Our Spring 2013 Peer and Outreach Assistants (from left) - Marty McCoy (Peru), ​Talia Ross (Morocco), ​Elijah Fleming (Italy, Netherlands), Merideth McFarland (France, Oman), Michele Raymer (Italy), Kaylee Snyder (New Zealand)

Volunteer for Study Abroad

The Study Abroad office has many opportunities for returned students to help out with program promotion and preparing students for overseas experiences. Send an e-mail to study-abroad@uiowa.edu for details.

Work for Study Abroad

Study Abroad typically hires student workers at the beginning of every academic year. The application process for the 12-13 academic year is now closed. If you're interested in working in the office during the 13-14 academic year, please continue to check back for more information about that application cycle. 

Below are job descriptions, duties, qualifications, and applications for each position. Some shared tasks that both outreach assistants and peer assistants will be required to perform include updating pre-departure materials, assisting with the biannual large group pre-departure orientation, and occasionally assisting program advisors for country-specific information sessions or orientations.

Outreach Assistants

Outreach Assistants are primarily tasked with spreading information regarding study abroad opportunities to the rest of the UI campus, the Iowa City community, and to the rest of the world through various media outlets.

Responsibilities

Promote Study Abroad To Prospective Students

• Staff information tables at the IMU and elsewhere

• Organize and/or conduct information sessions in International Programs, the IMU, residence halls, sororities, fraternities and other venues on campus

• Recruit and organize study abroad returnees on campus to promote study abroad

• Organize study abroad presentations for interested and relevant classes

Event Planning

• Assist with events organized for prospective students (e.g. Hawkeye Visit Days)

• Help with events targeted at returnees including the annual photo and video contests and returnee events

Publications

• Coordinate the development of handouts to promote study abroad programs

• Write articles for the DI and other publications

• Provide graphic design support

• Assist in the development of a newsletter to UI students abroad

• Organize information and orientation sessions for selected programs

• Create and distribute publicity materials for direct mailings, campus bulletin board displays, and selected departments/offices

Web Support

• Maintain the office’s virtual presence through social media (Facebook, Twitter, UI Abroad Blog)

• Assist with updating some sections of the website

Outreach Assistant Qualifications

• Undergraduate status at the University of Iowa
• Independent and self-motivated
• Previous participation in a study abroad program and demonstrated interest in promoting international education
• Outgoing personality and confident public speaker
• Interested in promotion and social events

Terms of Appointment

Hours: Outreach assistants can expect 8 to 15 hours per week while school is in session and have a flexible schedule. Outreach assistants will be able to set their own in-office work hours but will be required to attend events as needed during the day and occasionally in the evening and on weekends.

Salary: $8.75/hour

Application procedure

Applications may be downloaded here or may be picked up at the Study Abroad office, 1111 University Capitol Centre. Please note that we do not often hire more than one student in the same position that studied abroad in the same country.  Students should apply for their preferred position and not both peer and outreach assistant positions. Applications are accepted until the positions are filled. Finalists are usually interviewed in August just prior to or immediately after the start of classes. Occasionally there is an opening in January, please inquire before submitting an application. Contact Sterling Bacher with any questions.

Peer Assistants

Peer Assistants provide information about study abroad programs and procedures to UI undergraduate students by staffing the Study Abroad's resource room.

Responsibilities

o Staff the Study Abroad Resource Room
o Advise students about study abroad procedures and/or specific programs
o Make follow-up phone calls/e-mails to interested students
o Organize and shelve Resource Room materials
o Assist program advisors with administrative tasks

Peer Assistant Qualifications

• Undergraduate status at the University of Iowa
• Previous participation in a study abroad program and demonstrated interest in promoting international education
• Excellent interpersonal communications skills, especially one on one with other students
• Attention to detail

Terms of Appointment

Hours: Peer assistants can expect 8 to 15 hours per week while school is in session. Scheduled time will include hours when the Resource Room is open to student traffic (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday) and additional hours to complete other assignments, such as weekly staff meetings and resource room maintenance. All peer assistants will occasionally be asked to take part in weekend or evening activities.

Salary: $8.75/hour

Application procedure

Applications may be downloaded here or may be picked up at the Study Abroad office, 1111 University Capitol Centre. Students should apply for their preferred position and not both peer and outreach assistant positions. Please note that we do not often hire more than one student in the same position that studied abroad in the same country. Applications are accepted until the positions are filled. Applications will begin to be reviewed the week before the beginning of the semester in August. Finalists are usually interviewed in August just prior to or immediately after the start of classes. Our goal is to be able to offer positions by the end of the first week of classes. Occasionally there is an opening in January, please inquire before submitting an application. Contact Liz Wildenberg de Hernandez with any questions.