Graduate Assistant Internships

Housing & Residence Life GAI positions provide opportunities to bridge your education into practical, professional experience.  Each opportunity provides tuition remission, a stipend, housing, and a campus meal plan. To be eligible for a GAI, applicants must gain admission to the College of Graduate Studies. All openings require a Bachelor’s Degree and full-time enrollment in a graduate program at YSU.

To learn more about each opportunity, please see the position descriptions below.

Graduate Assistant Internship Positions

The Graduate Assistant Intern (GAI) for Residential Education works in partnership with the Office of Housing & Residence Life (HRL) leadership to enhance the residential experience for students on the Youngstown State University (YSU) campus by facilitating engaging social and development-focused initiatives. Through high-level engagement across several areas of the YSU community, the GAI for Residential Education is a visible, active member of the campus community and identifies ways to foster a sense of belonging among students. This individual must be enthusiastic and passionate about student engagement and programming, and should have knowledge of current trends and effective practices to remain proactive and impactful in their programming approach and development-focused initiatives.

Expectations & Responsibilities
As an essential member of the HRL team, the GAI for Residential Education shall:

  • Schedule and maintain a weekly schedule of approximately 20-hours for office hours and position responsibilities during the Fall and Spring academic semesters
  • Foster and maintain positive and effective relationships with campus and community partners to foster a consistent student experience
  • Plan, organize, and implement regular programs and initiatives for residential students that foster social interaction and individual development
  • Serve on the planning and implementation committee for large-scale campus events, including Family Weekend and Welcome Week programming
  • Assist with facilitating HRL-sponsored recognition and appreciation initiatives committees, including planning for the annual HRL Banquet
  • Create and maintain effective documentation of HRL activities, operations, and initiatives
  • Conduct and provide reporting for impactful assessment of HRL and campus strategies, operations, and initiatives
  • Serve as a co-Advisor for department-sponsored student organizations
  • Assist with the development and implementation of training for HRL student staff
  • Serve in an after-business hours on-call capacity as part of the HRL professional and graduate staff on-call rotation to support and lead student staff and students through after-business hours crisis, facilities, and general administrative concerns
  • Attend regular HRL meetings, including weekly meetings with the supervisor, weekly HRL team meetings, and division meetings
  • Engage in regular campus, division, HRL, and individual professional development opportunities
  • Serve on HRL, division, or campus committees as requested
  • Serve as an HRL representative at YSU-sponsored events for potential, incoming, current, and alumni students
  • Additional duties as assigned to support department and campus operations, initiatives, and goals

Supervision
The GAI for Residential Education will be directly supervised by the Associate Director of Residence Life and will be indirectly supervised by the Director of Housing & Residential Life.

The Graduate Assistant Intern (GAI) for Academic Initiatives works in partnership with the Office of Housing & Residence Life (HRL) leadership to enhance the residential experience for students on the Youngstown State University (YSU) campus by facilitating engaging, development-focused initiatives that foster and support student academic success. Through high-level engagement across several areas of the YSU community, the GAI for Academic Initiatives is a visible, active member of the campus community and identifies strategies that foster academic achievement and personal well-being among students. This individual must be enthusiastic and passionate about student engagement and development, and should have knowledge of current trends and effective practices to remain proactive and impactful in executing development-focused initiatives and programs.

Expectations & Responsibilities
As an essential member of the HRL team, the GAI for Academic Initiatives shall:

  • Schedule and maintain a weekly schedule of approximately 20-hours for office hours and position responsibilities during the Fall and Spring academic semesters
  • Initiate, foster, and maintain positive relationships with essential campus partners and offices that provide services for students to develop and maintain effective strategies for academic success and personal well-being
  • In coordination with Housing Coordinators, assist with supporting and developing Living-Learning Community (LLC) communities, including regular engagement with campus partnership
  • Plan, organize, and implement regular programs and initiatives for residential students that foster strategies for academic and personal well-being and success
  • Assist with the identification, tracking, and follow-up of students living on campus with identified academic and wellness concerns
  • Create and maintain effective documentation of HRL activities, operations, and initiatives
  • Conduct and provide reporting for impactful assessment of HRL and campus strategies, operations, and initiatives
  • Assist with the development and implementation of training for HRL student staff
  • Serve in an after-business hours on-call capacity as part of the HRL professional and graduate staff on-call rotation to support and lead student staff and students through after-business hours crisis, facilities, and general administrative concerns
  • Attend regular HRL meetings, including weekly meetings with the supervisor, weekly HRL team meetings, and division meetings
  • Engage in regular campus, division, HRL, and individual professional development opportunities
  • Serve on HRL, division, or campus committees as requested
  • Serve as an HRL representative at YSU-sponsored events for potential, incoming, current, and alumni students
  • Additional duties as assigned to support department and campus operations, initiatives, and goals

Supervision
The GAI for Academic Initiatives will be directly supervised by the Associate Director of Residence Life and will be indirectly supervised by the Director of Housing & Residential Life.  

