Graduate Assistantship for Rural School Collections

Introduction:  

The UNI Museum’s The Center for the History of Rural Iowa Education and Culture (CHRIEC) in Rod Library maintains archival, historical, and research collections; collects oral histories; and provides programming that seeks to advance scholarship and support the educational, research, and service missions of the university. The Center is seeking a Graduate Assistant to assist in stewarding, maintaining, and providing access to these important Rural School Collections. This position will focus primarily on digital curation, digital preservation, and accessioning of the collection.

Position Title: Graduate Assistantship for Rural School Collections

Position Type: Support/Hybrid

Reports to: Nathan Arndt, Museum Director & Curator (nathan.arndt@uni.edu)

Terms of Employment:

• For the Fall semester 10 hours per week, beginning August 24, 2026 and ending December 18, 2026.
• For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 19, 2027 and ending May 14, 2027.

Compensation:

• Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,182.50 for a half-time appointment (10 hours per week) per semester. Pay is biweekly and stipend is prorated depending on start date.
• Graduate Assistants and their spouses may qualify for in-state tuition. Spouses must submit marriage certificate to gradcollege@uni.edu. 
• Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters.
• For more information regarding Graduate Assistantship procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Physical collection responsibilities include rehousing materials into archival folders and boxes; creating index labels for microfilm holdings; corresponding with donors; digital collections management and implementation into the museum database, or other archival systems.
• Digital collection responsibilities include, but are not limited to scanning Primary Source Material and entering into the database; researching county history and updating information within the database; and digitizing microfilm and slides.
• Assists staff with the transition of the collection to a new database.
• Assists with rural school research requests.

General Qualifications:

• Must be a full-time (enrolled in at least 9 eligible credits), degree-seeking student in a UNI's graduate program. Online students able to commute to campus are eligible for assistantships.
• Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program.  
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
• Have an official transcript on file and be fully declared in their graduate major before the start of the assignment.
• Must meet and complete I-9 eligibility to work in the United States.
• Must complete UNI’s mandatory employee training timely.
• See detailed eligibility on https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a museum or archives.
• Experience working with museum databases.
• Experience working with digital media or scanners.
• Organized and proactive about asking questions and implementing feedback.
• Adaptable to a quickly changing schedule.
• Comfortable working with the public and completing research requests.

Application Process and Deadline:

To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach: resume and cover letter. The contact receiving your submission is Marykaye Roberts (marykaye.roberts@uni.edu).

Applications received by August 28  will be given full consideration.

UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by federal and/or state law.