General Description of Class
The EDUCATION PROJECT ASSISTANT assists an academic supervisor or educational project leader in carrying out a research, extension, or other educational project.
Distinguishing Features
This is a single classification and not currently part of a series of classes.
Duties and Responsibilities
Allocation of positions to this class will depend on the total work performed which may include one or a combination of the duties or tasks listed below.
- Technical Assistance. Typical tasks: accumulates, assembles, and/or tabulates information for the benefit of the project; interviews potential extension club members, volunteers, and/or potential research subjects to gather appropriate information, concerning interests, background, or personal history; explains nature of the project/program and provides necessary instruction, information, and guidelines; assists in recruiting persons to help with the project or program; assists in monitoring and maintaining records (e.g., research sampling investigations, youth records on persons referred to the program); develops reports on the progress and evaluation of program activities for the project agent/director.
- Routine and Miscellaneous Assistance. Typical tasks: organizes files and does filing; answers general project and research telephone inquiries or directs questions to others; helps prepare materials for interested groups (e.g., mails newsletter, assembles reports); codes information for data processing; keeps general work area of office or lab neat and in order; types research forms; reviews informational questionnaires for form and clarity; reports supply and equipment maintenance needs.
Relationships with Others
According to the nature of the project, the amounts and kinds of contacts between Education Project Assistants and others will vary. There may be regular contact with research subjects, volunteers, and potential program members to assist in explaining projects and programs, recruiting members, and volunteers and answering questions concerning the program/project. When projects include work with subjects, employees in this class have regular in-person contact with subjects to provide instruction and obtain information. There is occasional telephone contact with the public to provide general project information.
Supervision Received
Employees in this class receive general supervision from an academic supervisor or educational project leader who reviews the work in progress and at completion for accuracy, completeness, and conformance to established criteria. Work assignments are defined and generated by the needs of the project. Employees in this class are often expected to work independently without immediate access to a supervisor. Employees in this class use agency policies and procedures, State and Federal rules and regulations, and departmental procedures as guidelines in the completion of their work.
General Information
Positions are found in central and remote locations throughout State government (e.g., general government agencies, human or natural resource agencies, correctional, mental health, or higher education institutions, hospitals, etc.). They require the willingness to work within the environment associated with the position's location.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education, training, or experience sufficient to perform the duties required by the specific research, extension, or other educational project; AND
- Knowledge of spoken and written English sufficient to obtain, provide, or exchange information.
Some positions may require skill in typing (proficiency level based on individual position requirements).