For Current Graduate Assistants

Handbook for GAs with Instructional Support Responsibilities (PDF)

Graduate Assistant contract stipulates the assistantship term is from September 1 to June 30. As such, the stipend is distributed into equal paychecks over the full 10 month period. If a GA resigns from an assistantship position during the semester, the pay will end on the effective resignation date. All GA benefits end on the resignation date.

Social Security and withholding for state and federal taxes will be deducted for this stipend. Graduate Assistants will be paid bi-weekly from September through June. Students should contact he Office of Payroll, College Hall Room 314, to set up the method for receiving the stipend payments. Graduate Assistants may pick up the stipend check in the payroll office (CO 314) or request direct deposit.

Dropping Courses

If a graduate assistant drops a course or courses after 100% withdrawal deadline, it will still count toward the 24 credit maximum under the assistantship tuition remission. Prorated tuition costs may apply for those graduate assistants that drop after the 100% withdraw deadline.

Course Overload

Graduate Assistants are not permitted to take more than twelve (12) credit hours without filing a course overload form. Under no circumstances will a Graduate Assistant's course load application be approved for more than fifteen (15) credit hours per semester. Please note: The tuition remission for graduate assistants will cover a maximum of 12 credits per semester (total of 24 for the academic year).

Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is required by law to consider the estimated value of the academic year tuition and fee remission when determining eligibility for financial aid, including student loans.  If you are accepting a Graduate Assistantship and have taken student loans, you must see the Office of Financial Aid (CO 208) to determine how your loans will be affected by the assistantship.