These are job descriptions for all the possible jobs that may appear on the website. All AVAILABLE jobs will be visible when you log in to the sign up page, or when you view or edit your existing student volunteer schedule.
All Student Volunteers must understand and speak English well. Good customer service and teamwork is critical in all positions in order to interact effectively with attendees and staff. Most jobs are fast-paced. Volunteers should dress neatly (except where noted below) and wear comfortable shoes.
Alternate
Be available to go cover a wide variety of jobs at a moment's notice that aren't covered by other volunteers, and if no coverage is needed, then remain in the Student Volunteer Office and wait for something to come up for possibly the entirety of your shift. Bring course work or reading materials or something else to do while waiting for jobs in the Student Volunteer Office. Alternates are strongly encouraged to attend one of the Oral Session Assistant Training Sessions (because we often send Alternates to cover Oral Session Assistant jobs and you can't do that unless you have had the training), offered Saturday from 3:30-4:00 p.m. and Sunday through Tuesday from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. (No need to sign up for the training online, and you’ll get credit for half an hour in your schedule if you attend the training).
Awards Assistant/Division Awards Assistant
Help assemble awards and plaques for presentation ceremony. Care and accuracy are critical. May need to help move boxes and transport awards as well.
Awards Assistant: Fellows Pre-photoshoot
Assist with the Presidential Photoshoot for awarded Fellows: hand out certificates to awardees; keep track of participating Fellows.
Awards Assistant: Presidential Address and Awards Ceremony
Help prepare room for attendees. Be an usher during the event (ensure attendees find a seat and ensure entry door opens and closes quietly). May need to help move boxes of awards from awards office to ballroom as well.
Badge On Demand Helper
Help attendee with scanning registration QR code so they can print their badge. If there is trouble, accompany the attendee to the help desk.
Exhibitor Registration Kiosk Assistant
Help attendees with the self-service registration kiosks.
Field Trip Check-in Assistant
Help field trip participants check in to their trips, and hand out materials. Being on time (early a.m.) for scheduled shift is critical. Note: volunteer does not go on the field trip.
GeoCareers Corner Set-up Assistant
Assist with setting up GeoCareers Corner.
GSA Council Meeting Assistant
Provide a welcoming presence outside the entry doors, check the names on the provided roster and add any new names of GSA members that attend. The open sessions of GSA Council's meeting are open to all GSA members. Before the meeting and during open sessions, each volunteer is welcome to alternate entering the meeting and helping themselves to some coffee/pastries to bring back to their entry table area. During the Executive Sessions of the meeting, the Student Volunteers are to close the doors to the meeting room and prohibit entry to anyone except Councilors and invited others. A list of executive session attendees will be available to the volunteers. (The timing of executive sessions is to be determined).
GSA Opportunities Booth Assistant
***Must have been a participant in one of the GSA programs represented at the booth (GeoCorps, GIP, Research Grant, etc.) Be located at the GSA Opportunities Booth in the Exhibit Hall, answer questions, pass out print material, sign people up for e-mail lists.
GSA President's Reception Assistant
Provide a welcoming presence outside the entry doors, answer any questions, and serve as a gentle deterrent to any curiosity seekers at this invitation-only event. After the first hour has passed, Susan Lofton will cover this role long enough to allow the volunteer to enter the reception, retrieve some appetizers/beverages, and return to the entry area. Likely later the volunteer will be able to mingle with the reception invitees until the event concludes.
GSA RISE Training
This is an on-demand training for GSA RISE (Respectful, Inclusive Scientific Events), required for Oral Session Assistant and Short Course Assistant jobs and optional for everyone else. It counts for half an hour of work in your schedule. The training is an on-demand video and short survey, and does not take place on a specific day. A link to the RISE training will be in the confirmation email that you get after you have signed up.
GSA Section Chairs Appreciation Reception Assistant
Provide a welcoming presence at the entry doors, answer any questions, and serve as a gentle deterrent to any curiosity seekers at this invitation-only event. There will be a table/s chair/s outside the entry doors. After the first hour has passed, each volunteer is welcome to enter the reception, help themselves to some appetizers/beverages, and return to their entry table area.
GSA Senior & Early Career Members Coffee Assistant
Greeting guests, handing out some paperwork, and helping set up the event.
GSA Staff Lunch Check-in
Check in GSA Staff and designated vendors for lunch. Lunch included, from a buffet with several options.
Head-Table Notebook Distributor
Help the Program Manager distribute the head table notebooks to all the oral session rooms in the convention center.
Information Desk Assistant
Assist the Information booth staff person with restocking the ribbon board and assisting registrants with questions. Staff the booth so exhibitor staff person can take lunch breaks.
