Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are offered by the Offices of Recreation and Health & Wellness with the mission to best serve the needs of the department, students, and clients while collectively providing GA's with opportunities including retreats, mentoring, and the ability to enhance interpersonal skills and gain practical management and leadership experiences. Graduate roles provide a solid base for a professional career in collegiate recreation. 

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Riley Welker 419.372.7482

Graduate Assistant: Aquatics

The purpose of this position is to assist with Aquatics Operations and Programming in the Recreation and Wellness Department. Key areas and programs include Swim Meet Management and Rentals, Learn-to-Swim, Health & Safety, and Aquatics Staff Management. This individual also supervises multiple Student Supervisors for the Aquatics and Youth and Family areas.

Key Duties: 
• Aquatics staff management which includes supervising, hiring, training, scheduling, approving payroll and providing discipline for aquatics employees (approximately 35 students).
• Fill in as lifeguard when student employee is unable to work scheduled shift or during unassigned shifts.
• Maintain and coordinate student employee files (certification expirations, etc.).
• Supervise Student Supervisor(s) in the aquatics and youth & family programs.
• Use recreation software to create events or programming and to run various reports.
• Respond to calls and emails regarding Aquatic business.
• Provide supervision for various events throughout the year including events on the weekends or in the evenings. • Assist in pool chemical testing and upkeep and with various pool maintenance.
• Hold monthly in-service trainings.
• Inventory, inspect, maintain, and order all First Aid supplies throughout the SRC and PFH.
• Assist in the development, implementation, and marketing of both the Learn-to-Swim and Health & Safety Programs for campus and community members.
• Contribute to providing and maintaining a safe environment both physically and emotionally for all employees.
• Assist with Youth and Family programming as needed.
• Develop and maintain aquatic operational reports in Connect2Concepts or related system.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.
• All other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Additional Responsibilities:
• Attend professional and student staff meetings.
• Read and understand Student Rec Center Policies and Procedures.
• Maintain and evaluate the knowledge and skills of all Aquatics employees through monthly in-service trainings.
• Oversee disposal of biohazard materials to the Student Recreation Center.

Qualifications:
• Must be willing and able to work 20 hours a week.
• Currently enrolled at BGSU in HMSLS Graduate Degree program.
• Must hold current American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification or be willing to acquire within first month at position.
• Must hold current American Red Cross LGI (preferred or willing to obtain).
• Strong customer service skills including interpersonal and presentation abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail, marketing skills, and computer software skills.
• Ability to lift or move objects that weigh approximately 75 pounds.

https://www.bgsu.edu/human-resources.html Bowling Green State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to a multicultural environment and strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities. BGSU hires only individuals authorized to work in the United States. For information regarding BGSU’s crime statistics, please visit Public Safety’s website at www.bgsu.edu/offices/safety.  

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Bill Switaj 419.372.8045

Graduate Assistant: Competitive Sports - Intramural and Club Sports

The purpose of this position is to assist with administration of the Intramural and Club Sports program. This individual helps with hiring, training, and supervision of senior student assistants, student associates, officials, and scorekeepers within the Intramural Sports program and the PFH. Responsibilities may include planning and running Club Sports meetings, Intramural Staff meetings, facility maintenance, and event supervision. 

Key Duties: 
• Hold monthly staff meetings with Intramural sport managers.  
• Supervision and evaluation of Student Supervisors, student associates, score keepers, and officials.
• Perform office duties including updating of score sheets, league scheduling, review of accident and injury reports, employee incident reports and general office coverage.
• Plan, lead, and evaluate official’s clinics.
• Schedule employees, leagues, and playoffs.
• Evening and weekend supervision of programs and activities facilitated out of the Perry Field House or Intramural and Club Sports event sites.
• Attendance at professional and student staff meetings.
• Prepare and hold sport club meetings.
• Meet with Club Sports representatives and advise Club Sports teams as needed.
• Manage Club Sports paperwork, update Club Sports Presence portal and generate reports.
• Contribute content to Club Sports website
• Familiarity with and competence in PFH policies and operations.
• Maintain and coordinate Intramural Sports staff student employee files.
• Attend professional and student staff meetings.
• Support Student Employee Board (SEB) and Student Development and Leadership (SDL) activities.
• Promote the mission of the Recreation and Wellness.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong customer service and organization skills including interpersonal and presentation abilities
• Conflict and Risk Management skills
• Strong knowledge of all sport rules and officiating experience preferred
• Ability to train and lead groups of officials and sport managers
• Experience in intramurals/sport clubs as an undergraduate preferred
• Recreation facility management knowledge (higher education experience preferred)

