Public Engagement 50% Research Assistantship (RA) for College of Education:
Ph.D. Student working with Urbana Farm to School Program, AY2023-24
Applications are now open to PhD students in the College of Education for a yearlong 50% graduate research assistant position with the Sola Gratia Farm: Urbana Farm to School Program for AY2023-24 (August 16, 2023 – May 15, 2024). This RA position is created in partnership between the College of Education (COE) and the Humanities Research Institute (HRI).
This graduate research assistantship supports efforts to implement components of the Urbana Wellness Policy and Urbana Farm to School program to ensure all students:
• Have access to healthy and culturally appropriate foods during school;
• Receive quality nutrition education;
• Have opportunities and interest to be physically active.
Background on Farm to School Program:
Schools can be powerful places to make behavioral and environmental changes for students and staff. The Illinois State Board of Education requires that all public schools implement a Wellness Policy that is administered and audited yearly by a School Wellness Committee. In USD 116, 65% of students are low-income, and over 70% of students identify as ethnic/racial minorities, which means they are at increased risk for developing diet-related chronic conditions and experiencing significant health disparities. To improve awareness and access to healthy food and nutrition education, Sola Gratia Farm partnered with Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) and Urbana School District 116 to develop a robust Farm to School program. This program intends to bring agricultural and nutrition education into the classroom; bring youth outside into school gardens and on field trips for experiential learning activities; explore career opportunities in foods and agriculture and improve the quality of offerings through the school meal and snack programs.
RA Responsibilities:
• Conduct review and research of school districts in Illinois successfully implementing Wellness Policies, specifically regarding school and meal snack programs and outdoor garden activities.
• Provide case studies of school districts in Illinois where they have successfully integrated input from members of minoritized communities into the Wellness Policy development and integrated culturally responsive strategies.
• Work with the COE Director of Public Engagement on college-wide strategy development for public engagement, with a specific focus on graduate students working with local community organizations and schools.
• Attend and participate in weekly Farm to School leadership team meetings and attend and participate in quarterly Wellness Committee meetings.
• Meet food service providers, tour schools, and attend school board meetings.
• Assist in grant writing as appropriate.
• Write a brief mid-term report on your RA activities by December 15, 2023, and a 500-word report of your RA experience (its connection to your research and its contribution to your academic development) by June 1, 2024; both due to the COE Director of Public Engagement, with copy to the Director of Sola Gratia and the Director of HRI.
Qualifications:
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail required
• Ability to manage diverse activities and meet deadlines
• Flexibility to changing situations and priorities
• Strong oral communication and writing skills
• Experience and/or interest in public school investment
• Skillful in establishing and maintaining professional work relationships;
• Preferred, but not required:
o Experience in education or nutrition;
o Experience working with youth in an educational setting;
o Volunteer or paid experience with socially, economically, and/or ethnically diverse populations;
o Experience working with food service in schools, restaurants, or institutions.
Eligibility:
To apply, must be a College of Education PhD student in good academic standing. If selected for position, must be in good academic standing to accept AY2023-24 RA position.
To Apply:
Submit a short statement of interest (less than 1 page) and a CV to COE Director of Public Engagement, Emily Stone (ers@illinois.edu). Statement of interest should briefly address the following questions:
• How would you use your own research training to support Urbana School District in successfully implementing a Wellness Policy?
• How do you understand the connection between nutrition education and social/racial justice?
Application review will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled.
