Paid College Student Positions

Join FIRST2 NETWORK on your Campus!

7/16/25: Currently being updated for the 2025/2026 School Year- Please read new Student Director Descriptions!

First2 Network recognizes the value of having students at the table to inform decision-makers of problems that need to be addressed to improve STEM student success and to co-create the solutions for those problems. First2 Network builds student leaders to take on this vital role, in part through paid positions.

PURPOSE:

The First2 Network is funded to learn how to help more students be successful in completing a STEM degree, targeted specifically on the first two years in college, since that is the time when most STEM students withdraw. Central to First2 is student voice. The U.S. National Science Foundation has many funding streams for scholarships and summer research programs; First2 was not funded to do these things, but was instead funded to learn how the activities provided can best be offered to support this student success. Students are funded through paid positions to do work on three fronts: to help themselves, to help other STEM students, and to help the network drive institutional learning and change.

FIRST2 STUDENT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM ELEMENTS: “THE 4C’S”

Co-Mentoring: A reciprocal relationship where two or more individuals provide mutual guidance, support, and learning, sharing their expertise and experiences to help each other grow professionally and personally. Students co-mentor with other students, supervisors, and members of their institutional team.

Career Development: The process of managing and advancing one’s professional growth and career path through skills enhancement, experience, education, and networking.

Content-Area Research: Involves studying specific subject matter or topics within a field to deepen understanding, inform practice, or contribute to the knowledge base of that area.

Community Development: The process of creating and nurturing a sense of belonging and shared identity among individuals within a community, often through engagement, collaboration, and shared activities so that they can come together to take collective action and generate solutions to common problems, fostering social, economic, and cultural well-being.

*We thank our collaborators at Northern Kentucky University’s TRUE ACCCESS program for this 4C’s framework.

POSITIONS, HOURS AND STIPENDS:

First2 Network Student Leadership Positions – 2025–2026 Academic Year

Position Description

The Student Director position within the First2 Network supports student leadership, campus-based change initiatives, and community-building efforts that promote success for rural, first-generation, and underrepresented students in STEM. Directors work closely with their Institutional Teams, supervisors, and the broader network to drive meaningful, student-led improvements in the college STEM experience.

This position is flexible by design, offering multiple hour levels and allowing each student to co-create a plan through a personalized Road Map aligned with team needs and personal leadership goals.

50 hours/semester – $900 – Entry-level leadership role for students newer to First2 or campus organizing. Supports change ideas, attends training, engages in outreach, and participates in campus cohort meetings.
100 hours/semester – $1,800 – Intermediate role for students with prior First2 or leadership experience. Takes ownership of a change idea, mentors peers, helps lead campus engagement efforts, and represents student voice in Institutional Team work.
150 hours/semester – $2,700 – Advanced role for returning student leaders. Leads or co-leads major projects, mentors other student leaders, facilitates team planning, and serves as a bridge between students and staff on program-wide initiatives.
Summer Student Directors – 75 hours/summer – $1,350 – Summer Student Directors play a crucial role in organizing and executing various onboarding and orientation activities to support new students and institutional team members. This position requires a proactive individual with strong organizational and communication skills to ensure a smooth transition into the academic year. Summer Student Directors work with supervisors to make a customized plan for their work based on the following framework of program elements. 75 hours per summer minimum.

All student leaders work with their supervisors and the First2 team to develop a personalized Road Map that outlines their activities, responsibilities, and goals for the academic year.

Core Responsibilities for All Student Leaders

Road Maps

Submit within first two weeks of the semester; update at the beginning of spring
Define leadership goals, responsibilities, and contributions to team efforts
Optional: include ambassador activities, dean meetings, or research support

Supervision

Participate in a beginning-of-semester and end-of-semester meeting with supervisor, joined by Samantha or Margaret
Maintain regular supervisor meetings and document minutes and progress

Campus Check-ins and Events

Join campus check-ins twice per semester (Oct/Nov and Feb/Mar) with Samantha or Margaret
Attend at least one in-person event (Fall, Spring, or Conference)
Higher-hour Student Directors may support event planning and facilitation

Institutional Team Participation & Student Voice

Attend and contribute to Institutional Team meetings
Collaboratively define how student voice will be integrated into team work

Change Ideas & Improvement Science

Plan and implement at least one change idea per year related to Institutional Team work
Present a poster at the annual First2 Conference (virtual submission optional)
Participate in current coaching support structure led by Improvement Science Team

