Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) offers its Graduate Assistants work, training and professional development opportunities based on the competencies of national associations such as NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the American College Personnel Association (ACPA) and the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I).
The recruitment cycle for the 2025-26 academic year is open December 30, 2024 -January 26, 2025.
ASSISTANTSHIPS IN REHS THAT MAY BE AVAILABLE
- Assistant Community Director
The Assistant Community Director (ACD) position is a part-time, live-in graduate assistantship within REHS. The ACD role provides many skill building opportunities and experiences in supervision, student leadership advising, crisis response, conduct process facilitation, and curriculum implementation. This position partners with a diverse group of students, staff, and faculty to develop an environment that promotes the mission of the university. ACDs are directly responsible for the training, supervision, and evaluation of student staff members. ACDs work with Community Directors (CDs) to create safe, inclusive, and educational communities that encourage and foster student success and development. ACDs are required to live in an assigned apartment on campus. This is a half–time graduate assistantship position which requires 20 hours a week and will include weekend and evening hours.
Click here for a complete job description.
Click here to watch a panel discussion on what it is like to be an Assistant Community Director.
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26 - Assessment and Research Graduate Assistant
This position’s primary responsibility is to support and assist Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) with its assessment and evaluation needs and processes. This position is responsible for assisting with development and execution of evaluation tools, data entry and analysis for the department. Depending on the needs/priorities of the department, other duties may also be assigned. This is a half-time graduate assistant position which requires approximately 20 hours per week. This is a 9-month position, with the possibility of summer employment. Summer employment is based upon available funding and positive performance during the academic year.
Position is Currently Closed - Communications Graduate Assistant
The Communications Graduate Assistant (GA) is a half-time position that assists the Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) Communications and Marketing team in promoting the on-campus living experience. The work week is approximately 20 hours per week, with occasional nights and weekends. The successful candidate will be an experienced, take-charge individual, with ability to supervise and mentor student brand ambassadors, as well as manage marketing and event logistics for the department’s communications unit. Must be able to anticipate project needs, discern work priorities, and meet deadlines with little supervision. Candidates should have a love for event management, provide outstanding customer service and engagement, be an enthusiastic professional, have experience with social media content production, and be able to build relationships with internal and external customers. Additionally, this person should be forward-thinking and offer innovative suggestions to promote an inclusive, positive experience for our on-campus residents. Click here for a complete job description.
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26 - Diversity and Inclusion Graduate Assistant
The Graduate Assistant (GA) for Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) is a half-time assistant within REHS, reporting to the Associate Director for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. This position has primary responsibility in overseeing the development and success of the Neighborhood Black and LGBTQA+ Caucuses through intentional advisor development and leadership opportunities; the GA directly advises the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Residence Halls Association (RHA). The GA will also be responsible for researching and designing training curriculums on diversity and inclusion for student employees. The GA for D&I will provide support in facilitating focus groups, analyzing data, training staff, creating summaries/reports of current and previous data, and other human resources functions as assigned. Click here for a complete job description.
Position is Currently Closed - Outreach Graduate Assistant
The Outreach Graduate Assistants (GAs) are part-time positions that assist the MSU Tours Manager and Outreach Manager with a variety of functions for Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS) Outreach in reaching the goal of being an inclusive and world-class entity. The GAs are primarily responsible for serving in a forward operational capacity; supporting tour, event, and visitor operations; and serving as an ambassador for the Department and University as a whole. These are half –time graduate assistantship positions which require 20 hours a week, and will include some weekend and evening hours. They are 9-month positions with the possibility of full time summer employment. Summer employment is based upon available funding and positive performance during the academic year Click here for a complete job description.
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26 - Recruitment, Selection and Training Graduate Assistant
This position’s primary responsibility is to support and assist the Assistant Director for Staff Recruitment, Selection and Training regarding all functions of recruitment, selection, training and staff discipline within Residence Education and Housing Services (REHS). Depending on the needs/priorities of the department, other duties may also be assigned. Click here for a complete job description.
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26 - Residential Learning Programs
The Graduate Assistant (GA) for Residential Learning Programs is a half-time assistantship within REHS, reporting to the Associate Director for Residence Education. This position has primary responsibility in contributing to the development and success of the Spartan Navigator (second year) and Spartan Compass (first year) residential programs. The GA will have responsibility for partner communication, program implementation, and program evaluation. The GA will also be responsible for benchmarking, reviewing relevant research, and identifying intersections for learning outcomes and specific student population needs. Click here for a complete job description.
