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Graduate Assistant Program

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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.

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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:

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

Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant Position Description

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.

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

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Must be a full time graduate student. 
  • Ability to articulate one’s own lived spiritual life and desire for spiritual growth in relationship to God/Jesus
  • Experience as a leader or participation in ministry  programs and activities 
  • Sensitivity to diversity in ministry
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
  • Attention to detail in program planning and outreach
  • Ability to multitask efficiently in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to meet deadlines
  • Willingness to engage in a process of ministerial formation for lay ecclesial ministry, including appropriate representation of Catholic teachings in public and pastoral situations. This will be clarified and discussed in the orientation and formation process. 


Preferred Qualifications:

While not everyone may possess all of the preferred qualifications, the ideal candidate will bring many of the following:

  • Prior experience with serving or supporting college students
  • Experience in ministry leadership 
  • Experience in a service or justice related post-graduate program

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

  • Pastoral Ministry  
  • Theological Studies 
  • Theology 

Remuneration:


  • A competitive stipend*
  • Tuition remission covering 100%  up to [[6]]credit hours at the graduate REL rate during:*
  • Fall Semester
  • Spring Semester
  • Summer Semester(s)  
  • Health Care Offered
  • Housing Due To Positional Needs/Work Proximity
  • Dining Meal Plan Due To Positional Needs/Work Proximity
*Please note: tuition and stipends for GAs are typically finalized in April each academic year. When offered a position you will receive a tentative stipend amount with a finalized package outlined in your GA contract. 

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 

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.

 


Graduate students in conversation with college students , they appear to be laughing together  


“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.”

 

CONTACT

Campus Ministry

Liberty Hall
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 0408
937-229-3339