RTNL Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships (GAs) let you gain experience in your field while working toward your degree. If you will be attending full-time, you can apply for GA positions within the recreation, tourism and nonprofit leadership MA program (see below), or apply for GA positions across campus in non-academic departments, such as student housing or student health and well-being. To find GA positions in other places across campus, review the Graduate Assistant Position Inventory. The availability of GA positions changes by the day, and the posting of a position does not imply that it will be available again the next year.  

Applications for most GA positions are due on February 1. However, additional positions may open up in non-academic departments later in the spring, so continue to check Handshake and the GA Inventory to apply for positions as they become available. 

If you are a full-time, on campus student, you can also apply for a graduate tuition scholarship. For additional information about graduate assistant positions and graduate funding, consult the Graduate College funding webpage.

Health, Recreation & Community Services

RTNL Departmental Graduate Assistantships

RTNL Outdoor Adventures (Open for 25-26)
Reports to

Kathleen Scholl (kathleen.scholl@uni.edu), Professor of Recreation, Tourism and Nonprofit Leadership

General Terms of Employment
  • For the Fall semester 20 or 10 hours per week, beginning August 25, 2025 and ending December 19, 2025 (dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar)
  • For the Spring semester 20 or 10 hours per week, beginning January 20, 2026 and ending May 15, 2026 (dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar)
Compensation
  • Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,000.00 for half-time (10 hours) and $6,000.00 for full-time (20 hours) per semester and may be prorated depending on start date (exact stipend rate for 25-26 to be determined)
  • Graduate Assistants may qualify for in-state tuition and fees
    Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims
    between semesters
  • For more information on the Graduate Assistantship System and procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/graduate-funding/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship
Position Description
  • Trips and Activities Program:  1) Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First-Aid Certified  preferred or willing to obtain before the start date. 2)  Good driving record. 3) University 15-passenger van certification training within 1 month after start date.
  • Work closely with the other Outdoor Adventure GA (if applicable).
  • Collaborate with RTNL secretary to oversee the administration of Outdoor Adventure Trips, manage trip and workshop (Blackthorn) registration systems to ensure accurate participation information, and keep trip managers and coordinators informed of trip participant registration numbers. Post the trip and workshop offerings on the Outdoor Adventures webpage with links to Blackthorn.
  • Handles trip expenses, works with RTNL secretary to create Travel Requests for trips, and manages purchases for trips
  • Instruct outdoor activity courses for the RTNL academic program, such as Rock Climbing, Canoeing, and Backpacking
  • Manage transportation logistics for outdoor trips.
  • Collaborate and develop Qualtrics Surveys and other data collection methods for program assessments and evaluations, such as participant trip surveys, cost-benefit analysis, etc.
  • Work with RTNL Recruitment GA to provide information about Outdoor Adventures.  
  • Oversees the marketing of Outdoor Adventures activities. Collaborate and assist the Photo Archivist with visual images to be displayed on digital boards. Coordinate and assist with Outdoor Education and Leadership Alliance (OELA) and its growth and development.
  • Serve as Teaching Assistant (TA) for Outdoor Adventure courses such as the trip coordinator seminar.  Run debrief sessions with coordinators post trip. 
  • Weekly meeting with supervisor. Perform other duties assigned. 
General Qualifications
  • Must be a full-time, degree-seeking student in a UNI graduate program
  • Maintain a UNI cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate
    students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least a 2.75
  • Have an official transcript on file in the Office of Admissions
  • Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program
  • Must meet UNI’s employment eligibility
Preferred Qualifications
  • A full-time, degree seeking student in a University of Northern Iowa graduate program
  • Must be enrolled in 9 credit hours applying to the graduate degree
  • Maintain a plan (and cumulative) GPA of at least 3.00
  • Prefer past experience in research projects, excellent writing and communication skills,
    computer skills with Excel and SPSS
Application Process and Deadline

To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach your resume. Direct your application
to Alisa Weeks. Applications received by January 15, 2025 will be given full consideration.

RTNL Recruitment, Communications and Marketing (Filled for 24-25)
Reports to

Kathleen Scholl (kathleen.scholl@uni.edu), Department Head of Health, Recreation and Community Services

General Terms of Employment

  • For the Fall semester 10 hours per week, beginning August 26, 2024 and ending December 20, 2024 (dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar)
  • For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 21, 2025 and ending May 16, 2025 (dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar)

Compensation

  • Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,000.00 for half-time per semester and may be prorated depending on start date
  • Graduate Assistants may qualify for in-state tuition and fees
    Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims
    between semesters
  • For more information on the Graduate Assistantship System and procedures review  https://grad.uni.edu/graduate-funding/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship
Position Description

The Recreation, Tourism, and Community Services (RTNL) program at UNI is looking for a highly motivated and dynamic MA Graduate Assistant to join our team. The selected candidate will be responsible for improving the outreach of our undergraduate RTNL program by implementing effective marketing strategies and communication methods to attract potential students. This is a crucial role that requires excellent communication and organizational skills.

Responsibilities
  1. Marketing and Recruitment Management:
  • Evaluate marketing campaigns to attract prospective students to the program and provide suggestion and edits. Attend marketing meetings. 
  • Monitor prospective student list (Salesforce) and Panther Visit Lists.
  • Reach out to prospective student via email, postcard, or text.
  • Update RTNL webpage upon request. 
  • Post digital slides upon request
  1. Event Planning and Execution:
  • Represent the program at recruitment fairs and other relevant events to engage with prospective students and provide information.
  • Attend Panther Browsing Fair and arrange for other students or faculty to co-attend
  • Manage Admissions Daily Visits of prospective RTNL students.
  1. Data Analysis and Reporting:
  • Track the effectiveness of recruitment strategies through data analysis and feedback. (e.g., analyze outreach to recent campus visit students)
  • Provide updates on the success of marketing campaigns and recruitment events.
  • Use insights to make data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
  • Weekly meetings with Supervisor.