Power Skills Training

Complete one WV Jobs Network’s Power Skills Certification course (approx. 1–3 hrs/week)
Includes coaching, modules, and digital credentialing for resumes and portfolios

Outreach & Ambassador Events

Attend five approved STEM outreach or learning events per semester (e.g., club meetings, field trips, PDSA cycles)
May include legislative, campus, or conference ambassador work

Reflection & Reporting

Submit one journal reflection (December)
Keep Road Map and meeting notes updated and filed

Optional Responsibilities

Attend the Spring Conference (strongly encouraged)
Support Institutional Team educational research and data work
Engage in additional onboarding elements if desired

Dropped Requirements from Previous Years

No All Hands Meetings
No Monthly Director Meetings
No additional journal prompts
No anonymous feedback forms

QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident
Enrolled in a STEM major at a WV or KY Institution (per WV STEM Scholarship definition)
Preference will be given to first-generation, rural, or Pell-eligible student
Interest in leadership, STEM success for all, improvement science, and facilitation

BENEFITS

Opportunity to lead change, build skills, and advance STEM in WV
Educational stipend up to $2,700/semester based on hour tier
Paid travel, meals, and lodging for required in-person events
Professional development, mentoring, and Power Skills certification

If you have ideas to share, and a strong desire to create change to improve the STEM student experience on your campus, you are a good fit for a student director position. We are looking for students who have the ability to facilitate discussions and presentations, or a willingness to learn, and a interest in improvement work, community building, and professional development. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, current college students, and be rural, first-generation, or eligible for financial assistance to go to college. Additionally, applicants must be currently enrolled in a STEM major as defined by the West Virginia STEM Scholarship criteria set by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

Summer Student Directors play a crucial role in organizing and executing various onboarding and orientation activities to support new students and institutional team members. This position requires a proactive individual with strong organizational and communication skills to ensure a smooth transition into the academic year. Summer Student Directors work with supervisors to make a customized plan for their work based on the following framework of program elements. 75 hours per summer minimum.

KEY PROGRAM ELEMENTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

CO-MENTORING: 8+ hours
- Weekly Supervision Meeting: Meet with Supervisor at least once a week (can be virtual) to go over progress and goals.
- Campus Welcome Workshops: Schedule and coordinate onboarding/learning sessions for First2 students and other students between the start of the school year and September 15. Topics could include, for example:Time Management, Meeting Your Support Staff, Accessing Tutoring, Demystifying the Professor-Student Relationship
- All Hands Meeting: Design and lead the All Hands introductory meeting scheduled for August.
- Optional – Act as a Mentor/Ambassador for Summer Outreach Initiatives: Serve as a Mentor and Ambassador for summer outreach initiatives, providing guidance and support to participants while actively promoting the program’s goals, benefits, and opportunities to the broader community.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT: 20+ hours
- Complete a Power Skills Course (1 of 3 required for the Power Skills Certification): The Power Skills Certification is a program offered by our partner, the WV Jobs Network and is designed to help job seekers in West Virginia develop and demonstrate essential soft and leadership skills, collectively known as Power Skills. This certification program provides participants with access to online learning modules, coaching, and a digital certification badge, which can be independently verified by employers. The curriculum includes supplementary learning materials, real-time skill improvement opportunities, coaching sessions, and evaluation tools. Participants will also receive a digital credential, enhancing their resumes, social media profiles, and email signatures, making them top candidates for future opportunities. – 1-3 hours/week
- Introduction to STEM Career Area On-the-Job Training: Job Shadowing, micro-internship opportunities, engaging with a research lab, exploring research and internship opportunities. Convening workshops and outreach activities to support Directors, Assistant Directors, and the larger student population (both themselves and others) to prepare applications, apply to, and successfully secure paid workforce training and content area research opportunities
CONTENT AREA RESEARCH: 4+ hours
- Pre-Planning and Pre-Coaching Meetings: Collaborate with the backbone organization and participate in meetings with institutional team members to pre-plan and pre-coach all scheduled change ideas for the semester.
- Optional – Assist Institutional Teams with Educational Research: Provide comprehensive support to Institutional Teams by conducting educational research, assisting with data collection and analysis, and contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based practices and strategies.
COMMUNITY BUILDING: 10+ hours
- Introductory Event Planning: Work alongside the Student Coordinator to plan and execute an introductory event for new institutional team members. Ensure familiarity with navigating essential tools such as the website and Slack.
- Bridge and Orientation Events: Organize and participate in orientation events for new students. Assist with bridge programs and other school orientation activities as needed.
- Student Recruitment: Recruit students to participate in FIrst2, including supporting student recruitment and selection for paid positions, FIrst2 club membership, or participation in a Student STEM Council, or other First2 campus initiatives.

