Common Hiring Practices

Graduate Professional Assistant Recruitment Day

This event on March 18, 2026 helped prospective students to learn about available GPA positions within Student Affairs and Student Success divisions. 2027 information to come in the Fall.

GradRoo Information 

This annual event focuses on learning all about UMKC’s master’s, doctoral, professional, and graduate certificate programs at our graduate programs fair. It was held on March 18, 2026. 2027 information to come in the Fall.

Timeline for Many Departments Hiring Graduate Assistants:

Note: Most departments will try to hire yearly, starting with an August/ Fall appointment. Not as many positions are open for Spring hire.

For Fall semester:

  • February 1: Open positions will be posted and available in Handshake
  • March 5: First-review priority deadline - applications received by this date will be reviewed first
  • Mid-March: Hiring information sessions (online and in-person)
  • April through May: Notifications of acceptance for reviewed applications, any positions not filled will remain available in Handshake

For Spring semester:

  • October 1: Open positions will be posted and available in Handshake
  • October 23: First-review priority deadline - applications received by this date will be reviewed first
  • November 2-13: Interviews
  • November 16-20: Notifications of acceptance for reviewed applications, any positions not filled will remain available in Handshake

Offices Typically Participating in this Structure and Timeline:

 Handshake