Graduate Assistantships

The monthly stipend rate is set by the hiring department or unit. Pay rates may vary by student experience, funding source, discipline and responsibilities specific to the appointment.

Each semester will consist of five pay blocks for both the monthly (annual) and the semester-by-semester graduate assistantships.

Pay Block                         Pay Dates

Annual                                     Last Business Day of Each month

Fall                                          August, September, October, November and December

Spring                                      January, February, March, April and May

Summer                                   June and July

Graduate assistants whose payment information is not processed in time for the monthly pay cycle will be paid on the next available payroll.

Assistantships provide graduate and professional students with training and valuable professional experience in higher education work environments. All graduate assistants are classified as exempt from the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Exempt work is paid on a salaried basis regardless of the specific number of hours worked in a given week. Graduate assistants perform work at the professional level, utilizing content knowledge that requires at least a bachelor’s degree, and as a result are paid as exempt professionals.

Students must be active, degree-seeking, in good disciplinary and academic standing (minimum 3.0 grade point average) and have the permission of their degree program to hold an assistantship. In addition, they cannot exceed their program’s limitation on the number of hours to be worked. Students must be eligible to work in the United States and cannot exceed any hourly limitations placed on them by a visa. All graduate assistants must meet the university’s required minimum enrollment to receive the graduate assistant tuition waiver for students with assistantships (see Graduate Assistant Policy, Section 10). All graduate assistants must receive training appropriate to their position, including in such areas as FERPA and Title IX.

A graduate student may be appointed as a graduate assistant on a semester-by-semester basis, academic-year basis or on a month-to-month basis (annual). A semester-by-semester appointment begins on the first day of classes and ends on the last day of exams.

Graduate assistants who are employed on a month-to-month (annual) basis can begin work on any business day during the month. If a student is appointed on any day other than the first working day of the month, the monthly stipend amount may be prorated.

Students generally may hold the equivalent of up to 50 percent FTE (approximately 20 hours per week on average). With the written approval of the student’s dean, a student (except foreign national students) may be permitted to hold more than a 50 percent FTE. If a student consistently works at more than 50 percent FTE (i.e., more than 1,300 hours per year), they could be considered a benefits-eligible employee, and the department could be obligated to pay retroactive benefits.

Yes. When graduate assistants work at another USG institution, a Dual Appointment Agreement must be in place. Thus, new graduate assistants working at another USG institution must disclose that appointment when completing the graduate assistant hire paperwork. Continuing graduate assistants who initiate employment (e.g., part-time instructor) at another USG institution must contact The Graduate School to initiate the Dual Appointment Agreement. Graduate assistants are advised to consult with their advisor and/or program director regarding the appropriateness of dual appointments, and the total effort across all institutions should not exceed 100 percent.

Typically, graduate assistant hours cannot exceed more than 20 hours per week on average. Each semester a student can work no more than 2.5 appointments.

Yes. All compensation paid is subject to local, state and federal taxes.

Assistantships may come with a full- or partial- (50 percent) tuition waiver.

All but $37.50 is covered by a full-tuition waiver. Additionally, students receiving tuition waivers must still pay university fees. If you are in a program with differential tuition, the waiver does not cover the differential portion of the tuition cost. You will be responsible for covering this portion.

Yes. Even with a tuition waiver, students must pay all mandatory fees.

To be eligible for a full-tuition waiver, a student must:

Register for at least 12 credit hours each for fall and spring semesters and nine credit hours for summer and receive a stipend of at least $2,000 each for fall and spring semesters, $1,000 for summer or $5,000 per calendar year.

To be eligible for a partial (50 percent) tuition waiver, a student must:

Register for at least six credit hours each for fall and spring semesters and three credit hours for summer and receive a stipend of at least $1,000 per fall and/or spring semester and $500 for summer.

To be eligible for a full- or partial- (50 percent) tuition waiver, a student must have an appointment total of at least eight hours per week (20 percent FTE) and the work must contribute to the university’s mission.

Graduate assistants do not earn sick or vacation hours. Consult with your department/college/office concerning their policies.

Yes. Some graduate assistants are expected to work during breaks from classes, such as during spring break or exam weeks. Graduate assistants should check with their supervisors regarding these expectations.

Yes. Graduate assistants are required to maintain a health insurance policy that is compliant with the Affordable Care Act.

Yes. Graduate assistants are automatically charged for the Student Health Insurance Policy (SHIP) but can use an existing or newly purchased policy to waive out of the SHIP plan.

SHIP resources and forms can be found here.

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

Graduate research assistants are graduate students conducting academically significant research under the direction of a faculty member who may be a regular faculty member or a principal investigator on an external grant or contract. Any student accepted into a graduate degree program may be appointed, depending on credentials, such as (1) grade point averages in previous coursework or in the degree program, (2) previous experience and (3) the nature of the work for which the assistantship is funded.

Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA)

Graduate administrative assistants are graduate students who provide academic and program support. GAA responsibilities are administrative in nature and consist of duties unrelated directly to teaching or research. Any student accepted into a graduate degree program may be appointed as a GAA. 

Graduate Computing Assistant (GCA)

Graduate computing assistants are graduate students who provide computer and technology support for academic units, programs and labs. Any student accepted into a graduate degree program may be appointed, depending on required credentials such as (1) grade point averages in previous coursework or in the degree program, (2) previous experience and (3) the nature of the work for which the assistantship is funded.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Level A (GTAA)

Graduate students holding GTAA appointments do not have a primary responsibility for a course, but may serve as discussion leaders in breakout sections, grade papers or assist the primary instructor of a course in other ways. GTAAs may also engage in a range of other instructional activities that are not tied to a specific course (e.g., proctoring for multiple courses, tutoring or advising). The dean, department chair or division director shall determine that the credentials of a student qualify the individual to undertake the work assignment.

Graduate Teaching Assistant, Level B (GTAB)

Students appointed as a GTA Level B must have a baccalaureate degree, be enrolled in a graduate program and have completed more than 18 hours of graduate course credit in the appropriate discipline. GTABs require approval by the university provost and chief academic officer, as the university president’s designee, prior to assignment as the instructor of record for a course. The dean, department chair or division director shall determine that the credentials of a student qualify the individual to undertake the work assignment. GTABs must be under the general supervision of regular faculty members and there must be a mentoring process in the department or division to assist them in their teaching activities. Non-native speakers of English appointed as GTABs must demonstrate English language proficiency.

Graduate assistants also include combined roles, such as graduate teaching and research assistants.

Graduate students may be eligible for other funding such as scholarships, fellowships, loans and on-campus employment.