Requirements: 
• 3.0 undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• Acceptance into BGSU Graduate College Degree program
• CPR/FA & AED certified (preferred)
• Business casual dress requirement

https://www.bgsu.edu/human-resources.html Bowling Green State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to a multicultural environment and strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities. BGSU hires only individuals authorized to work in the United States. For information regarding BGSU’s crime statistics, please visit Public Safety’s website at www.bgsu.edu/offices/safety.  

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Karyn Smith 419.372.9309

Graduate Assistant: Fitness

The purpose of this position is to assist with the comprehensive fitness plan for the Department of Recreation and Wellness. This individual hires, trains, and supervises student employees in the group exercise instructor and personal trainer positions. This individual also assists with planning, marketing, implementing, and evaluating fitness programming. Additional duties include ordering and maintaining exercise program equipment and setting up program registration. 

Key Duties: 
• Develop and implement comprehensive fitness programming.
• Develop promotional materials for recruiting and promotion of fitness programs.
• Supervise, hire, train and evaluate group exercise instructors and personal trainer student employees (approximately 25 students).
• Maintain and coordinate student employee files with administrative assistant.
• Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of all fitness programs.
• Hold monthly meetings with student employees.
• Maintain preventative maintenance records on all group exercise equipment.
• Assist with special events in the facility including certification workshops and late night events.
• Promote the mission of Recreation and Wellness.
• Perform other duties as required by the professional staff.

Other Duties:
• Represent Recreation and Wellness at campus events.
• Attend professional and student staff meetings.
• Respond to miscellaneous fitness program requests from university constituencies
• Assist in the preparation of the fitness quarterly and annual reports.
• Support Student Employee Board (SEB) and Student Development and Leadership (SDL) activities

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Excellent group exercise instruction, personal training, administration and computer skills
• Strong interpersonal skills and instruction abilities
• Excellent writing skills
• Attention to detail
• Creativity

Requirements: 
• Acceptance into the BGSU Graduate College Human Movement, Sport, and Leisure Studies (HMSLS) Program 
• Possess and maintain Group Exercise and/or Personal Training certification 
• CPR/FA & AED certified (preferred)
• Business casual dress requirement

https://www.bgsu.edu/human-resources.html Bowling Green State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to a multicultural environment and strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities. BGSU hires only individuals authorized to work in the United States. For information regarding BGSU’s crime statistics, please visit Public Safety’s website at www.bgsu.edu/offices/safety.  

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Patrick Nelson 419.372.9017

Graduate Assistant: Perry Field House Operations

The purpose of this position is to primarily assist with the efficient facility management and operations of the Perry Field House (PFH) and special events within the PFH and Student Recreation Center (SRC). This individual also hires, trains, and supervises a senior student assistant and student employees in the PFH. Additional duties include facility rentals and reservations using management software, front desk operations, supervising special events, ensuring the facilities and equipment are kept in good working order.  

