Student Employment

FALL 2024 Open Positions

GRADERS

ENST 302: Environmental Law (Skillen)

GEO 260: GIS and Cartography (VanHorn)

LAB ASSISTANTS

GEO 120L: Earth Systems Lab (Bergwerff)

• Lab B: Th | 11:15-2:05

GEO 215L: Mineralogy Lab (Ratajeski)

• Lab: T | 8-10:50

TEACHING ASSISTANTS

GEO 362: Remote Sensing (VanHorn)

• TTH | 8:00-9:40 

OTHER

Dice Museum Docent

GEO Office Assistant

How to Apply:

Send a completed GEO Department Application and unofficial transcript to katrina.smith@calvin.edu.

Download the GEO Dept Application

Student Employment Position Descriptions

Click on any of the descriptions below to learn the details of employment.

• Grader

  Reports to: Class Instructor

  Job Purpose: Assist Instructor with evaluation and recording of student work; Assist Instructor with preparation of class materials as needed.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Grade assignments, quizzes, projects
  2. Keep accurate records of student grades
  3. Assist with teaching preparation by collecting information and materials, compiling or testing classroom materials, and other similar activities as requested by Instructor.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Preference given to GEO majors.
  2. Must be in good academic standing with the university, with an overall GPA of 2.7.
  3. Must have taken the course (or equivalent) with which they are assisting and have earned a B or better.
  4. Must be able to communicate effectively with Class Instructor.
  5. Must have some aptitude for internet research of journal articles and related items.
  6. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable, honest, and able to maintain confidentiality.
  7. Must commit through the end of the semester. 

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment: one semester

  Hours: Arrange hours with instructor.

• Teaching Assistant

  Reports to:  Class Instructor

  Job Purpose:  Assist the Class Instructor before, during and after the class; Grade student work as assigned by Instructor.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Help to set up classroom as necessary.
  2. Clean up the classroom at the end of class or at a later time as arranged with Instructor.
  3. Assist students in the performance of classwork as requested by the Instructor. This may include acting as a resource person to answer questions, demonstrating procedures.  Assistant should take a proactive role in this.
  4. Grade assignments in a timely manner and keep secure records of grades.
  5. Assist with teaching activities by collecting information and materials, compiling or testing classroom materials, and other similar activities as requested by Instructor.
  6. Distribute information to students (eg by posting on Moodle) as requested by Instructor.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Must be able to communicate effectively with students and Class Instructor.
  2. Must be able to follow directions given for the performance of the classroom activities.
  3. Must be a GEO major with an overall Calvin GPA of 2.0 or better.
  4. Must have taken the course with which they are assisting and have earned a B or better.
  5. Preference will be given to majors with additional upper-level courses relevant to the course they will be assisting.
  6. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable, honest, and able to assume the responsibilities given. Must respect confidentiality issues.
  7. Assistants must commit through the end of the term.

  Starting Wage: $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment: One semester.

  Hours: Arrange hours with Instructor.

• Lab Assistant

  Reports to:  Lab Instructor

  Job Purpose:  Assist the Laboratory Instructor before, during and after the laboratory; Grade student work as assigned by Instructor.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Help to set up laboratory as necessary.
  2. Clean up the laboratory space and/or equipment at the end of each laboratory period or at a later time as arranged with Instructor.
  3. Assist students in the performance of laboratory work primarily by acting as a resource person to answer questions or demonstrate procedures.  Assistant should take a proactive role in this.
  4. Grade lab reports in a timely manner and keep secure records of lab grades.
  5. Know location and operation of safety equipment.
  6. Depending on the nature of the course, be willing to drive departmental vans on field trips and to be certified as an authorized van driver by Calvin University. Must have a valid driver's license.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Preference given to GEO majors who have taken upper level courses relevant to the course they will be assisting.
  2. Must be in good academic standing with the university with an overall GPA of 2.7.
  3. Must have taken the course ( or equivalent) with which they are assisting and have earned a B or better.
  4. Must be able to communicate effectively with students and laboratory instructor.
  5. Must be able to follow directions given for the performance of the laboratory exercise.
  6. Must model and insist on compliance with safety rules and regulations.  This includes safe driving practices if asked to drive.
  7. Must be able to take appropriate action if a laboratory accident should occur.
  8. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable, honest, and able to maintain confidentiality.
  9. Must commit through the end of the semester. 

  Starting Wage: $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment:  one semester

  Hours: As arranged with Lab Instructor.  (Typically include the scheduled lab period, prep time prior to the start of lab, and clean-up time after lab.  May involve some weekend field trips.)

• Dice Museum Docent

  Dice Museum Docent

  Reports to:  Dice Mineralogical Museum Director (Dr. Kent Ratajeski)

  Job Purpose: Provide hospitality and information to museum visitors; monitor museum activities during open hours; facilitate museum operations and programs.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Welcome museum visitors and support their museum experience by providing tours (on request), answering questions, and engaging visitors with museum programs and activities.
  2. Become and actively stay knowledgeable about museum displays, specimens, programs, and activities.
  3. Keep records of attendance and monitor the museum during open hours.
  4. Facilitate the operations and programs of the museum
     1. All docents keep the museum tidy, watch for visitor safety, turn on or off lights as needed, etc.
     2. Each docent is encouraged to engage more deeply with a specific area of museum operations or programs.
  5. When group visits or arranged tours include additional activities, docents may be needed to help with the activities.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Preference given to GEO students who have taken the Mineralogy class (GEOL 215).
  2. Must be in good academic standing with the university, with an overall GPA of 2.7.
  3. Must be able to communicate effectively with museum visitors and museum staff.
  4. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable, and able to maintain confidentiality.
  5. Must commit through the end of the semester.

