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Graduate Assistants
Appointment and Qualifications of Graduate Assistants
There are four classifications of graduate assistantships:
- Graduate Teaching Assistant
- Graduate Teaching Associate
- Graduate Support Assistant
- Graduate Research Assistant
Appointment is made by the President of the University, upon unit recommendation of the department in which the assistantship is available, provided the recommendation is appropriately endorsed by the Dean of the College and the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies. Unless other arrangements are specified, it is assumed the graduate assistant will pursue a degree objective in the department where the assistantship assignment is made. Applications for assistantships are obtained from the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies.
Special assistantship and fellowship awards are available for Black graduate students. Consideration is given on the basis of academic preparation, major area of study, and the availability of funds. Additional information may be obtained from the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies.
Appointment to a graduate assistantship requires Full Standing in the graduate program, unless exception is made because of unusual abilities or circumstances. The period of appointment is normally for one academic year at a stipend determined by the department in which the assistantship is available. The graduate assistant is required to maintain a minimum quality point average of 3.0, except that the student may be permitted to retain the assistantship on probation for one semester should the average fall below the minimum requirement.
Duties of Graduate Assistants
Students holding full assistantships are assigned duties which require approximately one-half the workload of a full-time faculty member. Graduate assistants may receive teaching, research, or support assignments and are expected to devote sufficient clock hours per week as may be required to perform their duties satisfactorily. The average workload for a full-time assistantship may not exceed 20 clock hours per week. In extenuating circumstances, the major advisor, departmental chairperson, and Associate Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies may approve a full-time graduate assistant's workload up to an average of 30 clock hours per week for a period of time not to exceed four weeks in any fiscal year. Full-time research assistants are not permitted to assume concurrent duties as teaching assistants and vice-versa. Teaching assistants may be given classroom teaching assignments, may work during laboratory or similar periods with undergraduate students, or may devote time to laboratory development projects determined by the departmental chairperson. Except for instruction in physical education activities, laboratory assignments, and discussion groups, graduate assistants will not be given primary responsibility for teaching a course unless they have achieved appropriate professional and scholarly preparation. This preparation must include at least 18 semester credits of graduate study in the subject area which would be taught by the graduate assistant. Research assistants are assigned to graduate faculty members to assist with specific research projects. All graduate assistants are expected to complete their assignments in a professional manner. When a graduate assistant resigns or is terminated or withdraws from the University during a semester, remuneration for the assistantship (including tuition and fees) will be made by the student on a prorated basis.
Permissible Loads of Graduate Assistants
In order to insure sufficient time for necessary reading and study, certain restrictions are placed on permissible credit loads that graduate assistants may carry each semester. Students who are appointed to full graduate assistantships are limited to a maximum of 12 credits each semester. Students holding half assistantships may carry 14 credits.
In the case of full assistantships, it shall be the prerogative of the department to further restrict the credit load of a graduate assistant when the nature of the student's work or when class requirements are unusually demanding.
Since graduate assistants are expected to make normal progress toward a degree, a minimum credit load of 6 graduate hours per semester is required. Any exception to this regulation must be approved by the Associate Vice President of Research and Graduate Studies. Loads may vary from a minimum of six hours per semester to a maximum of 12 hours depending upon individual programs and residency. A full graduate assistant who is classified as out-of-state may gain in-state residency if a semester credit load of at least six semester hours is maintained. A student holding a full assistantship and registered for at least six graduate hours is considered to be full-time (three graduate hours for Summer Semester), except that an international master's level student will be required to earn nine hours per semester during the academic year in compliance with federal laws.
Effective January 1, 1994, a U.S. graduate student must be enrolled in at least 9 graduate hours and work no more than 20 hours per week in order to have his or her wages excluded from FICA/Medicare taxes (7.65 percent of the student's wages). (FICA/Medicare does not apply to international students.)
A graduate assistant is classified as an in-state resident ONLY while he/she is an assistant. Residency will be reviewed when assistantship ends.
Assistantship Stipends
All full assistantships which are supported by University funds provide tuition and fee payments in addition to a salary stipend during the period of appointment. Full stipend range varies depending on the major field of study. Doctoral students and research assistants in the Centers of Excellence may receive additional compensation.
Full assistantships which are funded from sources outside the University, such as in projects underwritten by grants and contracts, provide a salary stipend consistent with the above; tuition and fees are also paid if provided for by the source of the assistantship. If tuition and fees are not provided by the source of the assistantship, the monthly stipend may be proportionately increased when project funds are available.
Other Financial Aid
Other forms of financial aid--including loans, workships, internships, and positions as head residents in dormitories--may be available through the Office of Student Financial Aid. Additional information may be obtained by writing to the Director of Student Financial Aid (P. O. Box 5076).
Page last updated: 1/17/07
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Graduate Studies
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