Student Assistant, USF CONNECT

The University of South Florida’s CONNECT Student Innovation Incubator (SII) seeks a motivated and detail-oriented Student Assistant to support daily operations, communication, event coordination, and student engagement. This role is designed for students interested in building professional skills, learning how innovation programs operate, and supporting a collaborative student environment. 

The Student Assistant will work closely with the SII Program Manager and USF CONNECT team to assist with program logistics, student communication, event planning, and coordination of resources that help SII participants stay engaged and on track.

The responsibilities for this position include:

Program Communications & Engagement
• Assist with email reminders, announcements, meeting coordination, and follow-up with SII students.
• Help maintain organized communication channels and support student participation in program activities.
• Support scheduling for student meetings and mentor interactions.

Program & Resource Support
• Help track student submissions in Canvas and ensure required tasks are completed.
• Assist in gathering and organizing resources, workshops, and opportunities relevant to student needs.
• Support the SII Program Manager in maintaining program materials and student tracking.

Event & Activity Coordination
• Assist with planning and coordinating SII and USF CONNECT events, workshops, and meetings.
• Help with event logistics including setup, attendee communication, materials preparation, and follow-up.
• Identify campus events, activities, or opportunities that may benefit SII student engagement.

Outreach & Program Visibility
• Support SII presence at internal USF events, student fairs, and tabling opportunities.
• Help identify USF colleges, departments, and student organizations for potential collaboration.
• Assist in creating or gathering content that highlights SII activities, events, and opportunities.

General Support
• Provide administrative support such as preparing documents, updating tracking sheets, and assisting with meeting coordination.
• Help the USF CONNECT team with special projects or additional tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications
• Current USF student in good academic standing.

Preferred Qualifications
• Strong attention to detail and ability to stay organized.
• Professional, reliable, and able to follow through independently.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office 365 tools (Outlook, Teams, Excel).
• Interest in developing skills related to communication, coordination, and program support. 
• Prior involvement in any USF program (not limited to entrepreneurship), student organizations, or campus activities.
• Comfort interacting with peers, staff, and campus partners.
• Willingness to learn new tools, processes, and program workflows.

Additional Information for Applicants 

Schedule

10–20 hours per week.
Must have availability between 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday.  Schedule will be determined based on student's class schedule and availability. 
Position is on-site on the Tampa campus.

Initial employment will be for Summer 2026 term, opportunities for additional terms are available and will be based on performance. 

Student Learning Outcomes
• Develop professional communication, organization, and coordination skills.
• Gain experience supporting program operations and student engagement.
• Learn how innovation and support programs function within the university ecosystem.
• Strengthen teamwork skills by working with staff, mentors, and student founders.

 

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF 

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: 

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law.  The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.  This job description does not constitute an employment contract.