Dozens of students participated in this year’s GA Days, a three-day event hosted in February by the Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs program for graduate students pursuing graduate assistantships in the M.Ed., Ed.S. and Ph.D. programs.
The event kicked off with prospective students for the master’s program gathering in the Read Room in White Hall, where they were welcomed by Higher Ed program coordinator Tara Hudson, Ph.D. Hudson was joined by Assistant Professor Erica Eckert, Ph.D., and Associate Professor Martha Merrill, Ph.D., who spoke about internships and program certifications.
The next two days were held in the Student Center, where prospective graduate assistants and local employers were paired based on preferences. In-person and virtual interviews were held afterwards to determine if pupils and proprietors were a good fit. Although due to the uptick of international students applying for assistantships this year, the organizers took a different approach with the interview process.
“We ended up spreading the meetings across two days to include in-person interviews one day and virtual appointments the next day for the international students who couldn’t be on campus,” said Raena Temelkoff, a graduate assistant in the Higher Education Administration program and event organizer. “It worked well because employers didn’t have to toggle back and forth between in-person and virtual interviews on the same day.”
Some of the employers in attendance included 91ֿ, Case Western Reserve University, the University of Mount Union, and the Cleveland Institute of Art.
GA Days allows students to gain experience with supervisory roles in various university departments, like organizing student activities with the Division of Student Life, working in the residence halls for University Housing, organizing campus tours and presentations through University Admissions, or working with alumni through the Division of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement. Outside institutions offer other employment opportunities. Study abroad is also available.
Students were given information about, and encouraged to meet with, academic advisors. The orientation also included a faculty panel that answered students’ questions. Current graduate assistants shared their experiences with the program and provided networking opportunities for incoming students. The day ended with a walking tour of the Kent Campus.
“One of the hallmarks of 91ֿ’s Higher Education Administration and Student Affairs master’s program are the ample opportunities we provide for students to apply what they’re learning in our classes to their practice as educators through graduate assistantships and internships,” said Hudson. “By the time our students graduate, they’re well versed in our field and established professionals working to advance higher education.”
To learn more about GA Days, visit the program’s website.