Academic Program Assistant Jobs Near Me

The Residential Life Program Assistant is a part-time student leadership position within Residential Life & Dining Services. Program Assistants support the planning, implementation, promotion, and assessment of programs for students living on campus. This position provides students with opportunities to develop the skills necessary to independently plan and lead engaging events. Program Assistants will work closely with professional staff, Resident Assistants, Moderators, and campus partners to create programs that support the Residential Life Curriculum learning outcomes of Belonging, Wellness, Life Skills, and Intercultural Community. Program Assistants will begin by supporting existing departmental programs and will progressively take on greater responsibility for developing and leading new, creative, and inclusive events.

Interviews will begin on September 1, hiring decisions will be made by September 9, and the selected candidates will begin work on September 14.

• Assist professional staff with planning and implementing programs for the residential community. Attend and actively participate in weekly Residential Life Curriculum meetings.
• Help identify programming needs, emerging student interests, and opportunities to support the residential community.
• Develop new programs that align with the Residential Life Curriculum learning outcomes of Belonging, Wellness, Life Skills, and Intercultural Community.
• Partner with professional staff to plan and implement Late Night @ Smith events throughout the academic year.
• Collaborate with Resident Assistants, Moderators, student organizations, and campus departments on residential programs.
• Assist with event logistics, including reserving spaces, organizing supplies, creating timelines, coordinating activities, and communicating with campus partners.
• Help prepare event materials, signage, decorations, activity instructions, and other program resources.
• Promote programs through approved communication methods, including flyers, digital signage, email, social media, and Engage.
• Assist with program set-up, participant check-in, event facilitation, and clean-up.
• Provide welcoming and inclusive customer service to program participants.
• Track program attendance and collect participant feedback.
• Complete program assessments and provide updates regarding program outcomes, challenges, and recommendations.
• Help maintain an organized inventory of programming supplies and communicate supply or purchasing needs to professional staff.
• Attend regular meetings with the supervisor to review upcoming events, assigned responsibilities, and progress on current projects.
• Communicate proactively about availability, scheduling conflicts, deadlines, and program needs. Follow university policies, department expectations, purchasing procedures, and event safety requirements.
• Complete other programming and administrative responsibilities as assigned.

• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organization and time-management skills.
• Reliability, punctuality, and ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, professional staff, campus partners, and members of the university community.
• Willingness to take initiative and progressively assume greater responsibility for programs.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and adapt when program plans change.
• Positive attitude and commitment to creating welcoming and inclusive events.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Comfort using email, Google Workspace, Engage, digital communication tools, and basic office technology.

This position provides practical experience in event planning, project management, leadership, marketing, assessment, communication, budgeting, teamwork, problem-solving, and community engagement. Program Assistants will gain experience moving an event from an initial idea through planning, promotion, implementation, and assessment. These transferable skills can benefit students pursuing careers in higher education, student affairs, event management, marketing, communications, education, nonprofit work, recreation, community engagement, or other leadership-focused fields.

Note: Employment sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Commitment: 12 hours per week max ($15.00 per hour)

Term: (2026-2027) Fall & Spring, temporary, part-time position