Apply for a Graduate Assistantship (G.A.) using the Financial Assistance Application for Graduate StudentsForm. It is submitted to the Graduate School, 200 Boone Hall by Feb. 15 for fall, March 15 for spring, April 15 for summer, Oct. 15 for winter, or until departmental positions are filled.
G.A. applicants network with departmental offices to locate a position on campus.
The hiring department sends the new G.A. a letter of offer and an Obligation Form. The student signs and returns the Obligation Form to the hiring department thus accepting the G.A. offer.
The hiring-department completes a Personal Action Form (PAF) for the G.A.; it is sent to the Graduate School.
International students must obtain a social security number. See staff in the Office of International Students for procedure.
The G.A. completes an I-9 form obtained from the hiring department. Department verifies information provided by the student on the form. International students should have I-9 form verified through the Office of International Students. Original form is sent to the Graduate School.
College work-study G.A.’s must receive permission to have a position through both the Office of Financial Aid and the Graduate School.
G.A. appointments will impact your student loans. Consult with the Office of Financial Aid.
The Graduate School processes the G.A.’s Personnel Action Form (PAF). The Graduate School checks graduate program admission, GPA, and course registration – paperwork WILL NOT be processed unless the student is registered for 6 graduate credit hours or a copy of the student’s Program of Study indicates specific undergraduate coursework is required.
The Graduate School processes tuition scholarship/fee paperwork and sends it to Student Business Services for posting to the student’s account. The G.A. position does not pay health insurance, new student record initiation fee, program fees, or late payment fees; so students should pay these amounts when noted on the online bill. The award does pay registration, general, technology, and student union fees.
The G.A. works with the hiring department regarding job responsibilities, work hours/schedule, and training.
The hiring department submits the bi-weekly payroll information directly to Payroll. Paychecks are distributed in the hiring department.
If G.A. is rehired for a second semester or second year, the hiring department submits another PAF to the Graduate School noting the period of employment (One PAF in fall may be used to cover the entire academic year). The G.A. does not need to submit another application form to the Graduate School.
If the department submits the hiring paperwork (PAF) for one semester (fall OR winter), the biweekly pay will be the stipend amount divided equally into 8 payments. If the hiring paperwork covers BOTH fall AND winter, there will be 17 smaller paychecks - with one additional pay at the end of December.
Each fall and winter semester, the G.A. must be registered for 6 graduate credit hours or the tuition scholarship/fee paperwork WILL NOT be processed and student will be in jeopardy of losing his/her G.A. award. If the G.A. registers for an undergraduate course, a copy of the student’s Program of Study (POS) MUST be submitted to the Graduate School in 200 Boone Hall to verify its use on the program so tuition can be paid. If not on the POS, then additional graduate-level courses must be taken.
If a student holds a G.A. position in springs or summer terms, he/she MUST enroll for the term of employment - one credit.
If the G.A. wishes to use some of his/her tuition in the spring term, the Request to Carry Over Credits to Spring form MUST BE turned in to the Graduate School by APRIL 15. If the deadline is missed, spring tuition WILL NOT BE PAID.
If a second-year G.A. wishes to borrow fall credits to be used in the summer term, he/she MUST submit the Request to Borrow Credits from Fall for Summer form by JUNE 15.
When a student gets to the end of his/her program and he/she may need to register for less than 6 credit hours, a note from the faculty advisor is needed to receive approval for this enrollment and the continuance of the G.A. award. Note or email is sent to the Graduate School. Students are reminded to apply for graduation using the form found in the Class Schedule Book.
G.A. awards will cover one masters program. A student MAY NOT begin a second graduate program using the G.A. tuition scholarship. The G.A. award is meant to cover 4 enrollment periods for a total of 36 graduate credit hours (NO MORE than 18 credit hours in a fiscal year). In special cases an extension to a maximum of 6 enrollment periods may be received by special permission of the Graduate School. Beyond 6 enrollment periods WILL NOT be approved.
