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Apply to be a GA!

Details for the 2024-2025 Program

 

Hiring Timeline & Required Training Dates

Hiring Timeline 

  • Application goes live : December 18, 2023
  • Applications and recommendations due  : EXTENSION TO MARCH 24, 2024 at noon 
  •  Interviews are conducted on a rolling basis : February 26, 2024 - March 8, 2024
  • Offers are sent :  March 18th - March 29, 2024
  • Acceptances are due by 11:59 pm : April 3, 2024

Required Dates for Participation in the Green Advisor Program  (Fall 2024- Spring 2025)

  •  GA Training : August 19th - 23rd
  • New Student Orientation Support : August 23 -28th
  • Spring Training : TBD January 2025
  • Move-out assistance : final month of the semester spring 2025
  • Final day of move-out assistance : 
    • All GAs (including non-senior GAs with earlier finals) are required to maintain their composting duties and assist in the yearly move-out until the end of the spring semester, and should plan to stay until the last day of finals. Your supervisor will have to approve any earlier departures, so do not plan any earlier travel until you've spoken with your supervisor.
Application Process

Completed GA applications consist of:

  • Full submission of the application through JobX, including:
    • Uploaded resume/CV.
    • Uploaded cover letter.
    • Uploaded responses to short-answer questions. 
  • One recommendation (not required for current or past Green Advisors).

Short-Answer Questions

Your responses to the short-answer questions will help us to learn about your interest in the GA program. There is no required length for these short-answer questions, but we do expect thoughtful and well-written responses.

  • Short-answer questions for students who have never been GAs here.
  • Short-answer questions for current or past GAs here.

Recommendation

Your recommendation can come from a Swarthmore professor, dean, or staff member –OR– from a source outside of Swarthmore such as an employer or mentor. Recommendations from classmates will not be accepted. The recommender should use this brief form to discuss the skills and character traits you possess that would make you a good GA. One recommendation is required for new applicants. 

Deadline : February 16, 2024 at 11:59 pm 

 

Eligibility

Residential Peer Leaders live 'in-residence' and serve as role models and advisors to their residential communities. It is important that Residential Peer Leaders are supported by their supervisors in their work, and that employment as a Residential Peer Leader positively supports a student's overall success and well-being while at Swarthmore. 

  • Candidates must have a class standing of Sophomore, Junior, or Senior for the next academic year, and must be full-time enrolled students at the time of employment.
  • Candidates must be willing to serve for the entire academic year; candidates who are planning to study abroad or take a leave from the college are not eligible to apply.
  • Candidates must be in and remain in good standing throughout their employment.  A student is not in good standing when the student has been found responsible for a student conduct policy violation and as a result is serving a sanction of probation, suspension, or expulsion.  In addition, students are not in good standing if they are on academic probation.  Please consult with the Student Handbook for more information about policies related to academics and student conduct.
Remuneration

Students serving as a Green Advisor will receive hourly compensation of $15.00.

Please note that the compensation received for work as a Green Advisor is considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  GAs will need to inquire with Human Resources with any questions regarding how their compensation may be taxes.

Compensation includes the responsibilities outlined in the program position descriptions, including: weekly duties during the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters, Fall 2024 GA Training, 2024 Orientation Week,  Spring 2025 Training,  Spring  2025 end of semester procedures, and on-going in-service opportunities. Each Residential Peer Leader program has specific training dates and responsibilities throughout the year. Please be in contact with individual program directors with any questions related to training dates or remuneration.

 

Using JobX

The GA Application utilizes JobX, which will soon become the College's new Student Employment system. For more information on JobX, please visit the Student Employment Office Website. To be able to submit your GA Application, you will need to complete all required questions in the application. Additionally, the application requires each candidate to complete and submit the "GA Application Short Answer Questions", which should be submitted as a PDF document that contains a collection of short-answer questions pertaining to the position. The required questions are listed below. Once candidates complete these supplemental questions, they will "attach" it to their formal application in JobX.  Please note that there are two versions of the supplemental questions; one for NEW candidates, and one for RETURNING candidates.

JobX Step-by-Step Instructions:

  1. Open the JobX website.
  2. Select “Student Employees.”
  3. Click “User Dashboard,” at the top of the right hand column.
  4. Log in with your Swarthmore credentials.
  5. Click on “Student Employees” in the top navigation.
  6. Select “Find a Job” from the drop-down menu.
  7. Click “Show All Active Jobs” on the top left of the “Select a Quick Search” box.
  8. Review the disclaimer for on-campus stipend jobs and click “I Agree.”
  9. The Green Advisor position will appear in the “Active Jobs” list. Click the job title.
  10. “Click here to apply for this job” on the top left of the screen.
  11. Read and complete all portions of application, as they contain important information on eligibility, remuneration, dates of employment, spring training, and more.
  12. Some data will be pre-populated into the application from your Banner account. Please review it to make sure it is correct and up to date.
  13. Be sure to upload your GA Short Answer Supplemental form.
  14. Click “Submit.”
Contact

If you have any questions regarding the GA program and selection process, please contact one of the following:

  • Clare Hyre (chyre1), Associate Director of Sustainability, Office of Sustainability 
  • Any of your residential GAs!

 

GAs on the David Kemp green roof.

GAs tour the campus heat plant.

GAs get to know each other during August training.

GAs host a waste relay and other games during New Student Orientation.

GAs have lunch with Scott Arboretum staff.

GAs take their annual tour of the Convanta waste plant in Chester, PA.

GAs explore compost piles at the Kitchen Harvest site.

GAs sort waste from campus buildings during a Waste Characterization Study.

GA student coordinator Josh Medel '18 advertises the program on Parrish Beach.

GAs on the David Kemp green roof.

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