Kent State University Recreation and Wellness Services (RecWell) is seeking candidates for the Graduate Assistant positions for the 2025 – 2026 academic year. Assistantships may be renewed for a second academic year contingent on available funding and satisfactory job performance. 

• Competitive Sports (1)

• Marketing (1)

HOW TO APPLY:

• CURRENT KENT STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: Please submit a resume and cover letter via Handshake web portal by Monday, April 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

  • Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant: position #9745587

  • Marketing Graduate Assistant:  position #9741198

• APPLICANTS OUTSIDE OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY: Please submit a resume and cover letter to Jeff Kingery, Coordinator of Student Personnel at jkinger2@kent.edu by Monday, April 7, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. EST. 

Applications via NIRSA Bluefish Jobs will not be accepted.

For more information about RecWell, please visit https://www.kent.edu/recwell.

Competitive Sports (1 position): 

The Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant will primarily focus on the Intramural Sports program area, by supporting the Competitive Sports professional staff with the day-to-day operations, program planning, policy review, and assist in the hiring, training, supervision, and development of student employees. This position may also have additional responsibilities with Club Sports, Community Leagues, Outdoor Facilities, and Youth Programs as needed. The position will require working a flexible schedule, including non-traditional work hours.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the planning, promotion, and implementation of intramural leagues, tournaments, and special events.

• Hire, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate approximately 20 student employees, including Competitive Sports Supervisors and Intramural Sports Officials.

• Provide on-site supervision for Intramural Sports activities, ensuring adherence to policies and rules.

• Utilize participant and staff communications to provide insights for policy revisions, and sport-specific rule changes to enhance the program area

• Oversee marketing and promotion, including managing the program’s social media presence.

• Manage nightly reports and participant communication to resolve conflicts.

• Stay up to date on industry trends and best practices to enhance programming.

• Serve as a liaison between professional staff and student employees, participants, and student groups

• Demonstrate a thorough understanding of rules, policies, and officiating mechanics for all Intramural Sports.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Recreation, Sport Management, or a related field.

• Intramural program experience including effective scheduling, organization, and training practices.

• Officiating experience in any of the following sports: basketball, football, soccer, softball/baseball, volleyball.

• Knowledge of IMLeagues.com (preferred) or other Intramural Sports league management software.

• Supervisory experience of student employees, and participants. Facility supervision experience is also preferred.

• Ability to respond swiftly and effectively to emergency situations.

• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

• Preferred involvement with NIRSA, or other recreation organizations.

To view the full job description, please visit our webpage.

For any questions about the position, please contact Eli Mallahan, Coordinator of Competitive Sports and Youth Programs, at emallaha@kent.edu.

Marketing (1 position): 

The Graduate Assistant of Marketing for Recreation and Wellness Services plays a crucial role in supporting the department’s marketing efforts, focusing on the promotion of all programs, services, and facilities. This position involves contributing to the development and management of marketing strategies across various platforms, including graphic design, photography, videography, website design, and social media content. The Graduate Assistant will assist with content creation and engagement, ensuring interaction with students and patrons. Responsibilities include managing sponsorship and advertising opportunities, representing the department at university marketing events, and collaborating with other departments. The role also requires administrative duties such as staff training, scheduling, and communication, while adhering to and enforcing department policies. The Graduate Assistant will work closely with the professional staff, participating in goal setting, planning, and continuing professional development. The position will require working a flexible schedule, including non-traditional work hours.

Key Responsibilities:

The Marketing Graduate Assistant will primarily assist with all marketing efforts. The position will require working a flexible schedule, including non-traditional work hours. Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Contribute to the success and daily functions of the marketing team including graphic design, photography, videography, website design, social media promotion for all departmental needs based on marketing plans.

• Sets an example for student employees of positivity, communication, risk management, and much more.

• Works office hours with administrative responsibilities including communication with outside groups, planning and leading parts of staff meetings, leading trainings, scheduling, and more.

• Applies, interprets, and communicates policies and procedures and serves as a resource for answering questions regarding policies.

• Adheres to and enforces all policies and procedures set forth in the Department and area-specific staff manuals.

• Assists with reviewing policies, procedures, and staff manuals.

• Attends all departmental and area meetings as requested.

• Serves as contributing member of the professional staff and the recreational sports profession by participating in goal setting and long-range planning, attending conferences, and preparing presentations and proposals. 

• Assists the designated supervisor with other job-related tasks when assigned.

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of social media platforms and social media marketing techniques.

• Knowledge of various marketing strategies, methods, and asset production.

• Knowledge of graphic design and solid computer skills are necessary, mostly Adobe Creative Suite and/or Canva and Microsoft Office.

• Work both independently and collaboratively with others in diverse working groups to achieve common goals.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with coworkers, supervisors, and all RecWell patrons and guests.

For any questions about the position, please contact Jim Kraus, Senior Assistant Director of Guest Services and Marketing, at jkraus8@kent.edu.

Required Qualifications for all positions:

• Bachelor's degree conferred at the time the graduate assistantship begins.

