Assistant

Student Assistant I Social Work Department

Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California's Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meet the needs of today's diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body. PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options. PAU has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead.

The Department of Social Work encompasses a new online Master of Social Work (MSW) program that offers a specialization in Culturally Informed Behavioral Health Practice (CIBH) with two tracks, (a) practice with children and youth in school and community settings and (b) practice with adults in public behavioral health settings. The program's goal is to graduate students who are competent and culturally sensitive behavioral health practitioners who provide care to underserved populations in urban and rural regions of California. The MSW program is in candidacy for accreditation by the Council on Social Work Education's (CSWE) Board of Accreditation (BOA).

Position Title: Student Assistant I

Reports To: Tyler Takata (MSW Program Manager)

Department: Social Work

Location: Remote / Mountain View Campus (on campus several days/quarter)

Status (Hours per week): 10 hours/week

Start and end dates: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026

Salary: $20.00 Hourly

Summary

The Student Assistant will work closely with the Social Work Department Leadership, including the Program Manager, Program Director, and Director of Field Education to support all aspects of MSW program development, accreditation, and implementation.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Create Canvas courses, inputting information and uploading materials following a Canvas course template.
• Assist with student recruitment and admissions, including communications and follow-up with prospective students and agencies.
• Conduct internet searches and phone/email communications in support of the field education (internship) program and establishing collaborations and affiliations with agencies.
• Edit and format accreditation and other departmental reports and documents.
• Provide friendly and knowledgeable assistance to students, including for their use of course registration, PAU intranet, Canvas, Tevera (internship management) and other systems and platforms
• Provide support for organizing and holding events (including the 3-day on-campus immersion residencies at the start of Fall, Winter and Spring quarters)
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled PhD or PsyD student in good standing at PAU in your 2nd or 3rd year of study.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong writing skills.
• A strong work ethic, dependable, and ability to prioritize multiple tasks and follow through in a timely manner.

Application:

To apply, please submit the following items combined into one PDF:

• Resume/CV
• Brief cover letter, including information on how your background and experience has prepared you to work at a high level of quality of work with students and co-workers from a variety of different backgrounds.
• Writing sample from a graduate course assignment at PAU
• Unofficial baccalaureate and/or graduate transcripts (optional)

No Discrimination: The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's backgrounds of race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law.

PAU has a high-quality work environment that attracts and welcomes a diversity of backgrounds of its employees. In your application or in a cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to work at a high level of quality of work with co-workers from a variety of different backgrounds.