I was wondering, does the English Department have a separate process for financial assistance toward travel for conferences? I know the Graduate School has a Graduate Travel Grant or something, university-wide, but does English provide additional funds? If so, what is the process?

Thanks! Take care,
hari :-)

One delightful thing about jobs outside of academia: they don't want 700 pieces of paper merely to apply - no teaching statement, no three letters of rec, no dissertation abstract. Short cover letter and CV is all they want to see.

Also, when it comes to recommendation letters, it helps tremendously to have someone who can speak to your teaching skills. Talk to an advisor or a professor that you TA for; see if they would be willing to observe you several times over the course of a term. Get them to talk about your teaching strengths in their letter; it's something that can be extremely helpful in securing a job.

You'll need copies of your transcripts to send to some schools; obtain several offical copies from your undregraduate and graduate institutions so you can send them to the schools that ask for them.

Make sure that your CV is as up-to-date as possible; if you do a conference over the summer, make sure that you put the presentation on your CV before you send it out! Joe Black is also an excellent resoruce for editing CVs; he will help you streamline your CV so that it is quick to read.

Don't discount postdoctoral fellowships! They often pay really well and can be a good CV builder, as well as a good way to earn income while looking for a tenure-track position. There are some excellent ones out there. Just keep in mind that postdocs often ask for a lot more material than regular jobs, so you want to start on those applications even earlier. Postings for postdocs are often up in August and have a deadline of early October.

If you are interested in these jobs, please send your cover letter and resume to ude.ssamu.darg|ofni-ssg#ude.ssamu.darg|ofni-ssg; please put "GSS Staff Application from XX" (XX is your name) as your email title. If you have further questions about the jobs, please send an email to me at ude.ssamu.darg|serp-ssg#ude.ssamu.darg|serp-ssg

The deadline of application is April 19th 5pm. The GSS hiring committee will send interview notifications in one week after the deadline.

Below are the job descriptions for those positions:

Office Manager (15 hours)
1. Maintain the GSS office under the direction of the elected officers
2. Maintain and update the GSS website and GSS database
3. Schedule meeting and events for GSS
4. Work 15 hours per week in GSS office front desk and manage the work study students
5. Other duties specified by the elected officers

Organizer (15 hours)
1. Mobilize and organize graduate students under the direction of the executive committee
2. Hold weekly organizing meeting with active students and senators
3. Weekly report to the executive committee on current issues that GSS may work on
4. Maintain regular officer hours and serves on a variety of committees as designated by the executive committee
5. Attend all GSS senator/general meetings and staff meetings
6. Other duties specified by the elected officers

Graduate Women’s Network Coordinator (15 hours)
1. Organize female graduate students under the direction of the executive committee in collaboration with Everywoman Center, along the principles to provide leadership in promoting educational access and equity for women, to empower women to take full control of their lives and to strengthen the connections among women.
2. Monthly gathering for female graduate students in forms of workshops, lectures, etc.
3. Monthly report to the executive committee on the issues concerned by female graduate students.
4. Maintain regular officer hours and serves on a variety of committees as designated by the executive committee
5. Attend all GSS senator/general meetings and staff meetings
6. Other duties specified by the elected officers

VOICE Editor (15 hours)
1. Planning, conducting, and supervising all phases of production and distribution of VOICE under the direction of the executive committee
2. Release at least 5 issues of VOICE in one academic year
3. Chair the editorial board and organize meetings
4. Take GSS staff meeting and senator/general meeting notes
5. Maintain regular officer hours and serves on a variety of committees as designated by the executive committee
6. Attend all GSS senator/general meetings and staff meetings
7. Other duties specified by the elected officers

Every year GEO must conduct orientations for 800-1,000 incoming graduate assistants. These orientations are vital in educating new members about their union and encouraging them to become active participants. Additionally, most departments allow GEO to participate in their own orientations for incoming graduate students. The Orientations Coordinator has primary responsibility for organizing these orientations and ensuring that they are positive, efficient, and informative.

Strong preference will be given to GEO members that have previous GEO experience, including active participation with campaigns and committees. All current graduate students are eligible to apply. Applicants should be committed to the general principles of social justice and collective action.

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

1. Writing and sending a letter to all incoming graduate students explaining GEO's role on campus.

2. Preparing educational materials such as the Membership Guide and the talking tips for the orientations in coordination with the Summer Organizer.

3. Recruiting and training volunteers as necessary to conduct orientations.

4. Developing knowledge of the GEO contract, grievance procedures and other union issues likely to concern new graduate student employees.

5. Corresponding with the Graduate School and individual departments to coordinate the times and places of various orientations across campus.

The Summer Orientations Coordinator should thus have strong interpersonal skills, a strong sense of follow-through, and should be a proficient writer and public speaker.

All employees are expected to devote a portion of their paid working hours to office management tasks (i.e., holding office hours, answering phones, taking messages, in-taking grievances, greeting members, etc.) and to attend meetings as required, including regular staff meetings. Some night and weekend hours may be required. All GEO employees should also demonstrate a willingness to work towards the union’s collective goals and a commitment to being a part of an organization that is fighting for progressive change on the UMass campus and beyond.

This position is for 10 hours a week for 6 weeks from August 1st, 2010 to September 15, 2010, or for an equivalent number of hours as determined by a decision reached by GEO leadership in consultation with the Summer Orientations Coordinator. The salary is the same as the average campus-wide stipend. GEO/UAW Local 2322 will provide training. People of color and women are encouraged to apply. In some cases, funding for these positions will come from UAW Local 2322. In those cases, applicants must legally qualify for an internship with a non-university organization (UAW Local 2322). This position is dependent on approval from the Steward’s Assembly.

In order to apply, please submit:

* A resume.
* A cover letter stating the reasons you are interested in the position and your qualifications.
* A completed GEO Staff Application Form (see here).
* Be prepared to bring proof of your student status to your interview (e.g. a letter from your GPD confirming your status).

Applications should be emailed to gro.wauoeg|gnirih#gro.wauoeg|gnirih by 5pm on Friday, April 9th, 2010. Please indicate which position you are applying for in the subject line of the email.