Academics » Work Study

Work Study

College Unbound is excited to offer work-study opportunities for currently enrolled students who have a valid FAFSA on file for the year. Work-study offers flexible hours, usually between 5-10 hours/week, as students work directly with members of the College Unbound Staff. The wages are $20/hour.

Next Steps:

Please review the job descriptions below. Students who are interested in one of the available work-study positions should email the Financial Aid department at [email protected] for more information. Students must have a current year FAFSA on file. Hours are determined between the student and the supervisor and can be adjusted to meet the student’s academic and personal needs and availability. Work-study students will work with the College Unbound/Met HR department to fill out I-9 and W-4 forms. Check with Allen Cowett for more information on that front.

Current Positions:

Open Educational Resources (OER) Library Assistant

Hours: 5-10 hours per week
 
Position Overview

The OER Library Assistant will support the college's commitment to educational access by helping maintain and expand our open educational resources collection. This position provides hands-on experience in scholarly communications, digital libraries, and the open education movement while supporting our mission of making education more accessible and affordable.

Key Responsibilities
  1. Assist in identifying and evaluating potential OER materials for courses
  2. Help maintain the college's OER repository and digital collections
  3. Support faculty in locating and adapting open educational resources
  4. Assist with metadata creation and management for OER materials
  5. Help create guides and documentation for OER adoption
  6. Support copyright and licensing compliance 
  7. Assist with OER awareness campaigns and faculty outreach
  8. Help track OER adoption and impact data
Learning Opportunities
  1. Develop expertise in open education and Creative Commons licensing
  2. Gain experience with digital repositories and database systems
  3. Learn about scholarly communications and academic publishing
  4. Understand the intersection of information access and social justice
  5. Build skills in digital collection management
  6. Experience working with faculty and educational stakeholders
Required Qualifications
  1. Current undergraduate student eligible for federal work-study
  2. Strong research and analytical skills
  3. Excellent attention to detail
  4. Good written and verbal communication abilities
  5. Basic computer literacy
  6. Interest in open education and information access
  7. Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Preferred Qualifications
  1. Experience with library resources and/or research
  2. Familiarity with Creative Commons licensing
Supervisor: Elaine Plourde
Location: Remote
 

Recruitment Assistance

The Recruitment Work Study Assistant will support the recruitment team by assisting with outreach initiatives, managing candidate communications, organizing recruitment events, and contributing to administrative tasks. This role is ideal for students interested in human resources, communications, or marketing who are seeking hands-on experience in recruitment processes.
 
Key Responsibilities:
  • Assist in scheduling interviews and coordinating recruitment events, including career fairs and information sessions.
  • Manage and update recruitment databases and candidate records.
  • Support the preparation and distribution of recruitment marketing materials.
  • Help maintain communication with candidates through emails, calls, and follow-up reminders.
  • Screen applications and assist in initial candidate assessments.
  • Provide administrative support, including filing, data entry, and document management.
  • Collaborate with team members on recruitment strategies and outreach initiatives.
  • Conduct research on prospective candidates and market trends.
  • Greet and assist candidates during on-campus visits or virtual interviews.
 
Qualifications:
  • Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and basic database management.
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Interest in human resources, recruitment, or marketing is a plus.
 
Supervisor: Jose Rodriguez
Location: Remote

Communications/Marketing Assistant

Looking to hone your creativity and develop marketable skills? In this position, you will work with our Communications and Marketing team to develop collateral that supports the mission of our College, including social media, graphic design, text copy, and email communications. In addition, you may be asked to assist with developing marketing/communications strategies, basic photography and video production, and researching. Other duties as assigned. Hours are flexible with some meetings during the workday.

Supervisor: Nate Svogun
Location: Remote
 

Development Associate

Development work-study students will assist the development office with advancing the mission of the college through a range of activities including conducting research on grants and prospects, speaking with donors and foundations, and writing thank you letters to donors. Students will work collaboratively with the development and communications team to plan and execute giving campaigns. Other duties as assigned. Hours are flexible but include weekly meetings during the workday.
 
Location: Remote
Supervisor: Julia Rickert
 

Peer to Peer Coach

Student Success Coaches at College Unbound work 1:1 and collaboratively with student peers to champion each other toward the goals they’ve set out to achieve. Each work-study student is expected to work 3-8 hours a week depending on the role around the various rhythms of engagement: sharing strategies and creating space. To assist our student body toward both their individual aspirations and collective dreams, Student Success Coaches at CU are trained to accompany their peers by sharing strategies and holding space for our students to succeed. For the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters at College Unbound, CU will have four distinct work-study roles around peer support: 1) SWEL Coaches 2) Student Parent Coach 3) Community Navigator (New Role) 4) Learning Community + Coalition Facilitator (New Role)
 
 

Role Description

Hours

SWEL Coach

(Virtual)

The student SWEL Coach facilitates bi-weekly workshops and supports the online Student Wellness and Engaged Living program. SWEL is about relational health through 9 capacities of wellness (emotional, spiritual, environmental, financial, social, physical, educational, vocational, and civic wellness). This role collaborates with the SWEL Coordinator and is expected to contribute to the monthly development of the Wellness Wednesday Newsletter. Available positions starting for Fall 2024: 2 (Preference will be given to those seeking to help peers with civic and financial wellness) 


