Appointments, Retirements, and Searches

  • Graduate Assistantship Position: EcoHouse LC

    The Office of First Year Programs and Learning Communities (FYP&LC) anticipates a Graduate Assistantship position opening to work with the EcoHouse learning community.

    EcoHouse is a dynamic Living & Learning community for students interested in developing a better understanding of environmental and sustainability issues. Undergraduate students live together, learn from each other and build rich and lasting friendships. EcoHouse will be entering its 7th year of operation and currently serves 60+ students representing a number of different majors. The community is primarily composed of first and second year students. The prime goal of EcoHouse is to enhance the academic success of its students. In addition, students engage in service-learning activities designed to develop their personal and professional skills.

    Learning Communities are a proven pedagogy that can provide intentionality and integration amongst undergraduate students’ curricular, co-curricular and residential experiences. They become a foundation for a creative and holistic approach to education. They help first-year students in their transition to college and encourage all students to become engaged on campus; they enable students to have regular one-on-one or small group interaction with faculty, advisors, staff, and peer mentors; they emphasize undergraduate research and experiential learning; and they develop intentionality and interdisciplinary habits of mind that encourage students to become life-long learners.

    Duties and Responsibilities

    1. Plan, implement, manage, and evaluate EcoHouse activities including all related budgeting, scheduling, marketing, recruitment; assuming greater responsibility until students become proficient in programming and organizational skills
    2. Instruct, co-instruct or support credit bearing courses that develop environmental competence of students and help their transition to UConn; assist in the development of curriculum; plan and implement class activities; develop and maintain community partnerships that lead to service-learning opportunities for students, supervise project teams and, assess student learning
    3. Advise and mentor students utilizing individual and group strategies; holding weekly office hours within EcoHouse residence hall
    4. Provide advisement to EcoHouse student groups/committees; set individual and group performance standards; manage work-flow; evaluate individual and group performance; and provide regular oversight and feedback
    5. Assist in the development of EcoHouse marketing and public relations efforts; ensure that all print and electronic materials are current and accurate; organize and deliver individual and group presentations; write articles for university and/or program newsletters, blogs, websites, etc.
    6. Act as a liaison between EcoHouse, key students and faculty and staff stakeholders from throughout the university; send periodic updates, coordinate meetings as needed, and complete public presentation as needed
    7. Staff at least one weekend or weeklong alternative break & immersion trip; provide advisement to student leader(s); assist with student supervision; facilitation of reflection activities; actively participate in group service projects
    8. Connect students with relevant faculty, programs, and events occurring across campus, encouraging engagement and student development
    9. Communicate regularly with EcoHouse director and designated staff within Office of First Year Program and Learning Communities, and complete other duties as assigned

    Commitment: 20 hours per week; schedule will vary based on availability and programmatic needs. Weekend and evening hours are required in order to attend related events.

    Qualifications: Strong written and verbal communication; demonstrated supervisory/advisory experience; strong leadership, organizational and programming skills; demonstrated ability to relate to diverse populations; demonstrated experience with Microsoft Office programs; and must be enrolled in appropriate graduate program at UConn

    Preferred Qualifications: 1+ years experience supervising college students; experience with events coordination and event management; experience leading or participating in service-learning or experiential activities; related professional experience; enrollment in a related UConn PhD program; teaching experience; valid driver’s license

    Application Process: Interested candidates should send a: letter of interest; resume/CV; and names and contact information for three professional references to: Melissa Foreman, Assistant Director, Learning Community Program, Office of First Year Programs and Learning Communities at Melissa.Foreman@uconn.edu. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The University of Connecticut is an EEO/AA employer.

    For more information, contact: Melissa Foreman at melissa.foreman@uconn.edu