Graduate Staff
Benefits of the Role
- In-state tuition rate for Higher Education Graduate Assistants
- Up to 3 credit hours paid for by the University
- Paid biweekly for 22 payroll periods during the academic year
- A furnished apartment including utilities is provided, as well as a dining allowance for meals when the dining centers are serving.
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Access to a Professional Network of more than 350,000 Alumni from around the world
Grad School at KU
If you're excited to work with students and have an interest in KU's graduate school, our Graduate Assistantships are for you.
Per the University of Kansas Graduate Studies Policy:
“The University will pay up to 3 credit hours of tuition for any Fall or Spring semester in which the student is employed as a Graduate Assistant with an appointment that meets the eligibility requirements outlined in the Staff and Staff Dependent Tuition Rates policy. This includes any course fees for GAs who are enrolled in schools/programs that charge such fees. Course fees include all school course fees and the Edwards Campus Program Fee as listed in section 1.1 of the Comprehensive Fee Schedule published annually by the Office of the University Registrar.”
There is no required graduate program to be a graduate assistant in Housing & Residence Life, allowing for a wealth of experiences to be brought to our positions. Explore graduate programs at the University of Kansas.
The Higher Education Administration Program at the University of Kansas “allows students to extend and apply their knowledge of colleges and universities, and to learn from expert scholars and practitioners, as well as fellow classmates, who bring diverse leadership experiences to the program.”
Start your career in Lawrence with a degree from KU and you'll have the knowledge and skills to go anywhere.
Graduate Recruitment Process
Candidates will complete a First and Second Round Interview. These interviews will be scheduled with members of the Graduate Recruitment Committee and KU Housing & Residence Life Staff. Candidates can anticipate interviews to be conducted virtually unless otherwise indicated via the following recruitment opportunities:
- Virtual Higher Education Graduate Assistantship Day — February 2026
- In-Person Higher Education Graduate Assistantship Day — February 21, 2026
Successful candidates will begin to receive offers in early March 2026 for the 2026–2027 academic year.
The KU Housing & Residence Life Graduate Assistant Experience
Assistant Complex Director (ACD)
Assistant Complex Directors are members of the Residence Life Staff and are involved in the daily management of residential areas housing between 500 and 900 residents. ACDs assist in the engagement and development of residents living on campus at KU.
ACDs will be responsible for the following in their roles:
- Supervise and evaluate undergraduate staff members
- Crisis Management and On-Call Response
- Building Operations & Management
- Advising Undergraduate Student Leaders and Organizations
- Student Conduct & Student Support
- Administration
A Day in the Life of an ACD — Cat
FAQs
The Assistant Complex Director position is a 30-hour-per-week position.
Training typically starts at the end of July. Assistant Complex Directors participate in approximately 2 weeks of training, and then 2 additional weeks of training with their undergraduate staff.
Assistant Complex Directors are supervised by full-time staff, in addition to supervising undergraduate students. ACDs supervise between 6-10 undergraduate students, depending on the community they serve. ACDs help select, train, and evaluate the staff they supervise as part of the position.
Yes, ACDs serve on-call. ACDs participate in a rotating 24-hour on-call duty coverage system for their assigned area.
ACDs work with a variety of different offices and departments across campus. As part of their role, ACDs work with departments in the Housing and Residence Life organization, such as occupancy, facilities, and desk operations. Additionally, ACDs work with offices such as Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Fully furnished apartment, a meal plan, office space, ability to purchase a red parking pass (staff)
The University of Kansas offers three types of communities that residents can live in. Assistant Complex Directors can serve in Residence Halls, Scholarship Halls, and/or Apartment Living.
Plan 2-3 events for communities per semester. Graduate staff also have access to different virtual software, including a Canva Pro account, to create advertisements for their events.
6 credit hours minimum are required, and 9 credit hours are required to be considered a full-time grad student. More than 9 credit hours require prior approval.