Applications for GTA positions are due by Wednesday, April 17 at 5:00 p.m.

The MSU Writing Center hires graduate student TAs from all disciplines. Graduate assistantships provide an opportunity for GTAs to develop both communication and teaching skills that complement the discipline-specific work.

Writing Center GTAs will work one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students (in face-to-face and online environments), facilitate graduate writing groups, and develop and lead writing workshops. In addition, the GTAs will participate in a robust tutor education program and tutoring community where they will both learn about and develop practices for working with writers across all disciplines. While we certainly want graduate students who are strong writers, the ability to work well with others and to be generous readers of others’ writing is just as (if not more) important.

Duties and responsibilities:

  • Tutors in this position will work online and face-to-face with undergraduate and graduate students from across the MSU campus.
  • Tutors will work with students from all different disciplines and must be able to switch modes and mindsets from one session to the next, focusing on organization, transitions, and flow of a written work.
  • Tutors will participate in ongoing tutor education together with the undergraduate tutoring staff. Tutor education includes reading writing center research, participating in group discussions and inquiry groups, attending regular all-staff meetings, and engaging in the intellectual work of the writing center.
  • Tutors will participate in ongoing partnerships with a variety of classes/departments across campus. These partnerships may require facilitating writing groups, delivering presentations, participating in events, workshops or other forms of writing support as determined by the instructor and the Writing Center staff.

Required qualifications—experience, education, knowledge and skills

  • Applicants for this position must be enrolled in a graduate program at Montana State University and must not already have been awarded an assistantship from their department.
  • Successful candidates are personable, intellectually-engaged, community-oriented individuals.
  • Successful candidates are strong readers and writers and can bring their knowledge of writing conventions to the Writing Center.   
  • Applicants are active listeners who demonstrate empathy and understanding for students working towards becoming a professional writer in their discipline.
  • Applicants must be comfortable not knowing; they will be working with writing outside of their disciplines and may not always understand content. 
  • Successful candidates are dependable, punctual, resourceful, and flexible. The Writing Center’s needs shift and change due to the nature of our partnerships and the candidate should be willing to take on new duties as needed.

GTAs will work 15-19 hours a week and receive tuition costs and a stipend of $17,331 for FY23.

How do I apply?

  1. Come in and find out what we're all about!  All applicants should try out a session as a writer before applying to be a tutor. You can even meet with a tutor to get some feedback on your tutor application (it’s not cheating).
  2. Ask a faculty member or mentor to write a letter of recommendation in support of your application. Direct your recommender to the Faculty Recommendation link (you may also find the link in the top-right corner of this page). Recommendations are due the same day as the rest of your application. Please make sure your recommender knows the deadline.
  3. Follow the Graduate Tutor Application link to submit your application materials. You will need the following to apply to the Writing Center:
    • your resumé or CV,
    • a cover letter explaining why you want to be a Writing Center tutor, and
    • a 3-5 page academic writing sample that exemplifies writing in your field of graduate studies. An excerpt of a longer piece is acceptable as is a submission of multiple shorter pieces (3 1-page lab reports, for example).
  4. (Optional) If you like, you may also ask a peer to write a brief Peer Recommendation in support of your application. Peer recommenders should address your ability to engage with peers collaboratively, respectfully, and successfully. Again, peer recommendations are due the same day as the rest of your application. Please make sure your recommender knows the deadline and direct them to the Peer Recommendation link.

We accept applications at any time, but we typically hire twice a year, in April and November.

Questions may be directed to the Assistant Director of WAMSU, Erin Strickland ([email protected]).