Join Our Team

The Graduate Student Center typically hires students on an annual basis, though we occasionally have positions open during the academic year. Graduate Fellows and Graduate Assistants contribute to the Grad Center’s role as the central hub of graduate student life at Penn, supporting and bringing together students from across the many disciplines, backgrounds, and cultures at Penn. We welcome your application. 

Please review the position descriptions below before applying for the role(s) for which you are most interested and qualified: 

Graduate Programming Fellows work as part of the Grad Center team to develop programs and resources that enhance the quality of personal development, social and cultural life, and to foster community for graduate and professional students at Penn. While broadly focused on supporting graduate student community at Penn, the ideas and initiative of the Fellows themselves define the range of activities and programs they implement. 

Programming Fellows work closely with a member of the professional staff as part of a program team in one of two broad programming areas:

• Graduate Life Programs
  Plan programs and events that promote a vibrant, engaged, and supportive graduate and professional student community at Penn. Fellows work closely with the Assistant Director to plan regular programs like our Fourth Fridays @ Five, and other activities to help foster a well-rounded graduate experience, including programs on maintaining a healthy school-life balance, personal development, social events, and building a sense of community.
   
• Academic & Intellectual Programs
  Plan programs to help graduate students be successful in all aspects of their academic work, with focuses on skill building, intellectual engagement, professional development, and a better understanding of the graduate experience. This includes the “Navigating the Academy” programs currently sponsored in part by GAPSA. Fellows work closely with the Associate Director to develop new programs, as well as to facilitate existing programs, such as our Dissertation Boot Camp.
   
• Writing Programs
  Plan programs to help graduate students be successful in all aspects of their academic writing. Fellows work closely with the Director and Associate Director to develop new programs that provide writing support to graduate and professional students, as well as to facilitate existing programs, such as our Dissertation Boot Camp, Graduate Writers Rooms, and Writing Accountability Groups.

General Responsibilities and Commitments:
Programming Fellows meet regularly with Grad Center staff and other fellows, organize regular events and workshops for graduate and professional students, and assist with outreach and publicity related to their programming area.  

In addition to program-specific activities, all fellows share a set of common responsibilities:

• Communicate regularly with your supervisor(s) and team members during business hours (M-F, 9-5 ET).  
   
• Plan and evaluate programming or materials in your program area
   
• Assist with large-scale events and programs, including New Student Orientation, graduation, and Dissertation Boot Camp, as needed

Fellows will be expected to work an average of 4-7 hours per week. The time commitment is generally flexible enough to accommodate various lab, coursework, clinical, research, and teaching schedules. However, some evening and weekend hours may be required, depending on the programming area and Center needs.
 

Compensation
Fellows receive $2500 per semester. 
 

Graduate Assistants work with members of the Grad Center professional staff and fellows to support essential functions of a bustling student center, serving over 16,000 graduate and professional students. Graduate Assistants contribute to the Grad Center’s role as the central hub of graduate student life at Penn, supporting and bringing together students from across the many disciplines, backgrounds, and cultures at Penn. Graduate Assistants must be detail-oriented, organized, and enjoy working with others. 

General Responsibilities and Commitments:
Graduate Assistants typically work 12-15 hours each week during the academic year (7-10 in summer), with shifts scheduled on a semesterly basis. The time commitment is generally flexible enough to accommodate various lab, coursework, clinical, research, and teaching schedules. Evening and/or weekend hours may be required. 

• Staffing the first floor information desk when the Grad Center is open, including answering calls and questions from guests. 
   
• Assisting with events or operations within the graduate lounge, as needed. 
   
• Managing the first floor Common Room space, including making coffee, updating resource table and bulletin board, and ensuring the space remains tidy and welcoming to visitors. 

• Assist with planning two Grad Center-wide team meetings each semester. 

• Assist with conducting regular inventory and ticket distributions, as well as with special projects, as needed. 

• Assist with passive programming and outreach within the Grad Center first floor area. 
   
• Assist with large-scale events and programs, including New Student Orientation, graduation, and Dissertation Boot Camp, as needed.

Compensation
Fellows are paid on an hourly basis. Our current pay rate is $20/hour.