Position is Currently Closed - Leadership and Advising Graduate Assistant
The graduate assistant for leadership and advising is a half-time graduate assistant with Residence Education and Housing Services. The GA will serve as an advisor to the Residence Hall Association, as well as design, develop and deliver leadership training programs. The GA is responsible for developing leadership skills in students and REHS staff through on-going training, one-on-one coaching and assessment of leadership skills. This is a half-time graduate assistant position which requires 20 hours a week and will include weekend and evening hours. This is a 9-month position with the possibility of summer employment. Summer employment is based upon available funding and positive performance during the academic year.
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26 - Residential Care and Community Expectations Graduate Assistant
The Graduate Assistant (GA) positions for Residential Care and Community Expectations (RCCE) are half-time assistantships within REHS, reporting to either the Residential Student Conduct Administrator or the Residential Student Care Coordinator. This position’s primary responsibility is centered on creating a safe and clean environment for all residential students through management of the residential student conduct process. The GA will have responsibility for scheduling and leading student conduct meetings, training of staff and partner communication. The GA will also be responsible for benchmarking and reviewing data to better improve the residential student conduct process for our on-campus residents.
The care focused GA position’s primary responsibility is centered on ensuring well-being and support for all residential students through management of and participation in the residential student CARE process. The GA will have responsibility for student CARE meetings, student medical amnesty meetings, following up with students, training staff, and mental health crisis response. The GA will be responsible for and collaborating with university partners to ensure the best strategies for student support. The GA will also work with the RCCE team to review current resources and CARE processes to better improve our residential care system.
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26 - Training and Development Graduate Assistantship
The Graduate Assistant (GA) for Training and Development’s primary function is a half-time assistantship within REHS, reporting to the Training Program Developer for REHS. This position’s responsibilities are to support and assist the Training Program Developer with a variety of functions of departmental training and learning opportunities, including creation and review of materials, maintenance of departmental learning and development website, development and distribution of e-learning modules, accessibility and access analysis, data analysis, and program evaluation. Click here for a current job description
Applications being Accepted for 2025-26
Compensation and Benefits for Graduate Assistantships
The compensation varies depending on the nature of the position. Positions are nine-month positions, including fall and spring semesters.
Appointment dates are:
- Fall Semester: August 16-December 31, 2025
- Spring Semester: January 1- May 15, 2026
Actual start dates may vary by position to include a training period prior to the August 16 Assistantship start date. Assistant Community Director positions begin with a workshop training that typically starts in late July. Winter break work hours also vary by position.
Stipend:
Stipend rates are approximate based on 2024-2025 rates. Continuing GAs may receive additional increases in alignment with MSU graduate stipend rates. 2025-26 rates are released in July. Stipends are paid bi-weekly.
Assistant Community Directors are live-in:
- Level 1 - $8024 and 9 months plus a furnished apartment and meal plan
- Level 2 - $8217 and 9 months plus a furnished apartment and meal plan
Live Out Assistantships
- Level 1 - $18,525/9 months
- Level 2 - $20,514/9 months
All REHS graduate assistants also receive:
- In-state tuition rates
- Nine-credit tuition waiver per semester at the base MSU graduate credit rate (fall and spring semesters)
- Matriculation fee waiver
- Single-person student health insurance coverage
For additional information about MSU graduate assistantships, please visit the Graduate School website.
Requirements for Graduate Applicants
Inquiries regarding graduate assistant positions with Residence Education and Housing Services at Michigan State University should be directed to rehshr@rhs.msu.edu.
- Applicants must have a completed bachelor’s degree.
- Applicants must apply to a MSU graduate program and complete all requirements for admission. MSU accepts online graduate school applications at http://admissions.msu.edu/graduate.asp.
- Note: Lifelong Education students and College of Law students (except if dually enrolled in an MSU graduate program) are not eligible for graduate assistantships. Dually enrolled bachelor’s/master’s degree students are not eligible for graduate assistantships until the minimum number of credits required for a first bachelor's degree is completedApplications for Graduate Assistant positions and for admission to graduate school are separate, however, applications should be submitted at the same time. Applicants are advised to check their graduate program for important deadlines.
- Typically, offers for Graduate Assistant positions are conditional and made prior to acceptance into a graduate program.
- Graduate Assistants must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout their appointment.
- All Graduate Assistants are responsible for the balance of their tuition and fees after all compensation and benefits are applied. NOTE: Some programs charge an additional fee that they add into the base MSU tuition rate. This fee is not covered by the assistantship. For more information, visit the MSU Controller's website.
Graduate Assistant Applicants must submit the following information:
- Job Profile and Questions in eRezlife
- Resume
- Provide one name and email address for one reference. The person you indicate will be sent an email asking them to upload a letter on your behalf. (If the reference does not submit their reference on time, we will still consider your application).
You may submit a profile within eRezlife, and then apply for each position that you are interested in as they become available.