Graduate Assistant Program
Mission
The Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant program at the University of Dayton, a Catholic and Marianist University, prepares graduate theological students for professional lay ecclesial ministry. Animated by our Marianist charism, formation happens in a collaborative community of learners and practitioners through ministerial skills training, hands-on ministry, theological reflection, and prayerful discernment.
- Form a ministerial identity that is rooted in the minister’s faith journey, sense of call, understanding of gifts and graces, relationship to Christ, to the Church, and to God’s people. This identity will include a growing understanding and lived experience of navigating ministerial boundaries, as well as spiritual self-care and living a healthy and whole life.
- Develop ministers who actively practice theological reflection that is rooted in the Catholic Christian tradition, intellectually honest, attentive to listening to the Holy Spirit in life and ministry, and responds out of this reflection.
- Provide ministers with basic ministerial skills that facilitate others’ growth in personal relationship with God as well as their growth in communal practice of faith. These include basic ministry skills that enable campus ministers to provide pastoral care to young adults and to implement the six aspects of campus ministry outlined in Empowered by the Spirit, the USCCB’s Pastoral Letter on Campus Ministry: forming the faith community, appropriating the faith, forming the Christian conscience, educating for justice, facilitating personal development, and developing leaders for the future.
- Develop confident and humble ministers who appreciate the value of and have the basic skills for peer collaboration with other ministers and colleagues outside the immediate ministry department, for empowering others in ministry, and for ecumenical and interfaith sensitivity.
Assistantships in Campus Ministry are awarded by and are under the direction of the Department of Campus Ministry. Awards are made following the applicant's acceptance into the Graduate Religious Studies Program.
Applications for campus ministry graduate assistantships are due by February 1 each year. Early Applications are welcome. The most qualified applicants will be contacted for telephone and on-campus interviews during the month of February. Offers are typically made by mid-April.
There are two main parts of the application process: the application to the graduate academic program in theology or pastoral ministry, and the application to Campus Ministry for a graduate assistantship. Be sure to submit all of the following by February 1st.
Submit to the Director of Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant Program:
- Current Resume
- Completed Assistantship Application
Submit to Graduate Admission Processing:
- Three Letters of Reference: These can be the same three letters that you submit for the application to the master’s program (submit only once, directly to the graduate school through your online application). At least two should address your potential for graduate theological studies. At least one should address your potential as a minister to undergraduate students as well as your ability to succeed in a master’s level course of study.
- Completed application to the Master's Program with supporting materials. Applications are submitted online at the Graduate Admissions Office.
Note: The Department of Religious Studies separately administers a number of research and teaching assistantships.Information on these can be obtained through the scholarships link on the Department of Religious Studies Homepage.
Position Title: Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant
Department: Campus Ministry
Average Hours Per Week: 20
Position Start Date: Aug 1, 2025
Position End Date: May 15, 2026
Application Review Starts: Feb 1, 2025
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Position Summary: |
Campus Ministry Graduate Assistants - at the University of Dayton –a Catholic and Marianist Institution. Share your faith through relational ministry to college students while pursuing a Masters in Theology or Pastoral Ministry. Serve undergraduate students by journeying with them to cultivate faith, foster spiritual growth, and form Christian leaders through spiritual mentoring and discipleship, leading small groups, facilitating retreats, planning worship, coordinating service and justice initiatives, and more. Work alongside seasoned campus ministers and engage in holistic ministerial formation. Positions for the upcoming year will consist of unique portfolios that include a combination of the following: Residence Life Ministry, Retreats, Liturgy, Service and Justice, and Vocational Discernment ministries. |
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Break Down Of Time: |
40 % Engage in direct ministry with students. This may include (but is not limited to) the following: form Christian leaders through spiritual mentoring and discipleship, leading small groups, facilitating retreats, planning worship, coordinating service and justice initiatives, and more 40 % Attend to planning ministry opportunities, follow up from ministerial engagement, email, etc. 10% Be an active member of the UD Campus Ministry Team through participation in team meetings, large liturgies, and other Campus Ministry events 10% Participate in GA formation and supervision |
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Minimum Qualifications: |
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Preferred Qualifications: |
While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:
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Priority Graduate Programs: |
The following graduate programs are considered for this assistantship. Assistantships require specific academic related experiences to enrich the graduate learning experience. The following Assistantships have priority consideration on programs that qualify. Programs that qualify for consideration for this position include: COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
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Remuneration: |
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Addition Information: |
For additional information about this position please contact: UDGradSchool@udayton.edu Financial Aid: Being employed as a graduate assistant may affect a candidate’s financial aid status. Candidates are responsible for inquiring with financial aid to determine the degree to which the compensation package will impact their financial situation before acceptance of the assistantship. GA positions do not cover all aspects of student experiences such as text books, all academic fees, cost of living, or university parking. Taxation: Graduate Assistantships are considered a taxable benefit by the federal government. GAs are responsible for any taxes associated with the GA benefits. These can not be covered by the university or anyone but the tax recipient. UDGlobal Students: Those applying to UD through the UDayton Global program are not eligible for GA positions unless they are classified as progressed. Students who have not progressed are typically students in their first semester or academic year. If you have questions if you are a progressed student please contact studentservices@udaytonGlobal.org |
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Closing Statement: |
Informed by its Catholic and Marianist mission, the University is committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Informed by this commitment, we seek to increase diversity, achieve equitable outcomes, and model inclusion across our campus community. As an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, we will not discriminate against minorities, women, protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, or on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. |
“Campus Ministry Graduate Assistants engage in direct ministry to and with college students. Each GA has a unique ministerial portfolio that allows them to begin to gain both depth and breadth of ministerial skills. Ministerial portfolios are determined based on each GA’s gifts, their goals for ministerial growth, as well as the ministry needs in a given year. Our unique approach prepares graduates of our program to succeed in a variety of professional lay ecclesial ministry roles as well as faith-based and non-profit related jobs.”
Sophia Hosford
“In the GA program, it is incredibly powerful to be learning and expanding in faith and knowledge while simultaneously putting that faith into action through Campus Ministry. Every day I learn something new and am able to embody it in my ministry, whether that is navigating grief with students, rejoicing in graces, or connecting Scripture to stories. It is beautiful to begin noticing God in each person's life.”
Chase Howell
“The GA program has both challenged and helped me grow in my faith. As a GA I often see people walking through the difficult parts of their faith journeys, which has led to a personal revelation on the foundations or basics of the faith. The recognition of the "both-and" is sometimes a relief and other times a pain but either way I am glad to carry it with Christ.”