Earn While You Take Your Career Further
Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are paid positions at UW-Stout Polytechnic where you also have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience. The process for finding a GA position here is a bit different than on some campuses. Openings are posted on Handshake by academic programs and administrative units, and the process of searching for one and applying is much like finding any other kind of employment.
Assistantship Opportunities for UW-Stout Polytechnic Program Students
The departments and offices below regularly hire graduate students as graduate assistants (GAs). Reach out directly to the contacts listed to learn more about openings for the coming year. Your Graduate Program Director is another key connection. Whether you’ve already been admitted or are still deciding, contact them to find out which GA positions fit your program. Why reach out directly? GA positions are posted in Handshake, but you won’t have access until you officially enroll. Most incoming students enroll in late spring, so connecting with these offices now puts you ahead of that timeline.
This list doesn’t include every GA opening for the coming year and is subject to change.
UW-Stout Polytechnic Achievement Center
Help with tasks in the Achievement Center.
Contact: advisementcenter@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Admissions Office
This position focuses on developing a well-rounded understanding of college admissions, scholarships, and other relevant parts of college counseling.
Contact: Brian Weber, weberbri@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Chemistry & Physics Department
This position will help the graduate student by strengthening their chemistry background, helping them with time management by doing weekly work with no set hours, and giving them a role with some oversight and responsibility (proctoring).
Contact: Laura McCullough, mcculloughl@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Child & Family Study Center
The Nutritionist Graduate Assistant will be modeling best practices in nutrition for the early childhood education program and staff. The food program graduate assistant is responsible for nutritional planning and implementing of the CFSC children’s food program, including inventory, stocking, ordering and menu planning following the CACFP guidelines.
Contact: Allison Feller, fellera1995@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Engineering & Technology Department
The GA will help with teaching and research in ETECH 100 Impacts of Engineering, a first-year course for all engineering and engineering technology majors at UW-Stout Polytechnic. The GA will be involved in various stages of research, providing practical experience in conduct of classroom research, and the development and use of common instruments for such. In addition to research, being involved in the teaching aspects of the class such as holding discussion sections, conducting activities related to active learning, proctoring tests, and grading assignments will provide practical teaching experiences to the selected student.
Contact: Abhimanyu Ghosh, ghosha@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Financial Wellness & Literacy Center
This role encompasses a diverse array of duties which can be calibrated to fit the skills of the student and provide them with direct experience in the following: advising students, presenting educational materials, developing educational resources, research and data analysis of program metrics and impact, creating marketing materials, writing blog posts, social media content creation, and/or organizational leadership.
Contact: financialwellness@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Graduate Studies Office
Helps with tasks in the Graduate Studies Office including thesis paper reviews, social media and web support, and recruitment efforts.
Contact: Toni Bixby, bixbyt@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Kinesiology, Health, Food & Nutritional Sciences Department
There are multiple opportunities available related to food and nutritional science, providing practical experience in various aspects including teaching support, academic administration, laboratory and research skills, and mentoring other students.
Contact: Mary Larue, laruem@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Marriage & Family Therapy Program
The GA will interact with clients in support of Clinical Services Center (CSC) operations, including supporting the CSC manager in gathering and maintaining client intake materials and other relevant documentation, client intake process improvement, and maintenance of the reception and waiting room areas. The GA will also assist with CSC marketing, outreach, and communication efforts. The GA will also assist in program support by maintaining documentation to meet accreditation standards, including collecting and aggregating program evaluation data. In addition, the GA will assist in the creation, coordination, and dissemination of program materials. They may also provide general assistance to the faculty in the preparation of course materials and instructional aids and assist faculty with research projects.
Contact. Somi (Kevin) Hynes, hynesk@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Math, Statistics & Computer Science Department
The student will gain practical experience working with hardware and with users. The GA will be able to develop written and verbal communication skills through teaching users and through developing documentation for the equipment. As the student helps other students with their technical problems and provides feedback to them, they will gain valuable experience in trouble shooting and in evaluating technical designs and code.
Contact: Scott Turner, turners@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Multi-Model Instructional Support Office
Responsibilities of these positions include, but are not limited to, the enhancing of the program’s instructional design model, course template, instructional design process, faculty training, and software and instructional technologies support systems. This is a team-based role, where the graduate assistant will work closely with Instructional Design Program’s senior instructional designer and Instructional Design Team.
Contact: Jamison Patrick, patrickj@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Nakatani Teach & Learning Center
The GA will learn/strengthen their research skills by conducting quantitative and/or qualitative data related to the investigation of NTLC-related teaching and learning.
Contact: Clayton Benjamin, benjamincl@uwstoutl.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Office of International Education / Study Abroad
Help with tasks in the Office of International Education department.
Contact: Andria Morse, morsea@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Office of Research & Sponsored Programs
The Office of Research & Sponsored Programs (ORSP) offers two graduate assistant positions: Marketing and Communications Design and IRB Support. The marketing position supports research publicity, promotional materials, social media, website content, and research events. The IRB position supports human subjects research administration through submission tracking, recordkeeping, researcher communications, and updates to guidance and training resources. Students gain practical experience in research communications or research ethics and compliance while working with campus stakeholders. Each position is approximately 10 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, with flexible scheduling.
