About this role
Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community. This position is available only to enrolled American University students.
Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid. Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process. Department:
Student Equity, Access & Retention
Time Type: Part time
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Job Description:
Summary:
The Center for Student Belonging (CSB) is one of the key units within the Student Engagement portfolio of the Division of Student Affairs. CSB fosters an inclusive, identity-conscious, and belonging driven campus environment where students can explore their identities, build connections, and develop leadership skills. Graduate Assistants are central to the Center’s mission, helping to plan and implement programs, support students, and contribute to a campus culture that promotes belonging and community engagement.
The Student Belonging Initiatives Graduate Coordinator advances the Center for Student Belonging’s (CSB) commitment to creating an affirming, inclusive, and student-centered campus environment through the coordination and implementation of key student belonging initiatives, including the Daily Essentials Cabinet, Rooted in Culture Heritage Celebrations, and Student Engagement Initiatives.
Reporting to the Associate Director(s), the Graduate Coordinator supports the planning, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of programs designed to strengthen students’ sense of belonging, connection, engagement, and access to essential resources. The Graduate Coordinator works closely with CSB staff, campus partners, student leaders, and community stakeholders to develop meaningful opportunities for students to build community, celebrate identity and culture, access resources, and engage with the broader university community.
This position combines program coordination, student engagement, community building, resource navigation, event management, and assessment. The Graduate Coordinator will assist in identifying student needs, developing responsive programming, coordinating logistics and communications, collecting and analyzing participation and feedback data, and translating student experiences into recommendations that strengthen CSB initiatives.
Through this work, the Graduate Coordinator contributes to CSB’s broader mission of fostering a campus environment where students feel seen, supported, connected, affirmed, and empowered to thrive.
Essential Functions
1.) Coordinate the Daily Essentials Cabinet
• Support the day-to-day operations, accessibility, and sustainability of the Daily Essentials Cabinet as a resource available to students.
• Monitor inventory, usage patterns, and student needs to help ensure the Cabinet remains responsive to the needs of the campus community.
• Assist with procurement, organization, restocking, and maintenance of essential items.
• Develop and maintain relationships with campus and community partners that can support the Cabinet through donations, resources, or collaborative initiatives.
• Track utilization and identify trends that may inform future resource offerings and student support strategies.
• Promote awareness of the Daily Essentials Cabinet through outreach, campus communications, tabling, events, and student engagement efforts.
• Ensure the Cabinet is implemented in ways that protect student dignity, accessibility, privacy, and sense of belonging.
2.) Support Rooted in Culture Heritage Celebrations
• Assist with the planning, coordination, and implementation of CSB’s Rooted in Culture heritage celebrations and related cultural programming.
• Collaborate with CSB staff, student organizations, faculty, staff, and campus partners to develop culturally responsive programs that recognize and celebrate the identities, histories, experiences, and contributions of students and communities.
• Support event logistics, including space reservations, catering, vendors, supplies, schedules, registration, volunteer coordination, and event-day operations.
• Assist with identifying and coordinating speakers, performers, artists, community partners, and other contributors.
• Support the development of promotional materials and outreach strategies to increase student participation and engagement.
• Ensure programs are accessible, welcoming, and responsive to the diverse experiences of the American University community.
• Gather student and participant feedback to assess the effectiveness and impact of heritage celebrations and identify opportunities for continued improvement.
3.) Develop and Support Student Engagement Initiatives
• Assist in developing and implementing student engagement opportunities that foster connection, community, belonging, and participation across the university.
• Collaborate with student leaders and student organizations to identify emerging interests, needs, and opportunities for engagement.
• Support CSB workshops, social programs, community-building initiatives, and other engagement opportunities throughout the academic year.
• Develop strategies to engage students who may be less connected to traditional campus programming or who experience barriers to participation.
• Assist with outreach and recruitment efforts designed to increase awareness and participation in CSB programs and services.
• Create opportunities for students to provide feedback, share experiences, and contribute to the development of future initiatives.
• Support initiatives that encourage students to develop leadership, community connection, and a sense of ownership within the CSB community.