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment: one semester or the whole year, depending on schedule

  HOURS:2-3 hours per week scheduled during museum hours of operation; more hours are possible by arrangement when group visits or tours are scheduled.

• Department Office Assistant

  Reports to: GEO Department Admin

  Job Purpose: Assist GEO Department Admin with regular administrative and publicity tasks; assist with preparation and implementation of GEO Seminar Series.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Assist with administrative or publicity work for ongoing and special department projects. Tasks may include photocopying/scanning, creating/posting bulletin boards, small online research projects, etc.
  2. Create and distribute posters for department seminars and other events.
  3. Advertise events on Calvin platforms and social platforms and email event details to GEO Students.
  4. Set-up refreshments before seminars; clean up after seminars.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Preference given to GEO majors/minors.
  2. Must be organized, self-motivated, and able to complete assigned tasks with attention to detail and minimal supervision.
  3. Must be able to communicate effectively with the Department Manager.
  4. Must be available Friday afternoons up to an hour before and after Seminar Series (which runs 3:00pm-4:00pm) for set-up before and clean up after.

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment: academic year.

  Hours: Arrange hours with Department Manager, 10 hours/week

• Fountain Steward

  Reports to:  Dr. Mark Bjelland

  Job Purpose:  Maintain ecosystem in the fountain in the GEO Department.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Maintain water level and quality.
  2. Check condition of fish and maintain feeding schedule.
  3. Water plants.
  4. Alert Department Manager when supplies need to be ordered.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Experience with aquariums is desirable.
  2. Must be able to communicate effectively with the GEO Department Manager.
  3. Must be able to work independently.
  4. Preference will be given to GEO majors.
  5. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable, honest and able to assume the responsibilities given.

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment:  Academic year.

  Hours: flexible, arrange with supervisor.

• Weather Technician

  Reports to:  Dr. Deanna van Dijk

  Job Purpose:  Facilitate weather data collection and promote weather awareness.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Maintain weather instruments used for teaching and research.
  2. Assist with weather data collection for teaching, research, and outreach.
  3. Promote weather awareness via website, bulletin boards, lobby display, and other means.
  4. Maintain weather data and respond to requests for data.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Must be able to communicate effectively with weather technician supervisor.
  2. Must be able to follow directions for the maintenance and use of weather instruments for research and teaching.
  3. Must model and insist on compliance with safety rules and regulations.
  4. Must be a GEO major with an overall Calvin GPA of 2.7 or better.
  5. Preference will be given to majors who have taken Geography 250 (Meteorology).
  6. Applicant should have some aptitude for working with computers.
  7. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable, honest, and able to assume the responsibilities given.

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment:  Academic year.

  Hours: Flexible, arrange with supervisor, 4-6/week

• Map Library Curator

  Reports to: Map Library Supervisor (Dr. Jason VanHorn)

  Job Purpose:  Maintain the GEO map library; Assist in the upgrading of library quality as requested by the Map Library Supervisor.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. File maps that are returned to library.
  2. Accession new maps into the library collections and directory.
  3. Maintain map collections in a useable manner; making suggestions as to space arrangements.
  4. Maintain overall library cleanliness.
  5. Perform inventory as needed.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Must have taken an introductory-level course in geography or geology, and have an overall Calvin G.P.A. of 2.7 or better.
  2. Must be able to communicate effectively with Map Library Supervisor.
  3. Must be able to follow directions given for the maintenance of the library.
  4. Must model and insist on compliance with safety rules and regulations. 
  5. Must be courteous, prompt, dependable and honest.
  6. Preference will be given to majors in geography, geology or environmental studies.

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hr

  Length of Employment: Academic year

  Hours: As arranged with Map Library Supervisor, about 3 hours per week

• Website Technician

  Reports to: GEO Website Manager (Dr. Jason VanHorn)

  Job Purpose: Maintain GEO website pages.

  PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Meet biweekly with Dr. VanHorn to plan tasks.
  2. Respond to web updating requests from Department Manager (Nellie Anderson-Wright).
  3. Update GEO website weekly with current information.
  4. Create new web pages as needed.
  5. Respond to emails regarding outdated information and broken links.
  6. Participate in paid training sessions for web software as provided by Calvin Information Technology and Calvin Communications and Marketing.

  NECESSARY SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND QUALIFICATIONS:

  1. Must be organized, self-motivated, and able to complete assigned tasks with attention to detail and minimal supervision.
  2. Must be able to communicate effectively with the Website Manager.
  3. Must be in good academic standing with the university, with an overall GPA of 2.0.

  Starting Wage:  $11.50/hrr

  Length of Employment: Academic year

  HOURS: Flexible, 2/week