assistant professor

student assistant

student worker

teaching assistant

police officer

Sam Houston State University

A typical day would begin by tending to any ongoing research projects given by political science professors. Then, aiding said professors with class discussions, proctoring and grading examinations, and grading any student homework. Then, more research would be conducted in regards to both professorial and personal research projects. 

The management system for the graduate research assistants came from the director of the political science graduate program as well as the head of the political science department. There was not much of a need for the managers to have a hard-pressing approach to managing the assistants because we were all students and would be self-motivated to get research done in a rapid as well as concise manner. 

My co-workers were fellow political science and human resources graduate students, so there was a great deal of amicable behavior. 

The hardest part of the job would have been managing all of the research projects, grading, standardized test analysis, and essay reading while still being able to keep my energy level up at the end of the day to be able to complete any homework or personal projects I had to do. 

The most enjoyable part of the job would have been being around a group of professors that were more interested in what and how their students learned instead of just being there to teach. The passion exuding from their daily activities that focused on the effectiveness of their teaching styles spoke volumes about their level of dedication to the profession of teaching. Concurrently, the graduate assistants were always eager and happy to oblige any request that was given because there was present knowledge that the professors would aid, compliment, and appreciate any work that was performed. 

The most important things I learned while working for the department of political science was to always have a firm but amicable managerial style, that multitasking can be simple if one does not fall behind on their work schedule, that hard work and dedication are key to achieving greatness, and that greatness is achievable from even the most unlikely of individuals.

On a typical work day, I come in after class, or first thing in the morning, I restock the copy machines with paper, I take the mail down, and I email professors that they have packages that are awaiting their retrieval. I have advanced my skills in Microsoft Word, and in Excel. I have become proficient in creating and sending professionally written emails. I have learned how to appropriately communicate through telephone conversations. My supervisor is amazing, she works effectively with my course schedule and my second work schedule. She will bring me snacks on occasion, and I am included in office celebrations. I am the only work study in the office, but the other men and women in my office are really nice. The will come in and greet me, I feel very included. I believe that the hardest part of the job, is trying to figure out where the copy machine has jammed. A few months ago our old copy machine started to jam every other copy and I would have to search by opening doors, taking out toner cartridges, and basically taking the whole thing apart. With the new machine, it at least has little red light that tells you were the jam is. The most enjoyable part of the position is meeting all the new people, and the friends you make along the way. The advice they give is so beneficial as well. I also learn so very interesting things working in the Biology Department, like different facts about plants and animals.

I have worked here for nearly 8 years now. It is fulfilling work but unfortunately employee compensation continues to fall behind the curve more and more which is causing a math problem when it comes to paying my bills. Would love to stay but hands are slowing being tied on the matter. In my division, they did  market adjustments using outdated salary information a few years ago which resulted in pay bumps, yes, but it still wasn't enough to get us up to par with the rampant inflation at the time. Since then inflation has continued they've failed to revisit compensation nearly completely. To further exacerbate things, as of August 2024, at least one other division is confirmed as denying non-executive employees their typical 3% annual salary increase as well. The 3% does not and has not kept up with inflation and now that is not even on the table for some our employees. Who is to say my division is not next? I really really want to like SHSU especially after devoting nearly 8 years to it but decision makers  just can't seem to help themselves from making cuts in all the wrong places as they attempt to navigate the changes that are occurring in higher education.

Working in the Residence Life Department can be beneficial for professional growth, but for bad reasons. Mid-level management (Resident Hall Directors "RHD"  and Assistant Hall Directors "ARHD") can be hit or miss depending on who gets hired on, but for the most part are easy to communicate with the only issue is that upper level management (Assistant Directors "AD" and up) often communicate issue late and will leave employees to work through issues or emergencies alone. This trickles down to more work on lower level employees (HDs and Resident Advisors "RA") to pick up the slack and often leaves them feeling under appreciated and overworked. 

Co-workers are more help in a pinch. The main issues is that the Assistant Directors and other upper-level managers refuse to listen to recommendations made by the RHDs and RAs as well as refuse to change or update the majority of their policies. When you take time off, they still contact you about work, not because they don't respect your time, but mainly because they don't check the out of office calendar.

Overall, its a fine place to get your foot in the door, but they welcome you in with the understanding that you likely won't stay very long. 

