Graduate Assistantship
Ministry Formation in a Faith that Does Justice
A Two Year Experience
During the first year of the program, GAs will minister primarily to first-year students in the residence halls. The first-year GA is a visible, invitational, and pastorally present representative of Ministry to first-year students. He or she will learn to actively encourage and invite the participation and leadership of first-year students in University life, and to provide hospitality and pastoral care to them. GAs will work under the supervision of the First Year Chaplain.
During the second year of the assistantship, GAs will become involved in more specialized aspects of Ministry. There are two positions, one for each GA. Each position is rooted in Ministry’s goal of forming our students in a faith that does justice but offers different programmatic emphases.
Position One - Christian Formation and Service
The GA in this area will work with three primary program areas: Loyola4Chicago, Christian Life Communities, and the Search (Kairos-style) retreat. The GA will work with the Chaplain in the recruitment and formation of our local community service groups (L4C) and our faith and mission groups (CLC) including leader training, small and large group events. The GA will also lead one Search retreat team in the fall or spring semester.
Position Two - Peace and Justice
The GA in this area will work with three primary program areas: School of the Americas Vigil, the Peace and Justice retreat, 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, the Peace and Justice retreat (fall or spring) and either a domestic or international immersion experience.
Each of these positions will take at least 15 hours per week. The GA is invited to take on one additional small project (3-5 hours) such as interfaith programs, liturgy planning/sacristan, RCIA team, etc. The GA will consult with the Associate Director to pursue one of these options. Each GA will also publicly preside and preach at a Word Service in the second year.
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 an average 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 by February 15. The letter should include information about your interest in the position, your educational background, any experience you may have had in pastoral/campus ministry and/or residence life, your faith tradition, and your current spiritual practice. Please indicate which of the second-year placements you are interested in. Letters should be 2-4 pages in length.
The application materials should be sent to:
Shannon Green, Associate Director
Loyola University Chicago
Ministry
Mundelein Center, Suite 101
1032 W. Sheridan Rd.
Chicago IL 60660
773-508-2206
773-508-8509 (fax)
Or e-mail to: sgreen3@luc.edu
A committee of Ministry staff members will review the applications and begin scheduling interviews by early March. Interns will begin their training on or near August 1.
**Please note, the application process for the Ministry Graduate Assistantship is a completely separate administrative matter from your application for graduate studies at Loyola. This assistantship is designed to allow the graduate student to complete 36 credit hours in two years.