Student Collections Graduate Assistant

Position OverviewThe Dole Archives at the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas stewards the political collections of Senators Bob and Elizabeth Dole. Collections documenting Senator Bob Dole's life, political, and post-political careers - predominately covering his time in House of Representatives and Senate - are publicly available, and consist of 4,000 boxes of papers, approximately 25,000 images, hundreds of audio-visual recordings, and 7,000 artifacts. In 2017, Senator Elizabeth Dole generously donated her papers to the Dole Institute of Politics, leading to the Robert and Elizabeth Dole Archives and Special Collections. These include records from her long career in public service and are currently undergoing archival processing and digitization.

The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics has one Collections Graduate Assistant position available at the start of the academic year. This position will engage in team and individual projects alongside other student assistants, interns, and staff members. This position emphasizes independent work and attention to detail. It is also an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience with a dynamic historical collection.Job DescriptionThe student will assist the Archive staff with a multitude of routine collections management tasks and archival activities as needed. Responsibilities include approximately:

60% - Collections Management

15% Processing new paper collections

10% Accessioning, cataloging, and housing new object donations

10% Reviewing Inventories and updating database

10% Researching, compiling, and organizing provenance materials for object collection

5% Permanently labeling objects

5% Photographing the collection

5% Rehousing projects25% - Research and Outreach

10% Responding to research requests

5% Assisting researchers in the Reading Room

5% Scanning archival materials

5% Assisting with tours and educational opportunities15% - Exhibits

5% Assisting with exhibit breakdown and installing new exhibits

5% Migrating, updating, and creating digital exhibits as needed

5% Maintaining exhibit and collections storage environmentsRequired Qualifications

KU graduate student in good academic standing enrolled full time (6 hours or doctoral students enrolled in dissertation hours) in an on-campus or hybrid program (not fully online).

6 months collections management experience, as demonstrated by education and/or work experience, including cataloging, labeling, photographing, and housing objects in a museum collection.

Strong oral and written communication skills as demonstrated by education and/or work experience.

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite as demonstrated in application materials.Preferred Qualifications

Current enrollment in the Museum Studies graduate program at KU.

1 year collections management experience, as demonstrated by education and/or work experience, including cataloging, labeling, photographing, and housing objects in a museum collection.

Coursework or career interest in Political Science, American History, or Museum Studies

Experience producing small exhibits.

Experience processing paper collections

Experience using Microsoft Excel, Access & Adobe Photoshop

Organized, motivated, and flexible in planning and implementing projects to benefit the future of a collection as demonstrated by education and/or work experience.

Ability to lift up to 40 pounds with or without accommodation.

Ability to work independently and efficiently with minimal supervision as demonstrated in application materials.Position RequirementsDuring the semester term of the appointment, the student hourly must be enrolled in no fewer than 6 credit hours. For summer periods the student hourly must: (1) have been enrolled in no less than 6 hours in the past spring semester or (2) be pre-enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in no less than 6 hours or (3) be enrolled in summer session or (4) be admitted to study in the upcoming fall semester. Student Hourlies may be undergraduate or graduate students. (Exceptions granted for GRA/GTA/GA appointments DO NOT apply to Student Hourly appointments).Employment Conditions(1) Student employees are not eligible for remote work arrangements unless an exception is approved by the unit leadership and HR.

(2) This is an hourly/non-exempt position. A student employee cannot hold an hourly/non-exempt position and a salaried/exempt graduate or undergraduate position (GRA/GTA/GA/RUA/RGA) concurrently.Additional Candidate InstructionsAll applicants are required to submit a cover letter, resume, and list of references. Online applications will not be accepted in lieu of resumes.

This position is for 20 hours per week, year-round, August 2025 to August 2026, with the potential to extend into an additional year if all required enrollment qualifications continue to be met.

Additional Benefits:

Sponsorship of 9 graduate credit hours of tuition per semester (Fall 2025 & Spring 2026)

Employee tuition rates (in-state) for all enrollment

Qualifies for optional 3G health insurance plan with 75% subsidized

Application deadline is 08/03/2025 by 11:59PM Central Standard Time.Contact Information to ApplicantsAlex Adelmund - ; +1 Advertised Salary Range$18/hrAnticipated Start DateMonday August 18, 2025 Apply to Job

Permanent