A Week in the Life of a GA

The following are examples of how GAs might spend their time in a typical week (6-8 hours total).

Attend cluster staff meeting	1-2 hours
Attend 2 UGA programs/study breaks	1-2 hours
Meet with a student over lunch to discuss academic interests	1 hour
Do a Road Show on “Interacting With Faculty"	1-2 hours
Meet with supervisor	1 hour
Plan for the big program coming up in 3 weeks	30 minutes
Talk to a few students in passing in the hallway	30 minutes

Tutor a few students in subject area	1 hour
Do a floor program with a faculty member	1-2 hours
Exchange e-mails with some students who have questions	30 minutes
Attend GA meeting	1 hour
Meet with Community Director	1 hour
Attend cluster staff meeting	1 hour
Attend cluster’s “Breakfast for a Buck" program & interact with some students	1 hour
Go to lunch with a couple of UGAs to discuss a program they would like you to do for their floor	30 minutes

Attend 2 floor meetings	1 hour
Attend a cluster-wide social event	1 hour
Help with campus-wide GA program on applying for Grad School	1-2 hours
Meet with another GA to plan an upcoming program	1 hour
Attend cluster staff meeting	1 hour
Go door-to-door introducing yourself to students - with cookies and an informational sheet about you and the GA Program	1 hour
Make a bulletin board for the hall on internship opportunities	30 minutes
Have some informal conversations with residents	30 minutes
Respond to a few e-mails about GA and staff-related business	30 minutes

Hold weekly GA social in apartment & discuss how to cram for finals effectively	1-2 hours
Attend cluster staff meeting	1-2 hours
Meet student for coffee to discuss research options	30 minutes
Attend hall discussion organized by UGAs	1 hour
Finish GA Activity Report for supervisor	30 minutes
Blitz staff evaluation information to your CD	30 minutes

GAs typically put in more work at the start of a term. First-year opening and orientation, for example, are excellent times for a GA to be visible and active in their residential community.
Academic commitments will influence a GA’s schedule. One may need to put in more time (e.g. 8-10 hours per week) when not as busy to make up for those times when one cannot put much time into the GA position.
GA training and all-staff training. All-staff training will likely take more than 8 hours per week for a two-week period.
In the summer, GAs who are continuing to the next academic year will be expected to work some during the summer, though generally this is not 6-8 hours per week.