Location: Remote

Reports to: Peer to Peer Coordinator

5 hours per wk 

Student-

Parent Coach

(In-person)

Our student-parent coaches provide 1:1 support for student parents at CU who are balancing work-student-parenting life and help weekly with in-person babysitting. Student-parent coaches are expected to show up weekly to support in person and help facilitate a Big 10 Activity for the youth they are supporting in the babysitter program. This role collaborates with the SWEL Coordinator and Childcare Coordinators and SPARC (Student-Parent Advocacy + Resource Center) Available positions starting for Fall 2024: 2 for Rhode Island & 1 for Philadelphia 


Location: Rhode Island / Philadelphia 

Reports to: Chris Dickson

8 hours 

per wk.

Community Navigator

(Hybrid)

The role of a CU Community Navigator is to accompany students to Community-based resources. This role is expected to know about the resources within the communities they are located within and support peers in receiving assistance from those programs. This role collaborates with local Community Care Coordinators and works to keep an updated resource map of community assets. Available positions starting for Fall 2024: 1 for Rhode Island, 1 for Philadelphia. 


Location: Rhode Island / Philadelphia.  

Reports to: Wanda Brown (RI) / Monshell Reyes (PA)

5 hours per wk.

Learning Community + Coalition (LCC) Facilitator

The role of a Learning Community + Coalition Facilitator is to build out a virtual asynchronous archive of supports for various communities. For the Fall 2024, there will be three LCC Groups: 1) Disability Justice, 2) Student-Parents 3) Justice-Impacted. Each facilitator will collaborate with the Assistant Dean of Student Success and SWEL Coordinator build out a resource web page. Each facilitator will host a monthly study hall as part of this work-study position. Available positions starting for Fall 2024: 3x (1 for each LCC Group) 


Location: Remote

Reports to: Peer to Peer Coordinator 

3 hours per wk.

 

Lifelong Learning Assistant

Lifelong Learning is seeking a dedicated and organized student to assist with various administrative and programmatic tasks including administrative support for the Prison Education Program. This position offers an opportunity to gain hands-on experience in an educational setting while contributing to the development of life skills and personal growth initiatives for students.

Responsibilities:
  • Assist with day-to-day administrative tasks, including organizing departmental resources, and preparing educational materials for faculty teaching in the Prison Education Program.
  • Support the planning and execution of lifelong learning workshops, events, and programs.
  • Help maintain and update the department's website.
  • Prepare materials and supplies needed for cohort classes, workshops and events.
  • Collaborate with staff to format and design the faculty newsletter.
  • Assist with coordinating library resources and textbook orders for faculty.
  • Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:
  • Must be eligible for the Federal Work-Study Program.
  • Strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
  • Proficiency in Google Suite
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
  • Attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
  • Interest in education, personal development, and supporting student success.
 
Location: 115 Cedar Street, Providence RI 02903
Supervisor: Hanna Lichtenstein
 

Finance Department Administrative Assistant

The CU Finance Department is looking for clerical help in the office 2-4 hours a week. This is an opportunity to work a couple of hours during the week with various office functions. The hours are flexible between 8am and 2pm Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
 
Location: 115 Cedar Street, Providence RI 02903
Supervisor: Mark Hartonchik
 

CU Podcast Support

The CU Podcast support person has experience with facilitating and storytelling and has some knowledge around podcast development and production.  This person will help with the creation and launch of CU’s inaugural Podcast. Some of the expectations and responsibilities for this role include:
  • Help with planning and facilitation of meetings 
  • Collaborate with students and members of the CU staff to develop a story structure and sustainable podcast framework
  • Bring Creativity and ideas to support the creation of a platform that lifts up and amplifies the voices of the CU community. 
  • This position requires an ongoing commitment as we launch and design a sustainable model.
 
Location: Remote
Supervisor: Amanda Esons
 

Learning Management System (LMS) Support Assistant

Hours: 5-10 hours per week Location: Remote
 
The LMS Support Assistant will work closely with the Learning Systems Specialist to provide technical support for Moodle, our learning management system. This position offers hands-on experience in educational technology while supporting our college's mission of accessible and transformative education.
 
Key Responsibilities
  • Assist faculty and students with basic Moodle technical support
  • Help upload and organize course materials within the LMS
  • Create and maintain documentation for common Moodle procedures
  • Support the testing and implementation of new Moodle features
  • Participate in course accessibility reviews
  • Help monitor and respond to support tickets
  • Assist with collecting and organizing user feedback
 
Learning Opportunities
  • Develop expertise in learning management systems and educational technology
  • Gain practical experience in instructional design principles
  • Learn about digital accessibility standards and universal design
  • Understand the role of technology in supporting diverse learning needs
  • Build project management and documentation skills
  • Experience working in a collaborative educational technology environment
 
Required Qualifications
  • Current undergraduate student eligible for federal work-study
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
  • Basic computer literacy and willingness to learn new technologies
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work independently and as part of a team
  • Interest in educational technology and its role in social justice
 
Preferred Qualifications
  • Technical support experience
  • Project management skills
 
Supervisor: Elaine Plourde
Location: Remote