Mic Runner for Q&A
Carry a microphone to people who want to ask a question during a lecture or session. Be alert and available when people want to ask questions. Must be able to get to the person quickly.
Online Short Course Assistant
**This is an ONLINE job that takes place BEFORE the meeting, NOT an on-site job. Please take special note of the date and time. Attend online short course, be available to help course leaders and notify program officer of problems. Must also take the GSA RISE Training (please add this job to your schedule as well).
On-site Registration Desk Lead
Lead position in charge of supporting badge printing and troubleshooting registrant questions. Support on-site GSA staff members.
Oral Session Assistant
All Oral Session Assistants must also add the on-demand GSA RISE Training to their schedule, and attend one (and only one) Oral Session Assistant Training prior to serving in this job (OSA Trainings are held Saturday, 3:00-3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, 12:15-12:45 p.m.). Responsible for room set-up and any problems with AV or other equipment in coordination with the session chair. You can sign up for a specific oral session you’d like to go to during your time slot, one-half day in advance in the Student Volunteer Office (Room 402 in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center). For morning sessions, sign up begins at 12:05 p.m. the day before; for afternoon sessions, sign up begins at 7:15 a.m. that day. People get in line ahead of time to sign up, so plan accordingly. If you don’t sign up ahead of time, come to the SVO at 7:15 (morning sessions) or 12:15 (afternoon sessions) to be assigned a session (or if none are left, you’ll be an Alternate).
Oral Session Assistant Training
All Oral Session Assistants must attend one (and only one) of these trainings (Saturday, 3:00-3:30 p.m.; Sunday, Monday, or Tuesday, 12:15-12:45 p.m.) before their first scheduled oral session assistant position. Alternates are strongly recommended to also take this training.
Program Assistant - Early Career Coffee
Scan attendee Badges.
Program Assistant - GeoCareers Corner
Check in mentors and mentees and connect them for their meetings. Answer questions.
Program Assistant - GeoCareers Day
Take tickets, check in mentors, help with room set up, facilitate seating of attendees. Collect index cards from attendees during the program and deliver them to the panel of mentors. Collect evaluation forms at the end of the program.
Program Assistant: GeoCareers Tech
Operate Tech (LCD, PowerPoint), take photos, post to social media.
Program Assistant - Mentoring Center
Place paperwork on tables and assist with set up, help generate an audience by directing people toward the program, and facilitate seating of attendees. Collect index cards from attendees during the program and deliver them to the panel of mentors. Collect evaluation forms at the end of the program.
Program Assistant - Networking Reception
Check in program mentors and scan attendee badges.
Program Assistant - Women in Geology
Check in program mentors and scan attendee badges.
Registration Greeter
Be located at entrance points of the convention center and direct people to the proper kiosk at registration and other GSA areas within the center. Comfortable shoes recommended!
Registration Setup Assistant
Assist in lifting, moving, unpacking/packing crates and boxes (up to 50 pounds). Errands and deliveries to nearby hotels may be required. Jeans/work clothes and work gloves are suggested.
Short Course Assistant
Attend short course, make sure all attendees have registered, be available to help course leaders and notify program officer of problems. (Because each volunteer may work no more than 15 hours, you may not assist on both days of a two-day short course.) In the event that the short course that you signed up for gets canceled, you will become a Short Course Alternate.
Short Course Set-up Assistant
Stuff folders and set up short course materials.
Speaker Ready Room Assistant
Assist with directing people through the Speaker Ready Room process. Must be knowledgeable with computers and have Mac, PC, PowerPoint, and PDF experience.
Student Volunteer Office Assistant
Answer questions from student volunteers and staff (often in the absence of the Student Volunteer Coordinator). Must be able to deal effectively with many people/problems at once without getting flustered. You must be a quick learner with good judgment, to decide whether you can help someone now or must ask them to return later. Variety of clerical tasks, also run errands, check meeting rooms, and fill in for absent volunteers.
Technical Sessions: Change Signs
Assist the Program Manager to change the oral session signs outside all the session rooms for the next day.
Technical Sessions: Easel and Sign Distribution
Assist the Program Manager to distribute sign holders, easels, pointers, and the head table and student volunteer books.
Technical Sessions: Easel and Sign Pick Up
Assist the Program Manager to pick up sign holders, easels, pointers, and the head table and student volunteer books.
Technical Sessions: Poster Booth Number Distributor
Help the Program Manager affix numbers to all the poster booths in the poster hall.
Ticket Taker
Use ATS Scanner to admit attendees, or take tickets at the door.