As a friend once told me, academia is like hunger games for adults. This is true, and the hardest part of my job is maintaining a calm demeanor in a place where a lot of coworkers are only looking forward to their own advancement, and rightfully so. A typical day at work looks like an 8-5 job in which I attend regular meetings, and hold office hours in order to facilitate assistance to undergraduate students. I have learned management of several different revolving parts: Thesis assimilation, undergraduate support, staff support, classes and it has made me a harder working individual who can balance several equally important things at once and give my maximal effort in all of the aspects of my job. I would say the hardest part of my job would be to wade through 20-30 pages in one article that were assigned for almost every class. However, like everything else, I learned my niche and made it work. The most enjoyable part of my job was knowing that I had a mentor who supported me, and helped me to succeed, and the general feeling of being proud of being a graduate student. Another enjoyable part of my job was the fact that I was trusted with my own employment - everything I do and did in my program fell on my shoulders, and it taught me invaluable amounts of responsibility.

A typical day at the Bearkat OneCard office included non-stop phone calls and customer relations with repetitive questions. What I learned most was professionalism, thinking quick, and fast problem-solving. Everyone was taught to take initiative and we all did. 
I had a boss and direct supervisor; they both were incredibly wonderful. My supervisor was empathetic, yet stern, and my boss was basically the "work mom"  to everyone.  They made the job enjoyable. My coworkers were fun and helpful, and everyone was friends. Everyone I worked with became a family and included me. 
The hardest part of the job was learning and moving at a fast-pace, and also having to work with the student banking service over the phone. I had to explain the situation I was dealt with, and explain how I need them to solve it. Over the time I was there, I learned how to communicate better verbally.
I most enjoyed most having the best coworkers to help me grow as a worker. They taught me so many things and helped mold me into the woman I am today, and I can gladly say I am confident in the skills I have.

I was working in the Recreational Sports Center as a regular staff member. I had different positions through out the week. Tuesdays, I worked in the hallway; Thursdays, I worked at the front desk. Sometimes, I took other people's shifts and worked in other positions. Since I did not work in the same position all the time, it was never boring. 
Some positions allow the student to read, such as in the hallway. I was taking 7 classes a semester and therefore I was grateful to be able to be working and studying at the same time. 
The supervisors also build the schedule around individual availability. Before the semester starts, the manager or the supervisor will request a official schedule from the staff. This way, it is guaranteed that the student staff will not have a conflict between work and class.
On top of everything, working in the gym was a high motivation for me to workout!

A typical day at work would consist of coming into the office and making sure the daily work is done, such as mopping, checking emails, and going over daily itinerary. I learned how to work lights in a theater setting, organize files and documents, how to make and edit a webpage, building and construction of sets. My co-workers and l work well together to achieve tasks. The hardest part about the job is having to figure things out on my own if my boss tells me to do something he may not know himself. The most enjoyable part is achieving a task that was find and being able to find the solution to a problem. It feels great that my boss can count on me to do something and I'm able to by any means necessary.

You will have full access to the ceramics lab and learn a lot about ceramics from Lauren Clay. It was the best job I have had so far, and I wish I could have continued after I graduated. Being a student position, it doesn't pay much and you don't advance or anything, but I don't regret the job one bit. Lauren is a very organized professor who is keen on keeping to the rules but also appreciates someone who is working hard. When I was done cleaning the studio, I would spend time working on my ceramic pieces and she was always happy to see my work and give me solid advice for making it a work of art.

Working for SHSU-LEMIT was one of the best experiences I have ever had. I looked forward to going to work daily and seeing my coworkers. They made me feel like part of a family and I still keep up with them. Each day was different; most of the time I worked on the computer, filing, organizing, inventory, and registering participants for the upcoming program. During preparation for a program I would order supplies, organize the classrooms, prepare lunch menus, and  confirm hotel reservations. My boss was very bubbly and outspoken. She made my work environment relaxing and comfortable. Along with her and my coworkers, my days flew by and there was always a new adventure waiting around the corner.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Assistant professor 6 salaries reported	$73,790 per year
Student assistant 5 salaries reported	$10.20 per hour
Student worker 5 salaries reported	$10.00 per hour
Teaching assistant 5 salaries reported	$10.40 per hour
Police officer 10 salaries reported	$4,432 per month

Working at Sam Houston State University: Company Overview and Reviews

Sam Houston State University

Sam Houston State University Ratings

Popular jobs at Sam Houston State University

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected