Graduate Student Assistantship in SSW admissions for 2018-19 – apply by 4/5

Hi students,

This is a competitive graduate assistantship which comes with a full tuition waiver and monthly stipend. Currently, one or two positions will be available to begin in mid-September 2018. Application deadline: 11:59 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2018.

More information below:

https://socialwork.uw.edu/student-information-specialist

https://grad.uw.edu/graduate-student-funding/for-students/assistantships/

https://grad.uw.edu/graduate-student-funding/funding-information-for-departments/administering-assistantships/tara-salaries/

Eligibility

Consideration is highly competitive. Current MSW students are eligible to apply to this position, as well as prospective MSW students who are simultaneously applying for MSW admission. Current MSW Day and EDP students are eligible to apply but should note that the successful candidate will be expected to work 20 hours per week (including some evenings, weekends, and quarter breaks) primarily during weekday, daytime office hours (9:00-5:00).  EDP students registered for fewer than 10 credits per quarter may be eligible, but will need to submit a Petition for Reduced Enrollment (and have it be approved) in order to be eligible for a graduate assistantship appointment if offered the position.  Commitment is 50% FTE (with a maximum of 220 hours per quarter per Article 33 of the collective bargaining agreement between the UW and UAW local 4121).  The successful candidate must be enrolled as a Master of Social Work student for Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters.

Position Description

The Student Information Specialist (SIS) will be responsible for supporting the SSW Admission office’s efforts to assist and recruit prospective applicants to the School of Social Work, and for providing technical assistance to candidates throughout the application process. This is an academic year position (mid-September to mid-June) which, if applicable, can be renewable for the second or third year of the MSW program upon evaluation.  The successful candidate must be either a current or incoming MSW student, available to work 20 hours per week including some evenings, weekends, and quarter breaks to satsify the 220 hour (per quarter) expectation.  This position is supervised by the Recruitment Coordinator, in the Admissions office of the School of Social Work.  We seek a proactive self-starter who brings strong teamwork and multitasking skills, interpersonal and public speaking skills, and a passion for social justice.

Duties:

• Support BASW and MSW prospective students and applicants via drop-in advising, advising appointments, phone, email, and essay reviews.
• Develop and facilitate engaging presentations (information sessions, webinars) on campus at SSW, for prospective students.
• Lead electronic projects including coordination of a prospective student blog, social media posting, and/or development of videos and website content.
• Proactively identify and participate in community outreach activities (as schedules allow) such as: tabling at community events and cultural festivals, networking with community based organizations, and engaging in relationship building and multicultural outreach that supports the mission of the UW School of Social Work.  Examples might include outreach to nonprofits, social service agencies, high schools and community colleges.
• Proactively identify and participate in campus outreach activities, such as: BASW prerequisite class visits, student club outreach, Dawg Daze, writing workshops and/or movie nights.
• Assist Recruitment Coordinator with planning and coordination of SSW events including February BASW Open House and March/April MSW admitted student events.
• Propose, develop and monitor strategies and initiatives to support the goals of the Admissions Office. Maintain a sustained focus, within the larger scope of the position, on the impact of recruitment/outreach activities on diverse populations – including part-time (MSW Extended Degree Program) applicants and individuals from underrepresented backgrounds. Also, despite being a graduate student, maintain a sustained focus on BASW outreach in addition to supporting prospective MSW students.
• Other duties to support admissions/recruitment as assigned by the Recruitment Coordinator. Examples: coordinating class visit options for prospective MSW students, email projects, application processing support.

Required Qualifications:

• Must be a current or incoming MSW student, available to work 20 hours per week (primarily during weekday, daytime office hours) including some evenings, weekends, and quarter breaks.
• Must be enrolled as an MSW student for Fall, Winter and Spring quarters (mid-September through mid-June).
• High level of comfort and skill with public speaking, along with the ability to empathize with prospective students and anticipate questions/concerns.
• Excellent writing skills, with the ability to craft professional emails and provide meaningful essay and application feedback to applicants.
• Experience working with underrepresented groups which might include first-generation college students, students of color, veterans, international students, etc.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry display materials (boxes up to 50 pounds and table displays up to 6’ tall) at college fairs or campus/community events.
• Extended Degree Program students who are registered for less than 10 credits per quarter may be eligible, but are required to submit a petition for reduced enrollment in order to be eligible for a graduate assistantship appointment; they also must register for the typical classes that EDP students are expected to take.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of community organizations, social service agencies, schools, colleges and/or CBOs in Seattle and King County.
• Experience with UW initiatives and resources that support underrepresented students.
• Experience providing written feedback to others regarding essays, research papers, or other writings.
• Prior experience in an admissions or recruitment/outreach role, especially working with prospective students.

How to Apply

Please submit the following in PDF format:

1. Cover letter expressing interest, and how you meet the required qualifications, and (if applicable) any preferred qualifications.
2. Current résumé.
3. Responses to the three supplemental questions below. Please limit response to a maximum of approximately 500 words, for each answer (there is no need to include the question in your responses, unless you wish to):

• Recognizing that this is a competitive search and that the SIS position is open to both current as well as incoming MSW students, please tell us about any relevant knowledge or skills you possess and why you believe you’re a great fit for this position?
• If you were an SIS presenting an MSW information session to a room of 30 prospective students, what are the most important goals you would have for yourself during that presentation?
• Describe any experiences you have had that demonstrate your commitment to (or potential for) supporting individuals who are historically underrepresented in higher education. How do you see yourself helping to recruit and support these populations at the UW School of Social Work?

Email these items in PDF format (preferably as one combined document, if possible) by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, April 5, 2018 to Dave Morrin, search committee chair, at dmorrin@uw.edu.  Please type “Student Information Specialist ” as the email’s subject. Within five days, you will receive an email confirming that your materials have been received.  Keep this confirmation email for your records; failure to receive this response email from the search committee indicates that your materials were not successfully received and should be resent.

Selection Process and Notification

Initial review of complete applications will begin in mid-April. Competitive candidates may be invited to a phone and/or on-campus (or Skype) interview(s) in April/May, depending on scheduling availability and the competitiveness of the applicant pool.  It is anticipated that the successful candidate will ultimately be selected and notified via e-mail between mid-May and early June, and will have approximately two weeks from the date of offer to accept the position. Because prospective MSW students who are simultaneously applying for MSW admission will not receive an admission decision until the end of March, the review process for this position cannot begin until April since consideration for this position requires admission to the MSW program. There is no benefit to applying early; all applications received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date will receive full consideration (except SIS candidates who are not offered admission to the MSW program).

The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to office needs, and to the job description requirements. In anticipation of a competitive pool, only the strongest applicants who most closely meet the needs of the department will be invited to continue in the selection process. All candidates will be notified of their status via e-mail or phone by early June.

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