Introduction. The Office of the Associate Dean for Faculty
and Graduate Studies is responsible for the graduate assistantship budget
and the allocations of teaching assistantships to graduate programs.
The admissions committee of each graduate program recommends applicants
to receive graduate assistantships. Individual graduate programs are also
responsible for the graduate assistants' assignments. Graduate assistants
assigned teaching duties are expected to aid in the undergraduate teaching
mission of their departments. Graduate Assistantships (GAs) in the College
of Arts & Sciences are offered on a competitive basis. Departments
nominate students to receive assistantships through the Office of the Dean
of the College. Stipends vary depending on the nature and level of programs.
Period of Assistance. Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts graduate
programs offer assistantships for the academic year (Fall and Spring terms).
Science doctoral programs (including Biology, Chemistry, Geology, and Physics)
may offer assistantships for the full year, including summer, provided
the departments commit to supporting at least 25% of the students in the
summer from faculty grants.
Components of Assistantships. Graduate Assistants will receive:
- stipends
- matriculation fee waivers and non-resident tuition waivers (for up to 9*
graduate hours during the Fall and Spring semesters, respectively, for
all GAs, up to 6 graduate hours in the Summer semester for GAs in Biology,
Chemistry, Geology, and Physics, and up to 3 graduate hours for GAs in
the Social Science and Humanities).
Eligibility.
- GAs must be full-time students.
- Full-time residence during the academic year for all programs means
9 graduate hours in the Fall and in the Spring terms. During the
summer, graduate students in the Social Sciences, Humanities, the Arts
must register for 3 graduate hours, while students in the Sciences
must take 6 graduate hours.
-
GAs must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better in each semester.
Functions and obligations.
- Graduate Assistantships (GAs) are normally considered half-time appointments,
and fall under two categories: Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Research Assistants
(RAs). In all cases, eligibility requirements are the same. Contracts
normally stipulate that the maximum allowable weekly assignment is 20 hours.
Assignments of less than 20 hours will carry a proportionately lower total
salary. Departments need advanced approval to offer anything less.
- Research assistantships (RAs) are awarded through funds generated by faculty
grants.
- Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are normally allocated to the departments
in expectation that they will support and enhance undergraduate education.
Normally, TAs may be assigned to full responsibility for teaching a course
only after accumulating at least 18 graduate credit hours in the discipline
of instruction.
- In accepting teaching assistantships, students are obligated to register
for 9 graduate hours* in Fall and Spring terms, and in the Summer, for
either 3 graduate hours (Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts), or
6 graduate hours (Sciences).
* The tenth hour consists of the mandatory,
one-time pedagogy course required of all TAs during the first year.
Graduate Support by Semester and Category
(Effective Fall 2002)
