Working Title: JMU Libraries Graduate Assistant

State Role Title: Graduate Assistant

Position Type: Graduate Assistant

Position Status: Part-Time

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt: Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: JMU Libraries

Department: 100113 – Libraries

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Stipend

Specify Range or Amount: $10,110 

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? N/A

Beginning Review Date: 

About JMU:

Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

JMU Libraries is hiring one Graduate Assistantship (GA) position for the upcoming Academic Year (AY) 2026-27. This 20-hour-per-week position will support the work of the JMU Libraries’ Research and Education Services (RES) Department. This Department’s work occurs across multiple locations, but this position will primarily work out the newly-opened Carrier Library.

The start date for this position is August 25, 2026. The exact date is negotiable and will depend on the applicant’s qualification and availability.

The Libraries welcomes applicants who can demonstrate a commitment to building accessible and welcoming work environment. We are committed to encouraging dialogue, cultivating a sense of belonging, and celebrating a broad range of life experiences and perspectives.

Review of applications will begin as applications are received. This position will remain open until filled.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The majority of work in this position will be projectbased, revolving around helping the RES Department investigate the feasibility of new instruction & outreach services. This work will provide experience conducting
small-group interviews and focus groups, collecting & evaluating qualitative data, and writing proposals for
implementing or adapting user-facing services.

Additional tasks will involve supporting RES Librarians in their liaison work and assisting the RES Director develop interdepartmental materials – these tasks can give experience with a range of useful skills, such as
collecting & organizing information; managing spreadsheets; or working with graphic design tools such as Canva.

Qualifications:

If you are interested in work that will give you practical, demonstrable experience organizing & communicating information, writing reports, and using technologies that are common to office, academic, or administrative work, this position is for you!

Required Qualifications/Skills:
• strong organizational skills
• effective & prompt communication skills for in person & written mediums
• ability to work independently
• strong time-management skills
• ability to multitask & work on multiple concurrent projects.

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:
• familiarity with Microsoft Office Suite tools
• experience with original qualitative research (such as focus groups, interviews, or surveys)
• experience with graphic design tools (e.g. Photoshop, Canva)

Additional Posting Information:

Please provide a cover letter (1 page maximum) and résumé describing your experience or coursework that has prepared you for this work and what skills you hope to develop during this assistantship.

Conditions of Employment:  

Students may apply to a graduate assistantship prior to being accepted into a graduate program. However, to be eligible to receive an assistantship upon entry into a graduate program, the following criteria must be met:

The student must be conditionally or unconditionally accepted into a graduate program. Students who are provisionally accepted will not be eligible until they achieve conditional or unconditional acceptance into their program.

The students must have an official transcript on file indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution or agency

After receiving an assistantship, the student must maintain at least a 3.0 graduate GPA in order to retain or reapply for the assistantship.

These are minimum criteria. Graduate program coordinators have the right to impose additional criteria if they see fit.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are a student with a disability and need assistance please contact the Office of Disability Services at (540) 568-6705 or disability-svcs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the Office of Disability Services, located in the Student Success Center, Suite 1202 and they will be happy to assist you.