Graduate Assistantships

The Graduate Assistant (GA) fulfills a unique position in the university because they are both a student and an employee.

Graduate study and effective service as a Graduate Assistant both require extensive commitment. For this reason, limits are placed on the amount of effort (academic credits and teaching/research/service hours) to be spent in each role. Graduate Assistants are normally appointed as half-time assistants, but some may be appointed as quarter-time assistants

Graduate Assistant Jobs

Interested students may apply for a GA appointment to the graduate department to which they have been admitted or to service units, which may be related to their major field.

Applications have deadlines, so check with your department 2-3 months prior to the beginning of the semester.

We recommend contacting the department with specific questions about availability, deadlines and other questions.

Benefits of Graduate Assistantships

• GA's are covered by Worker's Compensation.
• Half-time GA's are eligible to obtain faculty parking privileges.
• Half-time GA's may also be assigned priority for student housing, subject to its availability.
• GA's are exempt from Social Security participation and are not eligible to participate in the university retirement plans.

GA Eligibility Requirements

Several factors must be met before an appointment can be received:

• Must have received a bachelor's degree and have been granted admission to the School of Graduate Studies
• Assistants may not exceed 100% in both school and work (half-time appointment, half-time coursework)
• Students must maintain the credit load requirements defined in the appointment letter
• Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA to retain award or appointment
• A student must maintain satisfactory job performance or could be subject to removal or termination
• Students in good academic standing (i.e., a GPA of 3.00 or higher; 2.75 for Master of Engineering candidates) and who are performing their assigned duties satisfactorily are eligible for reappointment.
• Students who withdraw from or are dismissed from the School of Graduate Studies become immediately ineligible for and may not continue to hold an appointment or award.

Types of GA Positions

GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistantships)

Graduate Teaching Assistants are selected by the department in which the student is pursuing his/her major field of study and in which the teaching assistant duties are to be performed. GTA appointments are initiated by the major department chairperson and require the approval of the Dean of the college/school in which the instruction occurs and of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

GRA (Graduate Research Assistantships)

Graduate Research Assistants are selected by the faculty research supervisor with the concurrence of the student's major department chairperson. GRA appointments are initiated by the research supervisor and require the approval of the major department chairperson and the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

GSA (Graduate Service Assistantships)

Graduate Service Assistants are selected by the administrator of the service unit. GSA appointments are initiated by the service unit administrator (i.e., the School of Graduate Studies, Memorial Union, etc.) and require the approval of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

GA Appointment Hours

Graduate appointments are not to exceed 100%. For example, a 50% (half-time) graduate appointment is no more than 20 hours a week with coursework occupying the other 50%. A 1/4 (quarter-time) graduate appointment is 25% employment (about 8-10 hours a week) and 75% coursework.

Students are not allowed to work more than 20 hours a week on campus, although small exceptions (e.g., 4 hours one week for non-reoccurring projects) may be granted by obtaining permission of the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

FAQs about Graduate Assistantships