4.) Support Program Planning and Implementation
• Assist CSB staff in developing annual program plans, timelines, goals, and implementation strategies for assigned initiatives.
• Coordinate program logistics and ensure that activities are implemented effectively and in alignment with CSB priorities.
• Develop project timelines, task lists, event plans, and other organizational tools to support successful program implementation.
• Communicate regularly with campus partners, vendors, student leaders, and other stakeholders to coordinate program activities.
• Support the development and implementation of student-centered programs that respond to emerging campus needs and priorities.
• Assist with managing program-related supplies, materials, and resources.
• Participate in CSB planning meetings and contribute ideas related to student engagement, belonging, and community building.
5.) Assess Student Engagement and Program Impact
• Develop and implement appropriate methods for collecting student feedback and evaluating the effectiveness of assigned programs and initiatives.
• Track participation, engagement, utilization, and other relevant program indicators.
• Develop surveys, feedback forms, focus groups, interviews, and other assessment tools as appropriate.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative information to identify student needs, trends, successes, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure assessment practices are inclusive, accessible, culturally responsive, and aligned with CSB’s mission and values.
• Translate assessment findings into practical recommendations for program enhancement.
• Contribute to annual program reviews and reports that demonstrate program reach, impact, and areas for continued development.
6.) Advance Student-Centered and Culturally Responsive Practice
• Center student voice and lived experience in the development, implementation, and assessment of CSB initiatives.
• Apply principles of equity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural responsiveness to program planning and implementation.
• Identify barriers that may prevent students from accessing resources or participating in CSB programs and recommend strategies to address those barriers.
• Support the development of programs that recognize and affirm the diverse identities, experiences, and cultural backgrounds represented within the university community.
• Maintain an awareness of emerging student needs, campus trends, and best practices related to belonging, engagement, and student success.
7.) Develop Communications and Outreach
• Assist with developing outreach strategies that effectively communicate CSB programs, resources, and opportunities to students.
• Draft and distribute student-facing communications, including email announcements, newsletters, social media content, flyers, and event reminders.
• Collaborate with CSB staff and campus communications partners to ensure messaging is accurate, accessible, inclusive, and aligned with CSB branding.
• Support the development of marketing materials for Rooted in Culture celebrations, Daily Essentials Cabinet initiatives, and student engagement programs.
• Identify innovative strategies for reaching students through digital, in-person, and peer-to-peer communication channels.
8.) Build and Maintain Campus Partnerships
• Develop collaborative relationships with campus departments, student organizations, faculty, staff, and community partners.
• Identify opportunities for cross-campus collaboration that strengthen student belonging and engagement.
• Coordinate with campus partners to connect students with additional resources and services when appropriate.
• Represent CSB at meetings, events, and collaborative initiatives as assigned.
• Maintain professional and responsive communication with partners and stakeholders.
9.) Maintain Program Systems and Documentation
• Maintain accurate records related to program participation, events, resources, partnerships, and assessment activities.
• Utilize appropriate university platforms and tools to manage registration, communication, data collection, and program tracking.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, event planning documents, resource guides, and other program documentation.
• Maintain organized records to support continuity and institutional knowledge across academic years.
• Assist with tracking program budgets, expenditures, purchasing, and other administrative processes as assigned.
10.) Support Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement
• Contribute to CSB’s annual strategic planning and program review processes.
• Use student feedback, participation data, emerging needs, and program outcomes to inform recommendations for future programming.
• Identify opportunities to expand, improve, or reimagine student belonging initiatives.
• Assist with developing short- and long-term goals for assigned initiatives.
• Contribute to reports, presentations, and other materials that communicate program accomplishments, challenges, and future priorities.
• Participate in ongoing professional development related to student affairs, belonging, engagement, cultural programming, and student support.
11.) Other Duties
• Attend and support CSB events outside of regular business hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Participate in CSB staff meetings, retreats, professional development, and planning activities.
• Support other Center for Student Belonging programs and initiatives as needed.
