Financing Your Graduate Education @ GCSU

Graduate Assistantship Information

The graduate program in Outdoor Education Administration at GCSU has a strong history of successfully placing interested incoming students in graduate assistanships. Students in GA positions receive tuition remission (provided they maintain a full graduate course load) and a modest stipend. GAs are renewable for up to four semesters.

Students interested in applying for graduate assistantships must be fully admitted to the School of Health Sciences at GCSU as well as the Outdoor Education Administration program. Students admitted conditionally are not eligible for GAs in their first semester. Application is typically made through consultation with the student's advisor. University policy indicates that graduate students be placed in GAs that are pertinent to their fields of study. Therefore Outdoor Education Administration students are placed in GAs within the Outdoor Education programs or, depending on availability and demand, in related programs such as environmental education, community service, student activities, and academic engagement.

GA Positions in Outdoor Education

Below are brief descriptions of each of the GA positions within the Outdoor Education programs.

Georgia College Outdoor Education Center Program Coordinator

The Program Coordinator works under the Director of the Georgia College Outdoor Education Center to schedule and manage programming at the OEC. This includes communicating with clients, scheduling programs, maintaining program and staff files, and managing Outdoor Education Center staff scheduling, promotions, and training. This position is usually held by a second-year graduate student who has previously been the Academic Administrative Assistant.

Outdoor Education Academic Administrative Assistant

The Academic Administrative Assistant reports to the Coordinator of Outdoor Education Programs. This individual manages the academic database and other resources, such as the Outdoor Education website, listserve, and policy manuals. The Academic Administrative Assistant also serves as secretary to meetings of the Outdoor Education staff and the Safety and Risk Management Committee. Depending on faculty needs, this person may also be involved with research and publication initiatives related to the Outdoor Education field.

Outdoor Education Technical Cohort Assistant

The Technical Cohort Assistant assists the Coordinator of Technical Cohorts with logistics and skill instruction related to the technical cohort classes. In addition, this individual is responsible for organizing and running "Skill Development Days" outside of class to give students extra opportunities to practice their skills. The Technical Cohort Assistant may also coordinate curriculum and logistics with third-party vendors during trips and workshops. This position is typically held by a second-year graduate student who has previously been the Equipment and Facilities Coordinator.

Georgia College Outdoor Education Center Equipment and Facilities Coordinator

The Equipment and Facilities Coordinator is responsible for managing Outdoor Education equipment and the facilities at Lake Laurel/East Campus. Equipment-related duties include inventorying and maintaining equipment, tracking equipment use, monitoring Outdoor Education vehicles and trailers, and managing the professional equipment purchase program. Facilities duties include oversight of building maintenance, inspection of challenge course facilities, and challenge course building and maintenance as needed. The Equipment and Facilities manager is also responsible for managing first aid kits and the medical supply stock.

Outdoor Education Marketing and Fundraising Assistant

The Marketing and Fundraising Assistant is responsible for developing marketing initiatives and materials and raising funds as necessary. This position includes developing and maintaining publicity materials for use at conferences, managing the Outdoor Education Center website, publicizing the academic programs and open-enrollment programs at the Georgia College Outdoor Education Center, and coordinating with university-wide marketing initiatives. Depending on need, the Marketing and Fundraising Assistant may also be required to work with the Coordinator of Outdooor Education Academic Programs to prepare grant proposals.