Graduate Assistantship
Ministry Formation in a Faith that Does Justice
Ministry Graduate AssistantShips
Campus Ministry is committed to the formation of graduate assistants (GAs) as a means of fulfilling the mission of the university, and our departmental goal to “form compassionate leaders of service for the church and society.
Campus Ministry Graduate Assistantships provide professional experience while studying in an appropriate field of study. During an assistantship one will be able to:
- Plan and facilitate ministry programs
- Lead prayer and faith sharing
- Provide pastoral care to students
- Build collaborative relationships across university departments
- Maintain healthy professional boundaries
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Campus Ministry offers a number of assistantships. Normally, a graduate assistant in his or her first year will serve in one of the developmental assistantships, first year, sophomore or junior/senior. During the first year of the program, GAs will minister primarily to students in the residence halls. These GA’s are visible, invitational, and pastorally present representatives of Campus Ministry to students. He or she will learn to actively encourage and invite the participation and leadership of students in University life, and to provide hospitality and pastoral care to them. The GA will oversee a team of peer ministers, known as the Loyola Companions. GAs will work under the supervision of a Staff Chaplain.
Second year assistantships, GAs may become involved in more specialized aspects of ministry. There are two specialized GA positions. Each position is rooted in Campus Ministry’s goal of forming our students in a faith that does justice but offers different programmatic emphases.
- First Year Chaplain Intern
The GA provides pastoral care and ministerial outreach to first-year students within their area. The GA must take initiative in reaching out to first year students and creating relationships. The GA, in collaboration with Residence Life, the Wellness Center and other campus partners, seeks to build community through developmentally appropriate faith formation programming, leadership development and pastoral care.
- Sophomore Initiatives Intern
The Sophomore Initiatives Graduate Assistant supports the leadership programs and second year ministry initiatives of Campus Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Student Leadership Development. The outreach to second year (sophomore) students is primarily but not limited to those living on campus. The GA, in collaboration with Residence Life and other campus partners, seeks to build community through developmentally appropriate faith formation programming, leadership development and pastoral care.
- Junior and Senior Chaplain Intern and Interfaith Graduate Assistant
The Junior/Senior Chaplain Intern supports the junior and senior year ministry initiatives of Campus Ministry. The outreach to junior and senior students is primarily focused to those upper-class students living on or near the Lakeshore Campus. The GA, in collaboration with Residence Life, Off Campus Student Life and other campus partners, seeks to build community and deepen students’ faith through developmentally appropriate faith formation programming and pastoral care. The Chaplain Intern assists the Junior/Senior Chaplain in developing and implementing interfaith initiatives.
- Water Tower Campus Intern
The GA provides pastoral care and ministerial outreach to students who live in Baumart and who have class at the WTC. The GA in this area will work with Christian Life Communities, Labre Ministry, Loyola Companions and Liturgy. The GA will assist the Chaplain in all aspects of these programs, including marketing, applications and interviews, logistics and planning, leader training and program implementation.
- Faith Communities Intern
The GA in this area will work with two primary program areas: Christian Life Communities, and the Search (Kairos) Retreat. The GA will work with the Chaplain in the recruitment and formation of our faith and mission groups (CLC) including leader training, small and large group events. The GA will also participate in the development of Search retreats as well as lead one Search retreat team in the fall or spring semester.
- Service and Justice Intern
The GA in this area will work with two primary program areas: School of the Americas Vigil, and the Alternative Break Immersion program. The GA will assist the Chaplain in all aspects of these programs, including marketing, applications and interviews, logistics and planning, leader training and program implementation. The GA is required to attend the SOA and either a domestic or international immersion experience.
Click here for full descriptions and to apply for open positions
Each of these positions requires 25 plus hours per week. Click here to learn more about our current interns and their ministries.
Compensation
The graduate assistantship carries an annual stipend of $7,200 in the first year and $7,700 in the second year, which will be paid in nine equal monthly installments. The first stipend payment will be made on September 15. Thereafter, the stipend check will be on the 15th of each month until May 15. The final day of work will be the day before the Graduate School graduation day. GAs are expected to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, except during the month of August when 30+ hours per week is required. GAs should anticipate working irregular hours, including many nights and weekends, as is consistent with the needs of university student culture. Because this stipend is for services provided, it is taxable.
GAs are also awarded a graduate tuition scholarship. The scholarship provides tuition remission, at the rate charged by the Institute for Pastoral Studies, for up to 18 semester hours during each of the two academic years. Courses taken must be part of the GA's Loyola University degree program. The assistantship does not cover student fees or health insurance.
Ministry invites participation in the program with the expectation of a two-year commitment. The Department reserves the right to terminate the commitment should we determine that the graduate assistant is not fit for this form of ministry. GAs are expected to maintain a "B" average and cannot take more than three courses per semester.
Application Information
Please submit a letter of interest, a resume and the names, addresses and phone numbers of three professional references as well as the application form by February 15. The letter should include your reasons for seeking this graduate assistantship, your educational background, any experience you may have had in pastoral/campus ministry and/or residence life, qualities that you bring to this assistantship, your faith tradition, your current spiritual practice and how social justice informs your ministry practice. Please indicate which assistantships you are interested in. Letters should be 2-4 pages in length.
Ministry is part of the Division of Student Development and all recruitment, application and position offers are handled by Joe Canino, Operations Manager of the Office of the Vice President. Please review all instructions on the Graduate Assistantship application process before applying. All application materials must be submitted electronically through RamblerLink. Please read all instructions carefully before applying.