• Assist with special projects related to student belonging, engagement, access, retention, and success.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Associate Director(s) or designated CSB leadership.
Competencies:
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to student belonging, equity, inclusion, and access.
• Experience working with college students and/or student organizations.
• Strong event planning and project management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
• Cultural humility and the ability to work effectively across differences.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Interest in using student feedback and data to improve programs and services.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.
• Creativity and initiative in developing student-centered engagement opportunities.
• Advising and Supporting: Addresses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to providing advising and support to individuals and groups through direction, feedback, critique, referral, and guidance. Through developing advising and supporting strategies that take into account self-knowledge and the needs of others, we play critical roles in advancing the holistic wellness of ourselves, our students, and our colleagues.
• Social Justice and Inclusion: While there are many conceptions of social justice and inclusion in various contexts, for the purposes of this competency area, it is defined here as both a process and a goal which includes the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to create learning environments that foster equitable participation of all groups while seeking to address and acknowledge issues of oppression, privilege, and power. This competency involves student affairs educators who have a sense of their own agency and social responsibility that includes others, their community, and the larger global context. Student affairs educators may incorporate social justice and inclusion competencies into their practice through seeking to meet the needs of all groups, equitably distributing resources, raising social consciousness, and repairing past and current harms on campus communities.
• Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: The Assessment, Evaluation, and Research competency area focuses on the ability to design, conduct, critique, and use various AER methodologies and the results obtained from them, to utilize AER processes and their results to inform practice, and to shape the political and ethical climate surrounding AER processes and uses in higher education.
• Leadership: The Leadership competency area addresses the knowledge, skills, and dispositions required of a leader, with or without positional authority.
• Leadership involves both the individual role of a leader and the leadership process of individuals working together to envision, plan, and affect change in organizations and respond to broad-based constituencies and issues. This can include working with students, student affairs colleagues, faculty, and community members.
• Organizational and Human Resources: The Organizational and Human Resources competency area includes knowledge, skills, and aptitude used in the management of institutional human capital, financial, and physical resources. This competency area recognizes that student affairs professionals bring personal strengths and grow as managers through challenging themselves to build new skills in the selection, supervision, motivation, and formal evaluation of staff; resolution of conflict; management of the politics of organizational discourse; and the effective application of strategies and techniques associated with financial resources, facilities management, fundraising, technology, crisis management, risk management, and sustainable resources.
• Student Learning and Development: The Student Learning and Development competency area addresses the concepts and principles of student development and learning theory. This includes the ability to apply theory to improve and inform student affairs and teaching practice.
• Technology: The Technology competency area focuses on the use of digital tools, resources, and technologies for the advancement of student learning, development, and success as well as the improved performance of student affairs professionals. Included within this area are knowledge, skills, and dispositions that lead to the generation of digital literacy and digital citizenship within communities of students, student affairs professionals, faculty members, and colleges and universities.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
• Part-time.
• 20 hours per week.
Salary Range:
• $19.40 per hour.
Required Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Enrollment in AU’s School of Education graduate programs.
• Experience in student programming and/or leadership development.
Preferred Education and Experience:
• Experience designing or leading large-scale student programs.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Experience working effectively with diverse constituencies.
• Collaborative work style and team orientation.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
1.) Learning and Professional Development Opportunities
• Student affairs and higher education administration.
• Student belonging and engagement.
• Cultural and heritage programming.
• Event planning and program management.
• Basic program assessment and evaluation.
• Student leadership development.
• Community partnership development.
• Resource coordination and basic program operations.
• Marketing, communications, and student outreach.
• Data-informed decision-making.
• Equity-centered and culturally responsive student support practices.
2.) Work Environment
• Primarily in-person, with occasional virtual support.
• Flexible scheduling with an expected part-time commitment of up to 20 hours per week.
• Position requires collaboration with students, staff, and campus partners.
• Evening availability and core day availability (Wednesday, Thursday, and/or Friday).
Other Details
• This position is available only to enrolled American University students.
• Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
• American University is an E-Verify employer.
• Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.
Current American University Employees American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Contact Us For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email theworkline@american.edu. American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities.