2008 Woodie Awards
Behind the scenes with campus GA's: more than just class and paperwork
Samantha Marinko
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Features
Newsletters, paperwork, planning events, recording minutes; the duties of a Graduate Assistant seem to be never-ending.
The truth is though; these behind-the-scenes school employees are of much importance to graduate, full-time and part-time students at Sacred Heart.
A GA is responsible for assisting the Council of Graduate Students on campus, with day-to-day functions and administrative duties.
They attend monthly meetings with the Council, help assist in decision-making regarding funds to help benefit graduate programs, and plan important events throughout the year.
One of the GA's here on campus, Robert Edwards, describes his workload between being a GA and a graduate student as "intense."
GA's duties extend beyond those involving just graduate students.
"As a GA in student life, you also serve as an advisor to various clubs and organizations on campus," said Edwards.
"I advise the junior class student government, WHRT, Commuter Council, Club Hockey, and Club Lacrosse."
Duties can extend even further for some GA's; having the responsibility of helping out at various other events, such as concerts, lecture series, leadership conferences and senior pub nights.
GA's can be found all over campus, other than just the Student Life office.
The GA's in the Student Union; Elizabeth Coyne and Katie Thorner, oversee aspects that students are able to take advantage of on campus; such as the Outpost Pub, Hawley Lounge Game Room and the Shuttle Service.
Always in and out of their offices, GA's sometimes barely ever have time to sit down and take a break for their own schoolwork or just to relax.
"I'm taking three classes and work 20-30 hours a week, including meetings sometimes at night," said Thorner.
"Time management is key and you cannot procrastinate. I make lots of to-do lists."
Despite the workload though, the perks of being a GA extend beyond the material benefit, namely the salary.
"Being a GA has a lot of positives, including tuition remission, business and corporate working skills and networking," said Thorner.
Beyond that, though, the GA position offers a sense of purpose. Considering all of whom are positively affected by all the time GA's put into their job, they certainly have a lot of people counting on them.
"It's relaxed but it's not. You get to work with students and meet the faculty and staff," said Thorner.
Graduate students, who are willing to increase their workload to such an extent, allow students to enjoy the perks of campus, without ever recognizing all the behind-the-scenes work that the GA's do to make these events successful.
The truth is though; these behind-the-scenes school employees are of much importance to graduate, full-time and part-time students at Sacred Heart.
A GA is responsible for assisting the Council of Graduate Students on campus, with day-to-day functions and administrative duties.
They attend monthly meetings with the Council, help assist in decision-making regarding funds to help benefit graduate programs, and plan important events throughout the year.
One of the GA's here on campus, Robert Edwards, describes his workload between being a GA and a graduate student as "intense."
GA's duties extend beyond those involving just graduate students.
"As a GA in student life, you also serve as an advisor to various clubs and organizations on campus," said Edwards.
"I advise the junior class student government, WHRT, Commuter Council, Club Hockey, and Club Lacrosse."
Duties can extend even further for some GA's; having the responsibility of helping out at various other events, such as concerts, lecture series, leadership conferences and senior pub nights.
GA's can be found all over campus, other than just the Student Life office.
The GA's in the Student Union; Elizabeth Coyne and Katie Thorner, oversee aspects that students are able to take advantage of on campus; such as the Outpost Pub, Hawley Lounge Game Room and the Shuttle Service.
Always in and out of their offices, GA's sometimes barely ever have time to sit down and take a break for their own schoolwork or just to relax.
"I'm taking three classes and work 20-30 hours a week, including meetings sometimes at night," said Thorner.
"Time management is key and you cannot procrastinate. I make lots of to-do lists."
Despite the workload though, the perks of being a GA extend beyond the material benefit, namely the salary.
"Being a GA has a lot of positives, including tuition remission, business and corporate working skills and networking," said Thorner.
Beyond that, though, the GA position offers a sense of purpose. Considering all of whom are positively affected by all the time GA's put into their job, they certainly have a lot of people counting on them.
"It's relaxed but it's not. You get to work with students and meet the faculty and staff," said Thorner.
Graduate students, who are willing to increase their workload to such an extent, allow students to enjoy the perks of campus, without ever recognizing all the behind-the-scenes work that the GA's do to make these events successful.
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