• Job Type: Short Term Casual
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 5/29/2026
• Hours Per Week: 20
• Salary Range: $26.00 - $26.00

Position Summary

University Life was created to develop and enhance the student experience at Columbia University. Working in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life focuses on enhancing the student experience by strengthening resources, policies, and conversations, and building community outside of the classroom. Our efforts all connect to core values for the Columbia community:

• Inclusion and Belonging
• Health and Well-being
• Sexual Respect
• Community Citizenship

University Life is a central division focused on enhancing the student experience across Columbia’s 17 schools and colleges. We serve as a student life hub for the University and are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives. In University Life, we focus on connecting students to each other, to the broader University and surrounding community, and to opportunities beyond their schools. 

We work to educate students about Columbia’s values and policies, as well as share essential and timely information with students from the University. Through our programs, services, and partnerships, we support students’ educational enrichment during their time at Columbia.

The Graduate Assistant (GA) will support student life initiatives by assisting with events, student outreach, and office operations. Working closely with the Associate Director for Student Life and the broader University Life team, the GA will help foster an engaging, inclusive, and welcoming campus environment.

Graduate assistants will be paid $26/hour for approximately 20 hours per week throughout the academic year. The Assistantship will run from August 2025 through May 2026, with the possibility of starting earlier and/or extending into the summer and the following year.

Responsibilities

• Orientation & Welcome Week - Assist with school orientations, resource fairs, and University Life’s Welcome Week events. Plan and lead GA-run programs during the first two weeks of the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Student Events & Activities - Support the planning, logistics, and staffing of small and large-scale events such as study breaks, engagement programming, and signature University Life events. Includes helping with event set-up, breakdown, and transporting supplies.
• Student Engagement & Office Support - Welcome students in the office (Kent 202), help maintain a clean and organized workspace, and ensure event supplies are put away post-event.
• Marketing & Media - Design event materials and flyers, draft event descriptions, and collaborate with the Communications team to promote events and initiatives effectively.
• Data Collection & Reporting - Track attendance and collect feedback at events. Create reports to showcase impact and help inform future programming.
• Administrative Work - Assist with various office tasks that support the daily operations of the Student Life and University Life teams, including managing inventory, preparing meeting materials, updating spreadsheets or tracking documents, responding to emails, and supporting other behind-the-scenes logistics.
• Special Projects - As assigned and based on office needs.

Minimum Qualifications

• Candidates must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University and agree to a disciplinary check.
• Ideal candidates will have experience and interest in student affairs and student development and are ready to join a fast-paced office environment
• Applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students in the New York area.
• Graduate assistants will also work on many other projects on a rolling basis and we are looking for candidates that are flexible, creative, and have the ability to work both independently and in groups.
• This is an in-person Assistantship.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.