BPSS Graduate Assistants
Each year, the Carolina Center for Public Service provides support for 7-9 Carolina graduate and professional students to share their expertise with undergraduates who are engaged in service in the community and on campus. Selected graduate students are required to propose and facilitate a skills training three times each semester for Buckley Public Service Scholars (BPSS) participants and participate in some other aspect of the program, such as co-facilitating a BPSS participant orientation, attending the BPSS senior dinner for participants or helping with the review process of BPSS portfolios submitted by graduating seniors. While completing these requirements, each graduate student receives a $1,600 stipend.
BPSS Skills Trainings
Undergraduate students enrolled in BPSS are required to participate in at least four approved skills trainings in order to complete the program. Skills trainings should be connected to one of the following skill areas:
- Advocacy and community organizing
- Diversity and cultural awareness
- Effective communication
- Ethics and leadership
- Evaluation and applied research
- Financial management
- Fundraising, grant writing and philanthropy
- Planning and assessment
- Service-specific training
- Social entrepreneurship and innovation
Based on prior program data, BPSS is particularly interested in graduate assistants who can offer innovative trainings related to financial management, social entrepreneurship and innovation, evaluation and applied research or fundraising, grant writing and philanthropy.
The trainings must be interactive, activity-based and designed for participants to build and practice skills. Events where students simply learn information or gain awareness (such as through a lecture, panel or presentation) do not apply. Trainings must be at least one hour in length and are typically longer.
Why be a BPSS graduate assistant?
Serving as a BPSS graduate assistant can provide a wide variety of benefits, including: opportunities to build and share your knowledge and expertise as it relates to working with under-served communities or diverse populations, facilitation experience that is valuable for leading meetings or other workshops, opportunity to have a mentoring role with undergraduate students who may be interested in your field and expanding your network with graduate students outside of your department.
Application Information
Applicants for this position will be asked to submit a proposal for an interactive skills training to potentially lead for undergraduate Buckley Public Service Scholars. Your proposal should address one of the above skill areas. We are looking for creative and unique proposals that demonstrate a skill you have and would like to share. Let your personality and expertise shine through your proposal!
To apply, visit applicationportal.ccps.unc.edu and click “Current Applications”. Applications close on August 20th, 2023, or until filled, as positions will be filled as applicants apply. For questions, contact bpss@unc.edu.