Graduate Assistant Positions
We currently have three graduate assistant openings available. Working as a graduate assistant is an excellent opportunity to get your master’s education paid for while getting real-world leadership experience.
Graduate Assistant in the M.S.Ed. Outdoor Leadership degree program
Responsibilities include teaching, ropes course facilitation, outdoor school facilitation, natural history interpretation, and university/community service. Southern Adventist University is a private liberal arts university; so successful candidates would be expected to demonstrate commitment to Christian liberal arts education in teaching and program development.
Other expectations include:
- Assist professors in teaching undergraduate outdoor leadership courses.
- Responsible for equipment maintenance and inventory.
- The ability to lead and direct outdoor school experiences K- 12 grades.
- A current full-time student in the MSEd Outdoor Leadership program .
- Lead out in campus outdoor leadership
Required Qualifications
- Four-year bachelors degree from an accredited institution
- Desire to learn and work in a fast growing outdoor leadership program.
- Must live within commuting distance of the university.
- Is flexible with the work schedule, in working evening and weekends as needed for activities
- An initiative thinker that is self-motivated and can work independently.
- A Christian with professional ethics and morals.
- A criminal Background check must be submitted before an interview.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience coordinating outdoor programs or facets of an outdoor program, such as:
- Logistics and trip/expedition planning
- Risk management and backcountry emergency protocols
- Equipment procurement and management
- Special use permits
- Outdoor School programming
- Wilderness Counseling/Therapy
- Skills in at least 3 of the following areas:
- Whitewater rafting/kayaking
- Top-rope rock climbing
- Hiking and backpacking in a variety of environments
- Caving
- Canoeing
- Team building dynamics and processing
- Mountain Biking
- Orienteering
- Challenge course facilitation
- CPR/First Aid/Wilderness First Aid
- Nature photography
Preference will be given to applicants who have additional training or certification in the following areas:
- Leave-No-Trace (LNT) trainer or Master educator certificate and experience in LNT ethics.
- Instructor certification with American canoe Association (ACA)
- Whitewater or Swiftwater Rescue Certification
- Outdoor Curriculum Certification in Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, Project WET, or other national outdoor curriculum.
- Ability to set-up and facilitate a challenge course
- Rock climbing skills
- Outdoor School Management
- Christian Leadership in outdoor activities
- Wilderness First Responder
- Previous experience with a college/university, commercial guide or outfitter, or work with the National Outdoor leadership
- School, Outward Bound, Mountain Guide Associates, or similar program in the backcountry, wilderness canoeing, whitewater rivers, caving and sport climbing.
Department Information
The Department of Outdoor Leadership, through the School of Education and Psychology, offers a Bachelors degree in Outdoor Leadership with four emphases, an Outdoor Leadership minor, and a Masters degree in Outdoor Teacher Education.
Southern Adventist University
Southern Adventist University is a private liberal arts university accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Current Enrollment is 2500 undergraduate students and 240 graduate students. Check the university website at http://www.southern.edu for more information.
Geographic Area
The geographical location of Southern Adventist University provides an unequaled variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for students, staff, and faculty. Collegedale is located near Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is in the tri-state area of Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina, and borders the lower range of the Appalachian Mountains including the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This area is a premier regional center for kayaking, mountain biking, rock climbing and other outdoor sports. For more local information on outdoor activities go to: http://www.outdoorchattanooga.com/.
Terms of Position
This appointment includes a full tuition waver and a biweekly stipend for twelve months and is renewable for the duration of the degree. The applicant is responsible for their own food, housing, and transportation when not involved with official activities.
Application and Procedure
Applicants must submit a letter of application specifically addressing all qualifications, current resume, statement of philosophies of Outdoor Experiences, copies of certifications and all transcripts, and three (3) current letters of recommendation. All candidates must complete a University graduate application form, and receive Regular Admission before they will be considered for a position.
Application Deadlines
Positions are open until filled. Application deadlines for the 2007 school year are
- December 4, 2006 (Start date is January 15, 2007).
- March 12, 2007 (Start date is May 14, 2007).
- June 1, 2007 (Start date is August 13, 2007).
Mail to:
Carleton Swafford, Ph.D.
Coordinator, Outdoor Leadership
School of Education and Psychology
Southern Adventist University
P.O. Box 370
Collegedale, TN 37315Office: 423-236-4945, Fax: 423-236-1765
Email:
SOUTHERN ADVENTIST UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.
