Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Charleston, Illinois
Norfolk, Virginia
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Cookeville, Tennessee
Champaign, Illinois
Valparaiso, Indiana
Denton, Texas
Normal, Illinois
Posted: 18-Dec-25
Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Type: Contract
Categories:
Campus Recreation at Middle Tennessee State University has the following Graduate Assistant positions available for the 2026-2028 academic years.
- Aquatics
- Outdoor Pursuits (MTOP)
- Sports Programs (2 positions available)
Who we are: MTSU Campus Recreation strives to support the MTSU Community by providing holistic recreational opportunities and fostering the development and education of all students. Our vision is to ignite growth and inspire success through recreation.
What You Can Expect From Us (Our Values)
- Collaboration & Teamwork – Working together to communicate, share ideas, and support one another to achieve our common goal by which we will value each other’s input, perspectives, and contributions.
- Community & Belonging - Creating a welcoming, accepting atmosphere and building personal relationships through socialization, open-mindedness, and embracing differences.
- Fun - We make fun accessible to everyone and encourage individuals to get out of routine settings. We promote connection and enjoyment through collective participation.
- Growth & Development - Campus Recreation is dedicated to giving students the opportunities and resources to advance themselves through mentorships, learning, and experiences. We equip students with skills to overcome challenges and embrace change.
- Integrity - Campus Recreation will conduct itself in a manner that strives to foster honesty, honor, and truthfulness. Through building positive relationships, maintaining commitments, and being transparent in operations, we aspire to create an inclusive environment for all patrons.
- Wellbeing - We strive to create a culture that supports everyone’s health and happiness.
What We Offer
- Aquatics - Position includes 12-month contract that includes full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend of $1,200 totaling $14,400 per year.
- Outdoor Pursuits and Sports Programs - Positions include a 9-month contract that includes full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend of $1,200 totaling $12,000 per year. Two Sports Programs positions are available.
- All Graduate Assistants have the option to work up to 9 hours per week in addition to the monthly stipend. The hourly rate for these additional 9 hours will be $15 per hour for the first academic year, and $16 per hour for the second academic year, to be initiated upon renewal of the yearly contract. The $1 per hour increase is contingent upon meeting certain learning outcomes as agreed upon and discussed with your supervisor. These additional hours are dependent on program area specific needs.
- Graduate Assistant contracts are up for renewal in August and are based on performance.
- Opportunities for professional development through State, Regional, and National conferences, workshops, and more.
Application Deadline: Applications will begin being reviewed as they are received with priority review starting February 9 and continuing until the position is filled. Final application deadline is February 16.
Anticipated Start Date: August 24, 2026
Aquatics Job Summary: The Graduate Assistant of Aquatics is a leadership position that will require the student to work collaboratively with both our full-time staff and our undergraduate aquatics student staff to maintain the day-to-day aquatics and safety needs of the Department of Campus Recreation. This position is a 2-year commitment as a full-time graduate student. Night and weekend hours may apply as well as other job specific duties as assigned.
Aquatics Primary Responsibilities
- Assist with scheduling, supervision, management, hiring, training, and evaluation of our undergraduate student staff.
- Assist with daily aquatic operation management including hiring, training, and scheduling of approximately 35 Aquatic student staff at the Campus Recreation Center, a 180,000 square foot facility including two swimming pools.
- Assist with needed revisions, modifications, and review of our risk management and safety policy and procedures.
- Maintain, document and utilize reports.
- Must become proficient in all aspects of Fusion and Sling software programs.
- Become proficient in assisting with monitoring and adjusting our pool heating, filtration, and chemical feeding systems as needed.
- Provide quality customer service to all facility patrons.
- Serve as professional staff member on duty for overall management and supervision of the pools and aquatic staff (as needed). May include opening and closing pools, and some weekend duties (as needed) managing customer-related situations and responding to emergencies.
- Participate in budget meetings and offer ideas/recommendations to help us reach our set goals.
- Collaborate and assist with both departmental and external groups with special events when we are requested to host events at our pools using 25Live and Fusion to help schedule these events.
- Assist with aquatic marketing needs to promote our programs and water safety information sessions.
- Assist with policies and procedures development, revisions, and enforcement among student staff.
What We Require
- Graduate Assistants are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
- Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree and be accepted into MTSU graduate school and academic program of choice before assistantship begins.
- Must possess current certification from American Red Cross for Lifeguarding (including deep water).
What We Prefer
- Current American Red Cross Certification for Water Safety Instructor (WSI) or knowledge/experience teaching and scheduling swim lessons.
- Must possess current certification from American Red Cross for Lifeguard Instructor.
- Strong interpersonal leadership and communication skills.
How to Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and two to three professional references to Kirsten Studdard at Kirsten.studdard@mtsu.edu. Applications through bluefishjobs will not be accepted.