The Graduate Assistant Intern (GAI) of Marketing works in partnership with the Office of Housing & Residence Life (HRL) leadership to communicate and highlight the residential experience for current and future students and families on the Youngstown State University (YSU) campus through digital, physical, and in-person strategies. Through high-level engagement across digital and in-person platforms, the GAI of Marketing is a visible, active member of the campus community and identifies creative ways to share the residential experience. This individual must be enthusiastic and passionate about student engagement and communication, and should have knowledge of current trends and effective practices to create impactful social media content and represent the department at a variety of campus social and recruitment events.

Expectations & Responsibilities
As an essential member of the HRL team, the GAI of Marketing shall:

  • Ensure all current social media platforms have creative and original content. Spend time brainstorming ideas for future posts and reviewing the weekly analytics to see what is gaining attention and interaction and where changes need to occur.
  • Meet with the Housing Coordinators and AD of Res Life to find out what programs and other education initiatives they are preparing.
  • Prepare for and attended various “marketing events” around campus, including Penguin Preview Day, Open Houses, and Audition days. These often occur on weekends.
  • Check out and follow other HRL social media accounts to see what other campuses are doing.
  • Prepare a media marketing plan which includes print, web, social media, and other platforms to reach incoming and current residential students.
  • Meet with facilities to see if you can follow along with a maintenance crew member or other staff for a day in the life story.
  • Present the initial brochure updates to your supervisor and the director for feedback.

Supervision
The GAI of Marketing will be directly supervised by the Associate Director of University Housing and will be indirectly supervised by the Director of Housing & Residential Life.

 

Eligibility and Requirements

To hold and maintain a Graduate Assistant Intern position, a student must:

  • Have obtained a bachelor’s degree prior to beginning employment as a GAI
  • Maintain full-time enrollment in graduate-level coursework through YSU, a minimum of 6 semester hours of degree-credit coursework per term for the academic year
  • Maintain good academic standing with YSU
  • Maintain an active Housing Contract with YSU Housing & Residence Life

Preferred qualifications include:

  • Experience with higher education student housing or other area of student affairs (student activities, counseling, dean of students, academic services, etc.)

Compensation

More information on institutional benefits for a student appointed as a graduate assistant or doctoral fellow during the fall or spring terms (GA, GRA, TA, and GAI) is available at Graduate Studies Assistantships and Fellowships, including:

  • A total pre-tax stipend of $7,500 for the academic year (Fall and Spring semesters)
  • Remission of instructional fees (up to 18 semester hours each fall and spring) and remission of the non-resident surcharge (if applicable)
  • Remission of the parking permit fee for each term of appointment as a fringe benefit

In addition, Graduate Assistant Interns with HRL receive

  • An apartment within a YSU-owned housing facility
  • A designated meal plan during semesters of employment
  • For hours worked during weeks when Fall and Spring semester classes are not in session, the GAI will be paid an hourly wage of $12.00

Time Commitment

Per YSU policies, assistantships require 20 hours per week during the Fall and Spring semesters, including exam week, for duties to be assigned by the department chair.

GAI responsibilities for the Fall academic semester begin approximately four weeks before the first day of classes. GAI responsibilities for the Spring academic semester begin approximately one week before the first day of classes. Responsibilities for both the Fall and Spring academic semesters conclude no later than the Saturday following the final day of semester final exams.

  • For the 2027-2028, Fall semester GAI responsibilities will begin July 26, 2027

Due to the unique focus of this role on residential programming and events for residential students, qualified applicants must be willing and able to work evening and weekend hours. Please check your program’s requirements and class schedule to see if you will have availability during these times.

Per YSU policies, a GAI is not required to work during breaks or University closings.

Summer Employment

While employment with HRL may be available during the summer months, institutional benefits such as the institutional stipend and remission of instructional fees, are not available for the summer terms. Any summer employment with HRL would be a separate appointment with its own terms, responsibilities, and remuneration.

Applications

Housing & Residence Life Graduate Assistant Internships for the 2026-2027 academic year are filled, and we are no longer accepting applications.

Information about 2027-2028 academic year GAI openings will be available in January 2027. We are anticipating the following openings for the 2027-2028 academic year:

  • GAI for Residential Education
  • GAI of Marketing

Any questions about GAI positions or applications can be directed to housing@ysu.edu.