Key Duties: 
• Coordinate PFH student staff (assist Student Supervisor in hiring, training, supervising, disciplining, evaluating).
• Hold meetings with PFH student employees.
• Oversee risk management audits (CPR/AED, First Aid, etc.) for PFH student staff.
• Provide excellent customer service and maintain positive relations and rapport with users of the PFH.
• Assist with facility rentals and scheduling, including proper staffing levels and event set-up & takedown at both the PFH and SRC.
• Assist with event management at PFH and SRC.
• Regular use of RecTrac software and assistance with administration of Connect2Concepts (C2C) employee operations management software, and When2Work (W2W) scheduling software.
• Familiarity with and competence in PFH policies and operations.
• Maintain and approve student employee Time & Labor reports.
• Maintain and coordinate PFH student employment documentation utilizing C2C.
• Attend professional and student staff meetings for both PFH and SRC.
• Support Student Employee Board (SEB) and related student leadership/development activities.
• Assist in evening and weekend supervision of the PFH and SRC in absence of professional staff.
• Routinely collaborate with the Graduate Assistant of Intramural Sports and Sport Clubs to accomplish facility and program objectives.
• Learn and demonstrate the mission of Recreation and Wellness.
• Perform any other duties as required by the professional staff.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Strong customer service skills, including interpersonal and presentation abilities
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Recreation facility management knowledge (collegiate experience preferred)
• Creativity
• Collegiate experience (preferred)

Requirements: 
• 3.0 undergraduate GPA (on a 4.0 scale)
• Acceptance into BGSU Graduate College Degree program
• CPR/FA & AED certified (preferred)
• Business casual dress requirement

https://www.bgsu.edu/human-resources.html Bowling Green State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to a multicultural environment and strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities. BGSU hires only individuals authorized to work in the United States. For information regarding BGSU’s crime statistics, please visit Public Safety’s website at www.bgsu.edu/offices/safety.  

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Julia Adams 419.372.7485

Graduate Assistant: Student Recreation Center Informal Recreation

The purpose of this position is to assist with the efficient facility management and operations of the Student Recreation Center (SRC). This individual is also responsible for hiring, training, and supervising three Student Supervisors and various student employees (Center Managers, Floor Attendants and Customer Service Representatives) within the SRC. Additional duties include member services, customer service, Welcome Desk operations, facility rentals and reservations, utilizing management software, locker rentals/clean-outs, supervising special events, and ensuring the facilities and exercise equipment are kept in good working order.   

Key Duties: 
• Coordinate SRC student staffs, consisting of SRC Managers, Floor Attendants and Customer Service Attendants
• Assist Student Supervisors in hiring, training, supervising, disciplining, evaluating).
• Assist in oversight of member services and Welcome Desk operations.
• Hold monthly meetings with student employees.
• Oversee risk management audits (CPR/AED, First Aid, etc.) for the students within your employment areas.
• Provide excellent customer service and maintain positive relations and rapport with members of the SRC.
• Coordinate the revision of SRC Manager, Floor Attendant and Customer Service Attendants operations manuals.
• Oversight of locker rental processes and locker clean-outs.
• Assist with facility rentals, including proper staffing levels and event set-up/clean-up.
• Assist with event management.
• Regular use of RecTrac, C2C, WhenToWork, and other software.
• Familiarity with and competence in Student Recreation Center policies and operations.
• Maintain and evaluate existing policies and procedures within the SRC.
• Assist and make recommendations regarding the purchase of exercise equipment and retail products.
• Perform routine inventory counts of retail products and equipment.
• Coordinate and maintain the layout (floor plan) of the exercise equipment.
• Assist in facility and equipment risk management evaluations and safety inspections.
• Assist in general cleaning and performing minor repairs on fitness equipment.
• Maintain and coordinate SRC Manager, Floor Attendant and Customer Service Attendant student employee files.
• Maintain and approve student employee timecards
• Support Student Employee Board (SEB) and Student Development and Leadership (SDL) activities.
• Attend professional and student staff meetings.
• Assist in evening supervision of the SRC in the absence of professional staff.
• Promote the mission of Recreation and Wellness.
• Perform any other duties as required by the professional staff.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Computer software skills
• Strong customer service skills, including interpersonal and presentation abilities
• Excellent writing skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Recreation facility management knowledge (higher education experience preferred)

Requirements:
• Acceptance into BGSU Graduate College Degree program
• CPR/FA & AED certified (preferred)
• Belay training and certification upon hire
• Business casual dress requirement

https://www.bgsu.edu/human-resources.html Bowling Green State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Educator and Employer. We are committed to a multicultural environment and strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities. BGSU hires only individuals authorized to work in the United States. For information regarding BGSU’s crime statistics, please visit Public Safety’s website at www.bgsu.edu/offices/safety.  

