FWSP Student Technical - Melton Gallery Assistant

About the Role

This is a Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) student technical position serving as the Melton Gallery Assistant for the College of Fine Arts and Design. This position is ideal for students with an interest in the arts, design, and museum/gallery exhibitions.

Hours per week: 10-15. Gallery hours: Monday-Thursday, 12pm-5pm; Fridays, 12pm-3pm. Special event hours: Thursdays, 4pm-8pm. Occasional evening and weekend hours will be available. Anticipated start date: August 17, 2026.

About the Melton Gallery

The mission of the Melton Gallery is to serve as a forum to support the visual arts through diverse exhibitions and programming, creating dialogs between the university and the broader community. The Melton Gallery strives for the following goals:

• Extend the knowledge of fine art, design practices, and critical theory.
• Pursue exhibitions and programming that are issue-charged in nature.
• Cultivate diverse audiences to create an atmosphere of inclusion.
• Develop community partnerships through collaborative projects.
• Provide deliberate support of the art and design departments’ missions to prepare students to enter professional careers.

Responsibilities

• Operate the front desk during regular business hours, welcome visitors, and track daily attendance.
• Answer gallery phone calls and emails during opening hours.
• Maintain cleanliness of gallery space (sweeping, cleaning windows, general tidying).
• Ensure artwork is secure and visitors follow gallery etiquette.
• Research information on upcoming Melton Gallery programs, exhibitions, UCO student organizations, and OKC Metro art organizations as assigned by the Curator.
• Manage Melton social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
• Post fliers of events and programming around campus bulletin boards.
• Assist with set up and tear down of gallery events and occasional evening programs.
• Help with installations and de-installations between exhibitions.
• Occasional tasks include lifting and moving objects, installing and hanging material, moving pedestals, patching and painting, printing and hanging wall text and labels.

Requirements

Enrollment Requirements

• Fall/Spring Semesters: All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time (5 hours for graduates, 6 hours for undergraduates). F1/J1 Visa students must be enrolled full-time (9 credit hours for graduates, 12 credit hours for undergraduates).
• Summer Semester: To work in a regular student position, students must be enrolled in at least 3 summer credit hours or be enrolled in the upcoming fall semester in the minimum credit hours required for their classification. For Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) positions, students must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours (undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (graduate).
• Enrollment Exception: If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources.

FWSP Requirements

• To be considered for Federal Work Study Program (FWSP) employment, you must be awarded work study through the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. The summer FWSP award is a separate application process.
• Enrollment requirements for FWSP employment are the same each semester: undergraduates must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours, and graduates in a minimum of 5 credit hours.
• If a student is enrolled in their final semester and the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum required, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of remaining credit hours needed to graduate and the anticipated graduation date) and provide it to the hiring department for submission to Human Resources.

Qualifications

• Preferred majors: Art, Design, Museum Studies, or other relevant areas.
• Familiarity with Mac products.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel is a plus.

Skills

The ideal candidate will be able to:

• Communicate easily with visitors, be attentive, and provide a warm and welcoming space for all gallery attendees.
• Learn about each exhibition, ask questions, and seek continued understanding of the mission and purpose of the gallery and its exhibitions to assist and educate visitors.
• Demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills, and basic interpersonal skills.
• Present information effectively in one-on-one and small group situations to visitors.
• Carry out written or oral instructions.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.