Reporting: In order to receive the final stipend the Director must complete a comprehensive report detailing summer activities, including links to meeting minutes, agendas, planning documents, feedback forms, etc.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Strong organizational skills and attention to detail. Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities. Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams. Experience in event planning and coordination is advantageous. Familiarity with educational institutions and student support services is preferred. Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents, current college students, and be rural, first-generation, or eligible for financial assistance to go to college. Additionally, applicants must be currently enrolled in a STEM major as defined by the West Virginia STEM Scholarship criteria set by the WV Higher Education Policy Commission.

BENEFITS:

Educational stipend of $1350 per summer. At 75 hours of participation, this earning rate is based on $18 per hour. Paid travel to conferences and events, including mileage, food and lodging. This position offers a unique opportunity to significantly impact the student experience by facilitating essential support and orientation activities. Summer Student Directors will gain valuable leadership and project management experience in a dynamic educational setting.

APPLICATION:

To apply for one of these paid student leadership positions with the First2 Network, please use the button below to access our application.

FIRST2 PAID STUDENT POSITION APPLICATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Can’t complete your minimum requirements? Having trouble?

If you can’t attend a campus club or student statewide meeting, attend another FIrst2 working group meeting. You can watch a recording later if you want to – that’s up to you, but just attend another meeting or two with another First2 group to have that count for all your meetings so you’ll get a chance to build relationships with others and participate in input and decision-making in real time. If you need to watch a meeting later, you can count that time as hours, but it will not count towards your minimum in-person meeting requirement.

If you’re having trouble connecting with First2 activities, reach out to the Student Coordinator for support in making a plan to get on track. If you can’t complete something, you can always propose an alternative and these will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis for approval.

ANY requirement that does not work for your specific circumstances can be addressed on an individual basis. Email the student coordinator and suggest an alternative that achieves the same end goal and the student support staff team will review your request. To date, all reasonable alternatives have been approved, so don’t be shy to ask. We know everyone has different things that come up in family and in life.

PROGRAM RATIONALE:

Research and Internships: A key piece of our project is improve students’ STEM self-efficacy and professional skills by engaging them in research, immersing them in the professional STEM community early in their academic career.

Ambassador Activities: Another core piece of our grant proposal is to have First2 students serve as ambassadors to other stakeholders – both to their hometowns and to decision-makers in leadership roles. Through Ambassador activities, First2 Network help to drive education and systems change so that all students can be more successful. First2 students do outreach to their hometown high schools to help better prepare potential STEM students from their hometowns to transition to and through STEM degree programs in college, often by sharing their own experience of college, reflection on what in high school prepared them well, what did not prepare them well, and tips for success. FIrst2 students also meet with college administrators, legislators, and other institutional and state leaders to share their experiences and to share what First2 is learning about how colleges can change so that more students thrive, graduate, and enter a satisfying career in STEM. This also provides a way for First2 students to “pay it forward” with a service activity.

Educational Research and Evaluation: For the network to function and accomplish our goals to improve the STEM ecosystem to double to the graduation rate for all STEM students, we need to maintain professional standards of accountability. One of the main goals of the network is to learn with our students about barriers and solutions, and this work is led by our research and evaluation teams.

Conferences: First2 students have reported that one of the biggest benefits to them in the FIrst2 Network is the personal and professional networking; our conferences are where the majority of this networking happens. Students are also integral voices as we present and reflect together during these convenings, and it is essential to have students at the table to make sure our work is grounded with student realities.

Journals: We need to be able to share student experiences and reflections across the network, with strategic partners, with NSF, and with funders. These experiences should be real and authentic, and capture both successes and challenges. Although we spend time reflecting verbally in conversations, these journal entries are designed to share written insights. They are extremely valuable in network reflection, change, and reporting.

Statewide Student Meetings: Students have reported that knowing the other students across the network and building relationships in statewide student spaces is important to students and to the health of the network. Our statewide student meetings were created to fill this need.

Campus Clubs: Campus Clubs are the main way within First2 to build a supportive social community that includes peers, faculty and others at your school. Our research has shown connections between level of engagement and leadership in First2 activities, and academic persistence. Students who have more interaction with their First2 campus club have been shown to have more input and leadership in the First2 Network. Students with higher engagement in the Network are more likely to persist in their STEM degree programs! Clubs have been an important place where students receive support from older students and staff, and have been critical in supporting students to persist in STEM degrees.