April 01, 2005

Undergraduates can apply for assistantships

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill.-- Southern Illinois University Carbondale students can apply for undergraduate assistantships for the next school year beginning Monday, April 4.

The Financial Aid Office coordinates the program, and the position listings are only available at the office's Web site: http://www.siuc.edu/~fao/jobs/undergradassist.htm.

Interim Financial Aid Director Donna Williams said the $765,583 available will fund 171 assistantships.

All positions must remain posted for at least a week before hiring departments can begin to interview and hire candidates. That means interested students should act quickly in providing resumes to hiring departments. The goal is to complete the hiring process before the end of the spring semester, though students won't begin working in the positions until next fall.

Positions will remain on the Web site until they are filled.

Students can earn up to $800 per month and gain valuable career experience through the program, which is entering its fourth year. The assistantships are part of the University's effort to enhance its investment in students using funds generated through tuition.

The assistantships offer students a para-professional employment opportunity. Preference goes to juniors or seniors, who work with a faculty member or professional-level staff person in a position directly related to their academic/career discipline.

Undergraduate assistants working 10 hours per week will receive $400 a month. Students working 15 hours per week will receive $600 a month and those working 20 hours per week will receive $800 per month. Assistantships do not provide a tuition waiver and are not eligible for Federal Work Study funding.