Financial Assistance

The Environmental Education Department within Southern Oregon University recognizes the immense value in nurturing a diverse Environmental Education community, where all backgrounds and experiences are celebrated in the unity of our collective work toward access to environmental wellbeing for all. We honor the vibrant dimensions of diversity that people experience, and are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and successful experience in the field of Environmental Education for all students and participants. The EE department of SOU highly encourages applicants from all backgrounds to apply for opportunities within our program.

Four one-year (three to four academic quarters) graduate assistantships are available through the Environmental Education (EE) program. Graduate assistants work 16 hours per week and earn 80% tuition remission at the in-state tuition rate during the terms they work, as well as a monthly stipend. Depending on the position, responsibilities may include managing the EE Office, developing activities and curricula, managing our Natural Science Kits, or working with area educators and environmental education providers. See below for more detailed descriptions.

A fifth graduate assistantship position to teach General Biology labs is available for those with sufficient background in biology. A position description is available below.

Other assistantships may be obtainable based on position availability and the applicant’s experience. Please contact us if you would like to learn more.

Position Descriptions

• Office Manager: Responsible for managing the EE Office, which includes communicating with prospective students and applicants, as well as compiling and organizing applicant files. Also responsible for assisting in maintaining the financial records for the EE Office budget; developing, duplicating and distributing marketing materials; developing and maintaining internship opportunities for graduate students; delegating activities and responsibilities to graduate assistants and other graduate students; organizing periodic informational and social gatherings for students in the EE program.
• Assistant Office Manager: Responsible for managing the EE Office budget and supporting the Office Manager. Also responsible for the recruitment and marketing of the graduate program, speaking with prospective students, assisting with incoming application materials, and ensuring applicant files are complete. This position may be for only 3 academic terms.
• Fall in the Field Coordinator: Tasked with the oversight of the annual place-paced educational program known as Fall in the Field. This Graduate Assistant will grasp overall program needs, act as a liaison between faculty and cohort, help plan Fall in the Field meetings, and encourage communication and leadership in the cohort during the program’s development.
• Outreach Coordinator/Kit Manager: Responsible for the development, management, and maintenance of the educational kit loan program which includes communicating with area teachers for educational outreach, maintaining the kits e-mail regularly, arranging for delivery and return of kits through the ESD Courier, inventorying and maintaining educational materials, and improving existing kits through the development of new activities and lessons. This position may be for only 3 academic terms.
• General Biology Lab Instructor: Will instruct two 2-hour lab sessions for General Biology in fall, winter, and spring. Responsibilities include: preparing for the lab, attending lecture, attending weekly lab meetings, grading student work, and maintaining office two hours per week. This position is for only 3 academic terms.

To Apply for an Assistantship

Please send a letter of intent outlining your qualifications for one or more graduate assistantship positions. Your letter should highlight the experience and skills that are pertinent to the position(s) but may not be apparent in your other application materials. Letters received by the January deadline will receive priority.

The Graduate Assistantship Essay should be sent to:

Environmental Education Office OR Seec@sou.edu
S.T.E.M. Division
Southern Oregon University
1250 Siskiyou Blvd.
Ashland, Oregon 97520

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What benefits do I get if I earn a graduate assistantship position?

A. You will receive 80% tuition remission (at the in-state rate) for the three to four terms that you are working. These are typically the first Fall, Winter, Spring, and/or second Summer terms. You will also receive a small monthly stipend during these months, usually around $400. Expect your training to occur when you first arrive in the summer. While your work as a graduate assistant will officially start your first Fall term, some responsibilities may shift from the previous cohort to you a few weeks leading up to this point as they will be running Fall in the Field.

Q. Should I specify which position I am applying for in my letter of intent?

A. While you are not obligated to specify which position you would like, you can indicate which position you are more qualified for or interested in.

Q. Am I still eligible for a graduate assistantship if I don’t submit my GRE scores by the January deadline?

A. Unfortunately, we can’t hold out for students to take their GREs before deciding on Graduate Assistants for the next cohort. If you have not taken your GREs by the time that the January deadline passes, then your file will not be considered complete and you will not be considered for a position.

The EE program is a member of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) as of 2013. Membership in WRGP makes it possible for some Environmental Education Masters students from Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam to pay in-state tuition at SOU*. Please indicate your state of residence on your application or in your environmental essay to help us determine your eligibility for WRGP.

(*List subject to change, please check WRGP website for updated list before applying)

For more information contact us.

Southern Oregon Scholarship Application (SOSA):

• The DEADLINE for the 2020-2021 SOSA is March 15, 2020.
• ALL documentation, including letters of reference, transcripts, and/or any supplemental requested information, MUST be submitted by the deadline. Apply at sou.edu/sosa
• Please note: SOSA is for admitted students ONLY! Also, if you will not be attending SOU for the full Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for these scholarships

Scholarships from Outside SOU:

• Oregon Lottery Graduate Scholarships: Available to graduate students showing academic merit and financial need. Applicants must complete the Oregon Lottery Graduate Scholarship application and any additional materials required by specific academic programs. (Varies)
• SEO Optimizers Scholarship: Must currently be enrolled as a high school or college/university student with the US, have a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0, must be an American citizen, permanent resident, or hold a valid student visa, and must have designed an innovative project that makes a difference in the lives of others. http://seooptimizers.com/scholarship/
• Autolist Used Car to Dream Car Scholarship: A college degree has never been more critical but college costs continue to increase, and Autolist feels supporting students in this endeavor has never been more important. Towards that goal we are offering a quarterly $1,500 scholarship for outstanding students based either on a merit or need basis. https://www.autolist.com/used-car-to-dream-car-scholarship