JOB DESCRIPTION
DATE:
JOB TITLE:
COMPENSATION:
DEPARTMENT:
August 2015 (beginning) – 10-month
Graduate Assistant – Leadership Institute
Graduate assistant stipend, tuition waiver, optional graduate housing
Leadership Institute
GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:
The Leadership Institute Graduate Assistant – Leader Advancement Scholarship will assist with
duties related to the management of the Leader Advancement Scholarship cohort. This includes,
but is not limited to, recruitment and enrollment management initiatives designed to attract highability high school seniors to the university, providing academic advising and assisting with
course registration for Leader Advancement Scholars, and assisting with the design and
implementation of student leadership programs for scholarship recipients.
REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:
The Leadership Institute Graduate Assistant will report to the Director/Leadership Institute or
his/her designee.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
 Earned Bachelor’s degree
 Admission to Central Michigan University’s College of Graduate Studies in the Master of
Arts in Educational Leadership (preferred), Master of Arts in Counseling, Master of
Science in Administration (Leadership Concentration), or other related graduate program.
 Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills
 Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and project a positive image
 Valid driver’s license
 Participate as a member of Divisional, and Departmental teams or committees as
requested or as mutually agreeable
 Serve as a role model for all students and staff in personal and professional behaviors
 Provide personal, social, academic, and occupational support that enhances student
persistence
 Ability to balance several projects and meet deadlines
 All assistantships require some scheduled night and weekend obligations. These
obligations can be associated with major office events, including, but not limited to:
Admissions events, the annual mentor/mentee retreat, Homecoming, and the Leader
Advancement Scholar Competition Day.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
 Previous experience with student organizations, orientation, residence life, supervision,
and/or peer advising
 Participation in student leadership programs
SPECIFIC DUTIES PERFORMED:
Academic Advising and Support
 Conduct one on one academic advising sessions for members of the Leader
Advancement Scholarship cohort
 Conduct group presentations on university resources, academic degree requirements,
and course registration
 Utilize a variety of resources, including MAP-Works, to monitor Leader Advancement
Scholars as they acclimate to the Central Michigan University and ensure adequate
degree progress
 The Graduate Assistant is charged with shaping the environment and experiences of
students by providing services that foster academic success
Enrollment Management
 Serve on the selection committee for the Leader Advancement Scholarship, a body that
reviews an average of 2,000 applications annually for forty (40) seats in the scholarship
cohort
 Represent the Leadership Institute at a variety of admissions functions including
receptions for prospective students, university visit days, open house programs, and
conducting appointments with students on campus visits
 Assist in the planning and execution of the Leader Advancement Scholarship competition
and interview day
Student Leadership Programming
 Assist with the design of student leadership programs for members of the Leader
Advancement Scholarship cohort including the annual mentoring retreat, various,
trainings and focus groups with cohort members
 Design and implement within the contexts of the specific learning outcomes curriculum
for major Leadership Institute student leadership programs including the Alpha
Leadership Experience, Connections Leadership Conference, the LeaderShape Institute,
and Ignite Leadership Series
 Design marketing campaigns to ensure programs reach diverse audiences
 Coordinate the Leadership Institute’s efforts to support registered student organizations
through customized workshops and trainings
 Develop event budgets and protocols for event management
 Collaborate with the Central Michigan University Student Government Association (SGA)
to provide resources to student organizations through the SGA RSO Growth and
Development Committee
 Represent the Leadership Institute at a variety of events designed to promote awareness
of student engagement opportunities including MAINStage, RSO fairs, and trainings
offered by Student Activities and Involvement
 Manage the Leadership Institute’s recognition of student achievement through OrgSync
 Provide, upon request, trainings and leadership programming to Michigan K-12 schools,
community organizations, and campus departments
About Central Michigan University:
Central Michigan University was established in 1892 and is among the nations 100 largest public
universities. As a tier-one university, CMU serves nearly 20,000 students on its Mount Pleasant
campus. It also enrolls more than 7,000 students and working adults online and at 50 out-of-state
locations.
CMU delivers a superior educational experience for students that is built on close relationships
with faculty and staff, hands-on learning including undergraduate research, an emphasis on
leadership and volunteerism, and a global perspective. With a $440 million budget, CMU offers
more than 200 academic programs from the undergraduate to doctoral levels. CMU in 2013
launched the nation’s 137th College of Medicine.
CMU offers top NCAA Division I athletics. The university is located in a classic college community
in the heart of lower Michigan, where residents find active outdoor features, family attractions and
Midwestern life in a vibrant university culture.
About the CMU Leadership Institute
Opened in 1997, the CMU Leadership Institute gives students an opportunity to develop their
leadership qualities. The CMU Leadership Institute functions as the coordinating body for the
university's present and future leadership-related activities and programming. Students enrolled
in the institute's inaugural leadership programs will become ambassadors for new initiatives that
will serve a growing network of Michigan's grade school and high school students and educators
as well as public and private working professionals.
The Leadership Institute is committed to providing students and members of the community with
opportunities to continually enhance their leadership skills. The vision of the Leadership Institute
is to become the premier institution in providing leadership training, education, and development
to the citizens of Michigan.
Leadership Institute Vision and Mission:
VISION
The Leadership Institute will prepare the next generation of individuals who will act responsively
to improve the quality of life, state of the economy, and communities in which they live and work.
MISSION
Central Michigan University is committed to preparing Michigan’s students and citizens for
leadership roles in an increasingly complex and challenging society. The Leadership Institute
serves as the coordinating body for the university’s leadership-related activities and programs.
The Leadership Institute provides information and leadership development opportunities through
workshops, seminars, academic courses, and experiential challenges. In these programs and
outreaches, the Institute promotes the individual and group exploration of leadership theories and
styles.
To Apply
Interested applicants should submit the following documents:
 Letter of application
 Current résumé
 Two professional references (name and contact information only)
For more information:
Daniel Gaken, Director
Daniel.Gaken@cmich.edu
Please Direct All Questions To:
Central Michigan University Leadership Institute
cmulead@cmich.edu or (989) 774-LEAD (5323)