• A candidate for a graduate assistantship must be admitted to an academic graduate program at Kent State University unconditionally.

• Maintain good academic standing and must carry a minimum of eight hours of graduate credits during each semester of the academic year appointment. Appointees may not accept any other paid employment within the university during the tenure of their employment unless approved in advance through an waiver process.

• A total undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 point scale. More information regarding Graduate School Admissions is below.

• Ability to positively create a welcoming environment for all and maintain a positive attitude at work.

• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities, and cultural backgrounds.

• Demonstrates an articulation of one’s own personal and professional goals, strengths, and weaknesses, and how this work experience will be a growth opportunity.

• Work both independently and collaboratively with others in diverse working groups to achieve common goals.

• Ability to address conflict in a professional manner through problem-solving and critical thinking.

Graduate School Admissions and Application Information:

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 required for admission. Some programs may require a higher minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA. Learn more here. 

• GRE may be required (contact the Graduate Coordinator of the appropriate school for more details).

  • List of all eligible Graduate Programs: https://catalog.kent.edu/programs/#filter=.filter_2&.filter_5&.filter_6&.filter_47

Marketing Graduate Assistant: 

• Preferred candidates shall pursue one of the following graduate degree programs:

  • Communication Studies – M.A.

  • Communication and Information – Ph.D

  • Emerging Media and Technology – M.S.

  • Media and Journalism – M.A.

  • Sport Administration – M.A.

  • Visual Communication Design – M.A

  Applicants interested in other graduate degree programs are also encouraged to apply. 

 Competitive Sports Graduate Assistant: 

• Preferred candidates shall pursue one of the following graduate degree programs:

  • Sport and Recreation Management – M.A.

  • Sports Studies – M.A.

  • Hospitality and Tourism Management – M.A.

  • Exercise Physiology – M.A.

  • Physical Education Teacher Education – M.A.

  • Visual Communication Design – M.A

  Applicants interested in other graduate degree programs are also encouraged to apply. 

Stipend and Benefits:

• $11,000 for the academic year appointment (minimum of 20 work hours per week) paid semi-monthly.

• Full tuition waiver, up to 16 credit hours per semester.

• Assistance with health insurance costs (if necessary)

• Assistance with travel costs for professional related development (when permitted). 

• Additional pay over summer breaks may be available at an hourly rate.

• Official University holidays off.

• Internship placement opportunities available.

Working Schedule: 

• Assigned work hours are based on student availability and we appreciate that you are a student first.

• The appointment will be for the academic year (Aug. 17, 2025 – May 9, 2026) with certain academic breaks off unless predetermined by student and supervisor.

• The last day of Fall semester Graduate Assistantship work is tentatively Saturday, December 13, 2025. The start of Spring semester work is tentatively Sunday, January 11, 2026.

• The position may be renewed for a second academic year contingent on available funding and satisfactory job performance.

• Additional pay over summer breaks may be available at an hourly rate. Winter and spring breaks are generally part of the student’s Graduate Assistant agreement.

• A set schedule will be created and shared at the beginning of the fall and spring semester for certain aspects of the job. These hours will also be assigned based on availability. 

• Graduate Assistants are expected to keep regularly scheduled office hours in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center (20 hour/week minimum) during the semester.

• Graduate Assistants must be available to attend all staff meetings/trainings during academic semesters.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY: We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

More about Recreation and Wellness Services at Kent State University:

WHO WE ARE - We are committed to building communities of belonging by encouraging well-being through inclusive leadership, recreation, and wellness experiences. Our staff includes programmers, administrators and more than 200 student employees who are all focused on creating an outstanding experience for the people we serve.

WHAT WE DO - Recreation and Wellness Services serves the Kent State University community. That community includes but is not limited to students, faculty, staff, and community members. We offer outdoor adventure programming, swim lessons, fitness classes, personal training, ice skating and hockey lessons, community sport leagues, paddling trips and so much more!

WHERE WE'RE LOCATED - We are located on Kent State University’s Kent Campus in Kent, Ohio, which is in Northeast Ohio. Recreation and Wellness Services maintains several facilities across campus, including the Beverly J. Warren Student Recreation and Wellness Center, Ice Arena, Tri - Rec, Disc Golf course, outdoor courts, tennis courts, and outdoor sports fields. 

More about Kent State University:

Kent State University is the highest-ranked public university in northern Ohio on the Top Public Schools and Best National Universities lists by U.S. News & World Report. Kent State also holds the esteemed distinction of being one of only five institutions in Ohio to be recognized as an elite research university by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. With eight campuses spanning Northeast Ohio, a College of Podiatric Medicine, a Twinsburg Academic Center and academic sites in major world cities, such as New York City, Geneva and Florence, Kent State is one of Ohio’s leading public universities and a major educational, economic and cultural resource far beyond the Northeast Ohio region it has served since 1910. Kent State is a national leader in award-winning student support services to graduate students.

Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

https://www.kent.edu/