Contact: Angie Ruppe, ruppean@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Office of Student Opportunity & Excellence
The Office of Student Opportunity & Excellence (OSOE) works to ensure that every student thrives and reaches their full potential—academically, professionally, and personally—by championing access and cultivating a culture of belonging. They have several programs under their umbrella, including the Fostering Success Program, Multicultural Student Services, TRIO Student Support Services, and the Qube.
Contact: Mai Khou Xiong, xiongm@uwstout.edu
Contact: Fred Brown, brownfr@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Operations & Management Department
1) This position will allow the student to apply newly acquired knowledge in a hands-on learning environment by designing a research study, collecting and analyzing data; assist in writing a grant proposal; and making our M.S. Operations & Supply Management program more visible on social media.
Contact: Dr. Eli Aba, abae@uwstout.edu
2) The program support functions that the student will perform will enhance their research, communication and technical skills in regard to work duties that risk control and safety management professionals typically perform in the business and industrial environment.
Contact: Brian Finder, finderb@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Psychology Department
GAs provide academic support for specific classes each semester. Positions are for 1 semester, and opportunities are available in both fall and spring.
Contact: Dr. Kathryn Hamilton, hamiltonk@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Robert S. Swanson Library & Learning Center
1) One position leads library efforts in creating educational displays, exhibits, and accessible signage for library users. The graduate assistant gains experience with campus identity standards and learns how the library fosters a welcoming environment for all users.
Contact: Cory Whipkey, whipkeyc@uwstout.edu
2) One position works with the archives staff, and the student will learn of best practices in archives reference and preservation of materials.
Contact: Dr. Victoria Stewart, stewartv@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic School of Art & Design
These positions allow the graduate student to apply and further develop their knowledge in a hands-on learning environment. The positions also provide mentoring opportunities in working with undergraduate students.
Contact: Dr. Robert Fraher, fraherr@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic School Counseling Program
School Counseling GAs provide support to the program across a variety of roles and responsibilities. Duties include but are not limited to: Assistance to course instructors with grading, mentoring students; Assistance to faculty with scholarship (e.g., helping with literature reviews); Assistance with recruitment and candidate interview days (providing campus tours, helping onboard new students); General assistance to program faculty and director (updating student program plans, creating a spreadsheet resource to track student progress); Management and facilitation of the school counseling resource library. This position requires an advanced student who can assume a leadership role in the program and is able to follow all applicable ethics and principles of confidentiality in all aspects of the role. Students who act as Graduate Assistants will learn skills in communication, mentoring, scholarship, and research which will help them in their future as a professional school counselor.
Contact: Dr. Molly Welch Deal, welchdealm@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic School Psychology Program
Graduate Assistantships are generally reserved for second-year students in the School Psychology program, as they help with the 1st year assessment course. Applications are sent to school psychology students in March. We occasionally have other opportunities for 1st year students as research GAs or special grants, etc.
Contact: Dr. Angela Axelrod, axelroda@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Student Counseling Center
This department offers counseling and mental health support to UW-Stout Polytechnic Services; they frequently hire school psychology students as GAs to work in their office for coordination and outreach (GAs do not do actual counseling/therapy).
Contact: Dr. Chasidy Faith, faithc@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic Student Disability Services
GAs in this office have many duties, including joining student accommodation meetings, reviewing disability documentation, writing case notes, and consulting with program staff to determine appropriate accommodations. They have the opportunity to attend housing accommodation meetings to hear requests for single rooms, private bathrooms, and assistive technology. They also provide direct exam accommodations (reader/scribe) for students with sensory disabilities. Candidates enrolled in fields of study that work directly with individuals with disabilities to provide services in an educational setting preferred.
Contact: Ann Murphy, murphyan@uwstout.edu
UW-Stout Polytechnic TRIO Student Support Services
This position provides the graduate student with significant professional development in both content mastery and applied teaching skills. By tutoring writing, the student deepens their own academic knowledge while gaining experience in explaining complex concepts clearly and effectively. In addition, assisting with peer tutor training supports the development of leadership, mentoring, and communication skills that are highly transferable to future professional and academic roles. Because the TRIO Student Support Services program specifically serves first-generation, low-income, and disabled students, the graduate student will also gain meaningful experience working with diverse populations and developing cultural competence in supporting student success.
Contact: Sarah Wynn, wynns@uwstout.edu
Guidelines & Benefits
- GAs do not include a tuition waiver; however, non-resident students who hold at least a 0.33 FTE position are not charged the non-resident portion of tuition.
- GAs are considered a form of financial aid.
- GAs are typically filled on an academic year basis, although some may be for one semester or a partial semester only.
- Pay rates are set yearly by the Universities of Wisconsin. Please see the current Pay Chart for Graduate Assistants.
Eligibility & Requirements
You are eligible for a GA position if you meet all of the following criteria:
- admitted to a UW-Stout Polytechnic graduate degree program, including dual-level and accelerated programs,
- enrolled in at least one graduate credit each term, and
- maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 each term.
Depending on the FTE percentage rate of your position, GAs are required to work a certain number of hours per year:
| Appointment % | Hours Per Week | Hours Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2 time (.500) | 20 | 640 |
| 1/3 time (.333) | 13.3 | 426 |
| 1/4 time (.250) | 10 | 320 |