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Faith DeNardo 419.372.9351
Must also apply through College Student Personnel Program    

Graduate Assistant: Office of Health and Wellness Advising

The purpose of this position is to serve as a graduate advisor for the Student Wellness Network, coordinate and promote health and wellness events, train and supervise peer educators, assist with education classes and workshops, promote the mission of the Office of Health and Wellness, and coordinate and enhance systems and programs to support the mental and physical health and well-being of Bowling Green State University students. 

View full job description 

Position Staff Contact Phone Number
Filled for 2025 - 2026 Faith DeNardo 419.372.9351
Must also apply through College Student Personnel Program    

Graduate Assistant: Office of Health and Wellness Advising

The purpose of this position is to plan, implement, and evaluate health and wellness events, conduct education classes and workshops, promote the mission of the Office of Health and Wellness, and coordinate and enhance systems and programs to support the mental and physical health and well-being of Bowling Green State University students. 

View full job description

1. Bachelor's degree preferably in physical education, sport management, recreation, or a related field.
2. Complete the Online Recreation and Wellness Graduate Assistantship Application Form for Competitive Sports, Fitness, Perry Field House, or Student Recreation Center and Informal Recreation positions.
3. Apply through the College Student Personnel Program (CSP) for Office of Health and Wellness and Student Programming positions.
3. Apply to the BGSU Graduate College.
4. Acceptance into a BGSU graduate degree program. Some positions require specific program acceptance: Human Movement, Sport, and Leisure Studies (HMSLS) for Fitness, PFH/IM/SC, SRC Informal Rec, and Aquatics.
5. Complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
6. (Preferred) CPR/FA & AED certified.
7. Business casual dress requirement.
8. Adhere to Graduate College Assistantship Policies

To receive full consideration, a Recreation and Wellness application must be submitted online with three references. Applicants may use the same references as those submitted to the academic college. Additionally, a resume, cover letter, and copies of relevant certifications must be emailed to the point of contact for the position in which you are interested.

For More Information

  • E-Mail: Recreation and Wellness - recwell@bgsu.edu
  • Fax: 419.372.8454
  • Mail:
    Department of Recreation and Wellness
    Student Recreation Center
    1411 Ridge Road, Bowling Green, OH 43403

Tuition scholarships are anticipated for 2025-26 based on the academic program of choice.

A two-year program and commitment is anticipated, pending available funding and positive evaluation. The 2025 -2026 stipend includes $13,000 (depending on major/degree program of study) for nine months, and it is expected that the 2026 - 2027 stipend will be similar. Additional hourly-wage work opportunities exist.

For 2024-25 the School of Human Movement, Sport and Leisure Studies is providing scholarships equivalent to in-state or out-of-state instructional fees for full-time enrollment (6 credit hours for fall and spring semesters). The Office of Recreation provides scholarship for the remaining three (3) credit hours for the fall and spring semesters, as needed to achieve full-time enrollment status.

The Department of Higher Education and Student Affairs covers the 42 hours needed for the degree, provided the student is in good academic standing, is making adequate academic progress, and maintains the internship. HESA eligible students are expected to apply for Ohio residency for the 2nd year. Students in other degree programs are encouraged to apply and are responsible to research scholarship amounts independently.

General Fees are borne by each student in all programs (~$ 780 per semester).

Ohio Student Residency for State Subsidy and Tuition Surcharge Purposes

Updated: 12/02/2025 11:03AM