COBA Graduate Studies Office

• Facilitate your professional growth and development through supervised work experience
• Contribute to the teaching and research endeavors of the institution
• Help finance your graduate education

Am I eligible?

1. An applicant must have unqualified admission to the College of Graduate Studies under the "Regular" (not "Provisional") classification. Regular degree admission status is explained in the Graduate Catalog.
2. The graduate assistant must maintain a 3.0 grade point average (3.5 GPA Doctoral) on a 4.0 scale.
3. A graduate student holding a Graduate Assistantship appointment must be enrolled as a full-time student within his/her degree program each semester of the GA appointment.
4. If an Incomplete (I) grade is received, the graduate assistant must remove the "I" during the semester following the semester in which the "I" was recorded.
5. Assistantships are normally granted for the academic year (inclusive of Fall and Spring Semesters). However, single semester and/or summer assistantships may be available.

What are the work requirements?
Each graduate assistant is expected to work twenty (20) hours per week as designated by the assigned unit.

What are the benefits?
The stipend for a full-time graduate assistantship is determined by the department or unit awarding the assistantship. Payment is made on a biweekly schedule. The stipend is not tied to an hourly rate.

Graduate assistants MUST PAY all appropriate fees, including a reduced matriculation fee, a technology fee, a university health fee, an activity fee, RAC fees, an athletic fee and a transit fee. For the exact amount please select Fees for Graduate Assistants under the Cost and Financial Aid link.

How do I apply for an assistantship?

1. Send an application along with a copy of your resume to the College of Graduate Studies.
2. Complete the application and return it to the College of Graduate Studies
3. Inform the department head or coordinator of graduate studies in the department in which employment is sought.
4. Submit applications annually. Renewal of a previous year's contract is not automatic. Each year the student must compete with other applicants for a position. However, experience is a valuable asset.
5. March 1 is the deadline for the receipt of applications by the College of Graduate Studies to have priority consideration for employment during the upcoming Fall Semester. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early.

How do I maintain my current assistantship?

• Applications for re-appointment must be submitted annually.
• A graduate assistant choosing to resign or terminate his/her employment must submit a letter or resignation to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.