4. Instruct activity classes in the RTNL activity program such as hip hop fitness.

General Qualifications
  • Must be a full-time, degree-seeking student in a UNI graduate program 
  • Maintain a UNI cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.0
  • Have an official transcript on file in the Office of Admissions
  • Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program
  • Must meet UNI’s employment eligibility 
Preferred Qualifications
  • Prefer past experience in research projects, excellent writing and communication skills, computer skills with Excel and SPSS.  
Application Process and Deadline


To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach your resume. Direct your application
to Alisa Weeks. Applications received by March 1, 2024 will be given full consideration.

RTNL Sesquicentennial Historical Archives (Open for Spring 25)
Reports to

Rodney Dieser (rodney.dieser@uni.edu), Professor of Recreation, Tourism and Nonprofit Leadership

General Terms of Employment

For the Spring semester, 10 hours per week, beginning January 21, 2025, and ending May 16, 2025 

Compensation
  • Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,000.00 for a half-time (10 hours) position and may be prorated depending on the start date
  • Graduate Assistants may qualify for in-state tuition and fees
  • Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters

For more information on the Graduate Assistantship System and procedures, review
https://grad.uni.edu/graduate-funding/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship

Position Description
  • Research, preserve, manage, and make accessible historical records of the 150 years of UNI’s Recreation, Tourism, and Nonprofit Leadership/Leisure, Youth, and Human Services program origins with information that can tell the story and showcase the RTNL program’s evolution.
    • To identify alumni who made a significant impact on UNI during or after their time at the university who should be added to the program’s evolution (e.g., prominent UNI student leadership roles or distinguished UNI awards, exceptional professional achievements in RTNL, exceptional Services and Philanthropy, etc)
    • Conduct interviews with program alumni to emphasize leadership, community impact, innovation, and the transformative power of recreation. Example questions:  1) "Please share a specific memory from your time in the RTNL program that made a lasting impact on you." 2) "Tell a story about a moment when you witness the power of leisure or recreation to change lives, either during your studies or career.”
  • Create an interpretive display featuring the story and showcase the RTNL program’s evolution with possible items such as alumni photos, graduation years, and quotations from their interview responses.
  • Collaborate with the Department Faculty and Secretary to design and finalize the historical and alumni display.
  • If time permits, assist Dr. Dieser with a historical research project by locating research articles on leisure education from the past 10 years.
  • Other RTNL duties as assigned.
Qualifications
  • Must be a full-time, degree-seeking student in a UNI graduate program.
  • Must be enrolled in 9 graduate credits each semester of assistantship.
  • Maintain a UNI cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. A newly admitted graduate student must have at least a 2.75 GPA for undergraduate or previous graduate work of at least 8 graded credit hours.
  • Have an official transcript on file in the Office of Admissions
  • Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program
  • Must meet UNI’s employment eligibility 

Job Specific Qualifications

  • Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Attention to detail in written work
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Strong computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Facebook, video streaming
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new technology

  • Demonstrated problem-solving abilities

    Application Process

    To apply, submit the Assistantship application form by November 19, 2024. 

Office of Community Engagement (Filled for Spring 25)
Reports to

Julianne Gassman (julianne.gassman@uni.edu), Director of Community Engagement

General Terms of Employment
  • For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 21, 2025 and ending May 16, 2025 (dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar)
Compensation
  • Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,000.00 for a 10-hour per week position per
    semester and may be prorated depending on start date
  • Graduate Assistants may qualify for in-state tuition and fees
    Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims
    between semesters
  • For more information on the Graduate Assistantship System and procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/graduate-funding/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-sc…

Position Description:

  • Plan and facilitate student volunteer events, MLK Day of Service,  blood drives, days of service events, volunteer training, etc. 
  • Serve as the initial access point for student and student group volunteer requests in collaboration with the Volunteer Center for the Cedar Valley
  • Update and develop educational materials to raise awareness of the of the Office of Community Engagement related to student, faculty and staff community engagement/service
  • Enhance and elevate events, including The Annual Town Hall for Community Engagement, Student Community Engagement Fair, and the Cedar Valley Nonprofit Awards Luncheon, Community Engagement Celebration Day, and other events as needed.
  • Collect data from student organizations, faculty, and staff for the community engagement database 
  • Create & publish content to the UNI Community Engagement Website and other platforms (including social media)  
  • Create promotional materials such as brochures, newsletters, and pamphlets for Community Engagement at UNI as well as for any service events that occur. 
  • Assist in the creation and distribution of the Office of Community Engagement monthly newsletter 
  • Other duties as assigned 

General Qualifications:

  • Must be a full-time, degree-seeking student in a UNI graduate program 
  • Maintain a UNI cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least a 3.0
  • Have an official transcript on file in the Office of Admissions
  • Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program
  • Must meet UNI’s employment eligibility 

Job Specific Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills
  • Attention to detail in written work
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently
  • Strong computer skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Facebook, video streaming
  • Demonstrated ability to learn and apply new technology
  • Demonstrated problem solving abilities

Application Process and Deadline:

To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach your resume and a letter of application addressing your interest and skill set as they relate to this position to julianne.gassman@uni.edu. Applications received by March 1, 2024 will be given full consideration.

Incomplete application packages and/or applications with spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors will not be considered.

Additional Employment Options

Graduate students may also apply for student employment across campus.  In comparison with graduate assistant positions--which require 10 or 20 hours of work per week for a semester--student employment positions may be more flexible in terms of hours and commitment.