Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Graduate Assistant Position Description (M.S. Environmental Education)

The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Graduate Assistant (EDIJ-GA) is a graduate assistant position within the Environmental Education Graduate Program at Southern Oregon University (SOU). This graduate student position is tasked with the administrative oversight of EDIJ and will be responsible for the coordination of projects directly related to the department’s EDIJ strategic directions centered on:

• Ensuring the infrastructure to continuously and sustainably grow and improve in its capacity to offer safe, inclusive, diverse and successful learning experiences.
• Increasing access to and engagement with our Environmental Education program, “Fall in the Field” (FITF), by historically underserved K-12 communities within Southern Oregon.
• Increasing access to and representation within our graduate program for prospective graduate students of historically underrepresented communities within the field of Environmental Education.
• Developing culturally responsive pedagogy and curriculum (how and what we teach) to enhance the success of its environmental education graduate students and FITF participants.

Reporting to the Environmental Education Graduate Program Coordinators and working closely with other graduate assistants, this position is empowered to facilitate the program’s graduate student-educators in the development of a K-12 Environmental Education program committed to fostering access, equity, inclusion and diversity in thought and practice. 

Examples of tasks and potential projects by the EDIJ-GA may include:

• Support other graduate students as they apply an EDIJ lens to their respective work.
• Coordinate workshops in culturally responsive programming for graduate students.
• Support a Fall in the Field planning process rooted in EDIJ.
• Develop free family programs designed with the intent to build more trusting relationships with families of Fall in the Field.
• Build and maintain community relationships, such as with the Shasta Takelma Learning Garden.
• Update all EDIJ documents, such as the EDIJ Strategic Plan and EDIJ Program Handbook.
• Support equitable recruitment of prospective graduate students, such as through outreach, marketing, and graduate assistant interviews.

Job Category: Graduate Assistantship
Graduate Assistant Position Timeline: 16 hours/week over 3 academic terms: Fall-Spring, Annually (September 2023-June 2024) with possibility for extension (please inquire about extension if desired).
Graduate Program Timeline: July 2023-December 2024
Compensation: ~$936 monthly stipend + 80% tuition remission on all course credits for SOU MSEE program during terms employed (employed 3+ out of 6 total MSEE terms)*
*The GA must maintain 9 credit hours per term of employment.
Last Date to Apply: January 15 (priority), May 31 (rolling). Decisions made on a rolling basis.

Required Qualifications for the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Graduate Assistant:

• Acceptance to and enrollment in the SOU MSEE Program.
• Expressed passion for equity, diversity, inclusion, justice and accessibility work.
• Ability to work creatively and independently, as well as collaborate and build relationships.

Preferred Qualifications for the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Graduate Assistant:

• Experience living or working within communities that experience systemic barriers to access and representation within Environmental Education, STEM, and the outdoor recreation sector in general. 

Don’t meet every requirement? Research shows that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. The SOU MSEE program is committed to our role in addressing barriers to engagement in EE as we work collectively toward a future of environmental wellbeing for all. If you are excited about this role, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the right candidate. 

Master of Science in Environmental Education
Southern Oregon University
Program Overview

Agency: Southern Oregon University
Location: Ashland, OR

Master of Science in Environmental Education (MSEE) Program
S.T.E.M. Division
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, OR 97520
Program Start Date: Mid-July annually
Websites: http://www.sou.edu/academics/environmental-education/

Program Description: The Environmental Education Department within Southern Oregon University recognizes the immense value in nurturing a diverse Environmental Education community, where all backgrounds and experiences are celebrated in the unity of our collective work toward access to environmental wellbeing for all. We honor the vibrant dimensions of diversity that people experience, and are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and successful experience in Environmental Education for all students and participants. The EE department of SOU highly encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for opportunities within our program. 

The Master of Science in Environmental Education degree program at Southern Oregon University (SOU) is accredited by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE). This six quarter program develops leaders in the field of environmental education. It is housed in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) division and connected to the Biology Department. Coursework exposes students to natural sciences, environmental issues and their associated conflicts, curriculum development, program administration and evaluation, best practices in environmental education, and the history and current field of environmental education. The graduate academic experience can be further enriched by adding a Master of Arts in Teaching with licensure, a certificate in nonprofit management, thesis, or project that can be integrated with the Environmental Education degree. Every student will complete a capstone project delivering a series of residential and non-residential K-12 programs, an exit interview and either an oral exam, project, or thesis. The course of study begins during Southern Oregon University’s Second Summer Session.

Five graduate assistantships (GAs) are offered each year to Environmental Education graduate students, four of which are offered through the SEEC Office. Graduate assistants receive an 80% in-state tuition remission and a monthly stipend during their terms employed. The assistantship requires 16 hours of work per week. Positions include the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Justice (EDIJ) Coordinator, Office Manager, Assistant Office Manager, Outreach Coordinator/Kit Manager, and the Fall in the Field Coordinator. Additional assistantships available to our students include: the Table Rocks Restoration and Interpretation Graduate Assistantship in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, the Indigenous Gardens Network and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as an Educational Program Coordinator at the farm at SOU. These positions depend on funding and availability. Please contact us for more information.

An additional letter explaining your qualifications is required to be considered for a graduate assistantship. Applications for admission into the Environmental Education program are considered January 15 and May 31 annually. Applications received by the January 15th deadline receive priority consideration for graduate assistantships. For information about application requirements visit inside.sou.edu/ee/apply.html.