MTOP Job Summary:
The Middle Tennessee Outdoor Pursuits (MTOP) Graduate Assistant position is an integral part of Campus Recreation at MTSU. The graduate assistant reports to the Outdoor Pursuits Coordinator and will supervise student staff, assist with daily operations of a comprehensive outdoor program, and collaborate with internal and external partners within the MTSU community.
Primary Responsibilities:
The following responsibilities are a general overview of what the position will hold throughout your time here, but as no day is the same within our program, we value individuals that embrace adaptability and flexibility as things change.
- Outdoor Trip Program
- Design, plan, advertise, and budget trips
- Train, mentor, and support trip leaders through logistics and debrief meetings for trips
- Graduate assistants are not required to lead trips but may choose to lead as their schedule allows
- Outdoor Equipment Rental Center
- Assist with customer service, inventory, and gear purchases
- Schedule and supervise undergraduate staff
- Clean, organize and repair equipment
- Climbing Wall
- Assist with schedule, route setting, and gear maintenance
- Oversee belay tests and training
- Monthly inspections
- Additional Responsibilities
- Serve on the hiring committee for MTOP new hires
- Attend professional staff meetings
- Help facilitate monthly MTOP meetings
- Involvement with Campus Recreation initiatives, marketing events, and other duties assigned by any member of the professional staff
- Be an engaged member of the Division of Student Affairs
What We Require
- Graduate Assistants are required to work 20 hours per week.
- Hold a minimum of a current Wilderness First Aid certification or willing to acquire within 30 days of start date (will be paid for by Campus Recreation).
- Strong interpersonal leadership and communication skills.
- 1-3 years of experience in Outdoor Recreation programming.
- Have a clean driving record and hold a US driver’s license.
- Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and be accepted into MTSU graduate school and academic program of choice before assistantship begins.
What We Prefer
- Experience working in a supervisory role within Campus Recreation or similar outdoor recreation programming and assistance with staff training.
- Experience in at least white-water kayaking or sport climbing, and two other activities including flatwater kayaking, caving, backpacking, camping, mountain biking, fly fishing, and stand up paddleboarding.
- Instructor – level ACA certification (kayak, canoe, SUP, WFA, Swift Water Rescue Level 4 or other certifications. WFR preferred, but the department may help offset some of the cost if you do not have it.
- Ability to work as a team member, as well as work independently.
- Strong organization and time management skills highly valued.
How to Apply: Send a letter highlighting qualifications and applicable experience, a resume, and copy of undergraduate transcript (official or unofficial). Please also include names, emails, and phone numbers of at least two references. Send all requested information to Outdoor Pursuits Coordinator Blake Osborn: blake.osborn@mtsu.edu. Applications through bluefishjobs will not be accepted.
Sports Programs Job Summary: The Graduate Assistant of Sports Programs is a leadership position that works collaboratively within an extensive Intramural Sports and Club Sports program housed under Campus Recreation. The Graduate Assistants are expected to provide administrative support to the Coordinator of Sports Programs and are considered part of the Campus Recreation professional staff and programming team. This position is a 2-year commitment as a full-time graduate student. Night and weekend hours may apply as well as other job specific duties as assigned. There are two Sports Programs positions are available.
Sports Programs Primary Responsibilities
- Club Sports
- Assist in managing inventory, budgeting, travel information, and reimbursements for Club Sports
- Organize and monitor weekly club sport practice and game schedules
- Serve on the Club Sports Advisory Board to allocate funds to club sports organizations
- Assist in organizing and executing Club Sport leadership development and officer trainings
- Intramural Sports
- Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate all Intramural Sports events
- Assist in coordinating and running Intramural Sports Official’s trainings and weekly developmental meetings
- Provide excellent customer service while acting as the primary point of contact for Intramural Sports participants
- Additional Responsibilities
- Recruit, hire, train, schedule, supervise, evaluate and provide leadership to Sports Programs student staff
- Develop ideas and collaborate with Campus Recreation marketing staff to deliver a comprehensive marketing plan for Sports Programs
- Assist with Sports Programs student payroll, budget planning, policy development, and equipment/facility inventory and purchasing
- Attend regularly scheduled Campus Recreation staff meetings
- Be an engaged member of the Division of Student Affairs
What We Require
- Graduate Assistants are required to work a minimum of 20 hours per week.
- Candidate must have a bachelor’s degree and be accepted into MTSU graduate school and academic program of choice before assistantship begins.
- Must be CPR/First Aid/AED certified or willing to obtain certification upon hire.
- Strong interpersonal leadership and communication skills.
What We Prefer
- Experience working in supervisory role within competitive sports at the student level
- Experience in training Intramural Sports officials
- Experience in programming Intramural Sports events
- Experience as a Club Sport officer
- Experience in training Club Sports officers
- Experience with Intramural Sports schedule software (Fusion Play preferred)
- Experience in marketing Campus Recreation events
- Sports officiating certification(s)
- CPR/First Aid/AED instructor certification
How to Apply: Email cover letter, resume, and two to three professional references to Daniel Payne at Daniel.payne@mtsu.edu. Applications through bluefishjobs will not be accepted.
