rate:Stipend

Specify Range or Amount: 10301.00

Is this a JMU only positionN/A

Is this a grant-funded positionNo

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated positionN/A

Beginning Review Date:04/22/2026

About JMU:

Situated in the heart of Virginias beautiful Shenandoah Valley the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington D.C. and Richmond VA.

JMU is a selective public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21000 undergraduate and 1800 graduate students with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts science and technology and professional disciplines at the undergraduate masters and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

Mission Statement:
The Office of Residence Life is committed to designing and maintaining a caring
environment that encourages academic success respect personal growth and responsibility to ones community.

Optional Opportunity:
The successful candidate will have the option to work during the summer leading up to the fall 2026 semester.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Attend and participate in all meetings arranged by the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training and/or Residence Life.
Learn and adhere to Title II digital accessibility requirements in all communications and formats
Design and execute recruitment events in the fall semester including the RA Recruitment Fair
Connect with campus partners to provide additional recruitment-based events and opportunities (e.g. mock interview sessions with the Career Center attending the Part-Time Student Employment Fair hosted by Student Employment and participating in the Off Campus Services Housing Fair)
Work with the Social Media and Marketing Manager to creatively advertise all student staff positions within Residence Life as well as to update the ResLife Student Employment Hub website as needed
Manages the ResLife Student Jobs email to ensure that all questions are responded to in a timely manner
Plans the recruitment and selection timeline for the following academic year in accordance with the academic calendar
Co-leads the Resident Adviser and Undergraduate Hall Director selection process with the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training
Edits the Resident Adviser and Undergraduate Hall Director interview questions to better connect with each position as well as allow candidates the best opportunity to demonstrate their skills while interviewing
Maintains and updates selection and employment data within StarRez and on the ResLife Employment Portal in StarRez
Ensures that internal and campus partners are kept up to date on all hiring and employment information including staff resignations and terminations
Provides constructive feedback to student staff applicants who were not hired following selection notifications being distributed
Co-organizes the Community Sign-Up process with the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training in the spring semester
Provides support with Residence Life pre-service training and additional training throughout the year
Assists in planning and co-instructing the Psychology 100 class for new Resident Advisers
Trains Residence Life staff members on appropriate interview etiquette and how to utilize StarRez to input interview information
Assists the Assistant Director of Staff Selection and Training in planning Staff Kick-Off in the spring semester for the upcoming academic year

The GA for Selection & Training will be exposed to the purposeful application of the following student development career development counseling and/or organizational theories:
Career Development Theories (Holland Super)
Self- Authorship Theory and Learning Partnership Models (Baxter Magolda King)
Transition Theory (Nancy Schlossberg)
Cognitive Developmental Theories: (Kohlberg Belenky Gilligan)
Counseling Theories: (Reality Therapy Person-Centered Therapy Existentialist)
Involvement Theory (Astin)

The GA for Selection & Training will be able to participate in the following assessment and/or evaluation projects:
Program evaluation principles
Learning goal and learning outcome development
Assess and develop on-going staff training

The GA for Selection & Training will be evaluated and provided on-going feedback in the following ways
Weekly supervisory meetings
Midterm evaluation to occur no later than January of that academic year
Final evaluation to occur no later than May 5 of that academic year

Specific expectations include:
Lead the student staff recruitment and selection process
Communicate regularly with internal and campus partners throughout the year
Patience customer service skills and organization skills
Constructive and kind while providing feedback to applicants
Support the mission and activities of Learning Initiatives and Residence Life
Perform designated tasks in a timely organized and professional manner
Participate in Hall Director and Resident Adviser pre-service training during late July/August
Adaptable to change during events and while managing hiring
Maintain a positive attitude

Qualifications:

Must be admitted to and enrolled in a JMU graduate program for the 2026-2027 academic year
Demonstration of strong interpersonal leadership and administrative skills
Demonstration of strong communication skills
Demonstration of high ethical standards and strong work ethic
Creativity encouraged
Experience with programming/event management is encouraged
Experience with project management is encouraged

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:

Students may apply to a graduate assistantship prior to being accepted into a graduate program. However to be eligible to receive an assistantship upon entry into a graduate program the following criteria must be met:

The student must be conditionally or unconditionally accepted into a graduate program. Students who are provisionally accepted will not be eligible until they achieve conditional or unconditional acceptance into their program.

The students must have an official transcript on file indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or agency

After receiving an assistantship the student must maintain at least a 3.0 graduate GPA in order to retain or reapply for the assistantship.

These are minimum criteria. Graduate program coordinators have the right to impose additional criteria if they see fit.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age color disability gender identity or expression genetic information national origin parental status political affiliation race religion sex sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access inclusion and diversity for all students faculty staff constituents and programs believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: .

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are a student with a disability and need assistance please contact the Office of Disability Services at or You may also visit the Office of Disability Services located in the Student Success Center Suite 1202 and they will be happy to assist you.