Graduate Assistant, Graduate Student Writing Support
Position Title: Graduate Assistant for Graduate Student Writing Support
Available 2026-2028
Department: School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS)
Reports to: Coordinator of Student Services for SGPS
Position Summary
The graduate assistant for graduate writing support at Messiah University supports graduate students across the university during the academic year. Supervised by the coordinator of student services for SGPS and supported by the director of the Writing Center, the assistant is a member of the Writing Center team focused on supporting graduate students. Responsibilities include providing one-on-one support sessions (primarily online) and occasional group writing coaching sessions (also primarily online); conducting workshops, trainings, and information sessions (online and/or in person); researching best practices for writing support; attending and periodically providing trainings for Writing Center staff meetings; and contributing writing skills content for the SGPS orientation webpage. The role also involves assessing student writing needs, training additional graduate writing coaches as needed, and occasionally assisting the undergraduate Writing Center tutors when time allows, and undergraduate demand is high. Candidates should demonstrate professionalism, strong interpersonal skills, a high degree of writing knowledge, a willingness to learn various citation styles, and preferably have prior writing or tutoring experience.
During the academic year, the GA is expected to work an average of 20 hours per week.
Education Required: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience Required: Writing support and/or tutoring experience preferred
Skills, Characteristics Required for Position:
Strong writing skills and/or prior experience with tutoring or writing support.
Capacity to work closely with students from all disciplines and professional areas in the graduate programs at Messiah University.
Ability to take initiative to learn new technologies, identify and access resources, and implement best practices in writing support.
Comfort with providing one-on-one and group coaching, primarily online, and conducting workshops or information sessions both in-person and online.
Ability and willingness to learn various citation styles (e.g., APA, AMA, Chicago), grammar, mechanics, and writing as a process.
Professional and positive interpersonal skills and intercultural competence.
Christian faith commitment required
Special Working Conditions:
Frequent weekend and evening work as priorities demand.
Primary Duties:
Lead one-on-one writing support sessions with graduate students.
Set up and maintain scheduling for graduate students for writing support sessions.
Research writing centers, writing skills, and tutoring best practices (including AI usage) to lead university efforts to support graduate student writers from all disciplines.
Meet regularly with the Coordinator of Graduate Student Services to assess the current writing support needs of the graduate school and to determine and prioritize work tasks and work hours.
Meet as needed with the director of the Writing Center for guidance and troubleshooting in the areas of writing skills, writing tutoring, and administering support.
Collaborate with graduate faculty to provide high quality writing support for specific student assignments.
As requested by the Writing Center director, participate in Writing Center staff meetings and periodically offer trainings to the center’s undergraduate writing tutors.
Demonstrate cultural competence in working with students, particularly with multilingual writers.
Provide current and useful content for SGPS orientation webpage.
Create and present information sessions and writing-related workshops for grad students and specific classes, in-person and online.
Assess students’ writing needs and prioritize higher order concerns to address the students’ learning needs.
Recruit and train additional graduate writing coaches as needed.
As requested by the director of the Writing Center, serve as overflow help with the Writing Center’s undergraduate tutoring, when demand for graduate support sessions is low.
Attend all trainings as required by the director of the Writing Center and/or the GA supervisor.
Learn and support student use of various citation styles (APA, AMA, Chicago), grammar and mechanics, and writing as a process.
Contribute to the monthly SGPS newsletter with writing tips.
Generate and distribute writing skills-focused social media postings.
Maintain consistent and reliable attendance.