Western Partnership - Student Academic Hourly Assistant

NOTE: This position is physically based in Gunnison, Colorado, 212 miles from Boulder, Colorado and open only to students enrolled in the Western-̽»¨ÊÓƵ Engineering Partnership Program (EPP) with Western Colorado University.

Updated for 2025-2026 Academic Year

Position Description

Do you want to empower other engineering students in their success? Do you want to help your professors with their work and learn more about the topics you are studying?

The Student Academic Assistant Position at the Paul M. Rady School of Computer Science and Engineering in Gunnison will be assigned one of 4 primary roles pending availability: (1) provide tutoring and mentoring to engineering students in the Lambda Learning Center (LLC Tutor), (2) help a professor with their work through grading and setting up laboratory equipment (Course TA), (3) facilitate Supplemental Instruction for an assigned course (SI Leader), (4) assist with the management of various MakerSpace labs (MakerSpace TA). There are multiple positions to be filled during each semester.

Students applying for any of the above positions are expected to be attentive and responsive to email communication from Human Resources personnel and assigned supervisors, as well as plan to attend a 30-minute student-employee orientation. Depending on duties assigned above, student-employee may be expected to attend a 2–3-hour training session during the beginning of the semester.

Workload: 5 to 10+ hours per week for one to two semesters per academic year.

Compensation: Academic Positions (MakerSpace TA, Course TA, LLC Tutor, SI Leader) $16.82-17.85 per hour, positions eligible for work study.

Responsibilities may include:

• Create an inclusive culture of positivity for students to learn and thrive.
• Bring students together who share a passion for hands-on and project-based learning.
• Empower students to take charge of their learning.
• Follow the schedule and be present in the assigned space for your given shift.
• Ensure policies are met regarding material use.
• Use the correct tools for the job & lead by example.
• Intervene with corrections and redirections if a student is doing something incorrectly.
• Identify and communicate additional tasks to be completed during shift (i.e. not a time for studying).
• Ensure spaces are clean and organized with items back in appropriate places.
• Track and report material use (including misused, broken, or out-of-stock materials) to your supervisor.
• Monitor resource check-out systems to ensure all materials are returned each day.
• Ensure that only qualified students trained by a TA or through a class access MakerSpace equipment.
• Complete administrative tasks, such as updating contact lists, sending text reminders, updating partnership rosters and documentation, etc.
• Log hours and submit your timesheet biweekly, by each posted deadline, to be paid appropriately.
• Various additional tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Full-time ̽»¨ÊÓƵ student in the Engineering Partnership Program with Western Colorado University
• Have previously taken the course for which you wish to be considered for a Teaching Assistant or Supplemental Instruction leader
• Complete appropriate training and workshops required for leading in the MakerSpaces and LLC
• I-9 verification: required to document authorization to work in the United States

Considerations for Rising Juniors matriculating from Western to ̽»¨ÊÓƵ:

• Students must be employed by the University where they are considered full-time.
  • In order to continue employment through Western upon transition to being a full-time ̽»¨ÊÓƵ student, partnership students must be enrolled in at least one Western credit per semester.
  • Full-time ̽»¨ÊÓƵ students applying for positions with a Western department outside the EPP are recommended to check in their BuffPortal if they are work-study eligible.
    • If a student is not eligible for work-study, a student may be hired by Western as a temporary, classified employee, but not as a student employee.
    • These positions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Questions regarding student employment can be directed to Michaela Keefe at Michaela.Keefe@colorado.edu or the faculty member/department you wish to work for.
    • Please note that certain roles have limited openings. To improve your chances, we encourage you to apply early.

How to Apply

Please first complete the . Then, submit a resume and cover letter specifying which role you are interested in and elaborating on your qualifications for the position. If applicable, be sure to indicate the faculty member(s) you are interested in working with and the course(s) for which you are qualified.Ìý

Submit your materials, in PDF format, to WCU Partnership Professional Assistant, Michaela Keefe, at Michaela.Keefe@colorado.edu by 5:00 pm on one of the following deadlines:

Fall 2025 Priority Deadline:

• Primary: April 25, 2025
• Secondary: June 27, 2025

Fall 2025 Full Consideration Date:

• December 19, 2025

Spring 2026 Priority Deadline:

• Primary: November 7, 2025
• Secondary: December 5, 2025

Spring 2026 Full Consideration Date:

• May 8, 2025

Please note processing time can take 6+ weeks to begin working.

In order to begin working, you will need to demonstrate verification to work in the United States by providing physical (not digital) and original (not copied) forms of in person in Gunnison.

These positions will remain open until the listed full consideration date. Applications are viewed on a rolling basis during each semester. It is advantageous to apply by the first deadline to get priority review for open positions for the semester, however all applications submitted up until the full consideration dates will be reviewed. You can expect to hear back regarding job determination within 2-4 weeks of submitting the application materials. In addition to the materials above, you may be called for an interview and/or to submit three professional references. Plan to bring adequate documentation to campus in the fall, and plan to respond to work-related emails during summer break with supplemental information and detailed next steps to begin work in a timely manner in Fall 2025.
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