Depending upon the needs of the academic units, available funds, and the qualifications of the individual graduate student, the following types of master's and doctoral assistantships may be offered. More detailed information concerning assignments and criteria for appointment is available from the department in which the assistantship is sought.
(1) Teaching Assistantship:
A teaching assistant works with students in a specific course or laboratory to provide support for the faculty member in charge, and, in some cases, to teach the course as the primary instructor. In both cases, the teaching assistant works under the supervision of an experienced faculty member (or in some departments, a graduate committee). In consultation with the supervisor, the teaching assistant works to gain teaching skills and a better grasp of the essentials of the academic discipline.
(2) Research Assistantship:
A research assistant normally is employed by the principal investigator of a funded research project. Under other circumstances, a graduate research assistant may be employed by an academic department in the pursuit of its broader research mission. The research assistant will be assigned a range of duties, such as library searches, fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and preparation of reports, so as to gain professional skills to complement his or her graduate program. The student's work on a research project often leads to a thesis or dissertation or a professional presentation or publication, and provides long-range direction for the student's development as a scholar. The graduate research assistant will be closely supervised by a mentor.
(3) Administrative Assistantship:
An administrative assistant works with the administrative staff of a department, college, or campus office primarily in gathering, organizing, and analyzing information. The student should be given the opportunity to put his or her academic training to use while learning new professional skills and broadening the student's perspective on the operation of the university. In concert with the supervising administrator, the assistant should be improving the quality of information available to make decisions in the best interests of the institution.
To be eligible for an assistantship, an applicant must satisfy University, Graduate School, and departmental requirements. Graduate Assistantships are considered security sensitive positions by the University and criminal histories will be checked. The Graduate School requires the individual to have clear or provisional admission to a graduate program and must complete a minimum of nine credit hours in the fall or spring semester and three semester credit hours in a summer session.
Students admitted on probation or as post-baccalaureate students are not eligible for an assistantship. Unless enrolled in the Master of Professional Accountancy (MPAC) program, an Overlap Program student is not eligible for a graduate assistantship. Inquiries about applications for assistantships and departmental requirements should be addressed to the chair of the department in which the applicant wishes to undertake graduate study. Deadlines for applications vary by department but generally completed applications should be filed with the departments no later than March 1 for the succeeding academic year, and no later than October 1 for the spring semester. If students wish to apply for an assistantship after these dates, they should contact the appropriate department.
Stipends for master's and doctoral assistantships will be set by the president of the University after consultation with the University Graduate Council, the associate vice president for graduate studies and research and the vice president for academic affairs.
Graduate assistants are required to pay full tuition and fees. Non-resident graduate assistants employed at least 20 hours a week in positions related to their degree programs are entitled to Texas resident tuition rates. Non-resident or international students holding less than full assistantships (full = 50% employment, or 20 hours employment per week) are not eligible for Texas resident rates.
A graduate assistant is expected to make steady progress toward the degree while employed in a position complementary to that goal. The course load and assistantship responsibility thus should form a totality that facilitates progress rather than hinders it. Graduate assistantship appointments are normally made for an academic year, so that both the student and the department can plan effectively. However, in some cases, appointments can be made for a single semester or summer session. Except for the doctoral and MFA programs, graduate assistantships are limited to four semesters. Doctoral assistants are usually appointed on a 12-month renewable contract. A graduate assistant assigned at 50% FTE (50% FTE = full graduate assistantship) is expected to teach or assist in teaching six hours or serve 20 clock hours per week in the department to which they are assigned. Those assigned at other percentages are expected to work a proportionate number of clock hours per week.
The summer teaching load is three hours per term. Graduate teaching assistants who have primary responsibility for teaching a course for credit and/or for assigning final grades for such a course must 1) be under the direct supervision of a faculty member experienced in the teaching field, receive regular in-service training and be regularly evaluated, and 2) have earned at least 18 graduate semester hours in their teaching discipline. To aid in the completion of degree requirements at the earliest practical date, graduate assistants are not to undertake additional responsibilities beyond the 20 hours per week.
Applicants for assistantships should secure an application form from the appropriate academic department or on this Web site (Graduate Assistantship Application). Along with a completed application form, the student must submit a letter of application and some departments require three letters of recommendation. When the student is approved for an assistantship by the department chair, the chair will initiate a "Personnel Action Request" (PAR). If the student accepts the assistantship, he or she must contact the Office of Human Resources to set up an appointment for a mandatory new employee orientation and complete the paperwork.
A graduate assistant orientation program is offered to all new graduate assistants prior to the beginning of classes in the Fall semester each year. Graduate assistants should contact the academic departments for the time and place of the orientation session. In addition, each department is charged with the responsibility of providing its graduate assistants with an appropriate orientation to the department, faculty, staff, office space, laboratories, resources, etc. Likewise, graduate assistants must be given appropriate orientation and training on their roles and expectations of them in the department.
The department chair is responsible for the selection, training, assignment of duties, and supervision of the graduate assistants in his or her department. A fundamental responsibility of the graduate assistant is to work closely with the faculty supervisor in carrying out assigned duties, at the same time making good progress toward the completion of the degree program. Whether working in a laboratory, classroom, office, or other setting, the graduate assistant is obligated to maintain standards of academic honesty and integrity and to report violations of these to the faculty supervisor. The graduate assistant should keep well informed of departmental, college, and university regulations and follow them consistently. If problems arise in the work assignment, the graduate assistant should seek help first from the faculty supervisor.
Graduate assistants should be assigned space and equipment sufficient to carry out their assignments effectively. Normally they will be assigned a desk and chair, file space, a mailbox, and office and laboratory supplies. They should also have access to a computer, duplicating equipment, and a telephone. Graduate teaching assistants should be provided copies of textbooks related to the course with which they are assisting. Research assistants will need copies of all materials related to their responsibilities, as well as access to equipment they would not normally be expected to purchase in pursuit of their own graduate programs. Graduate assistants should be notified in writing of all decisions that affect their status as assistants. This includes advance notification of evaluation procedures and a summary of the evaluation. The graduate assistant should receive sufficient advance notice of reappointment procedures and decisions to make his or her plans for the following semester or year.
A graduate assistant has the right to initiate any grievance or to appeal a decision through the channels specified in the Student Handbook. The student should first inform the academic advisor of the problem and, if necessary, appeal to the department chair or program director. If the matter cannot be resolved, the formal grievance procedure should be followed.
A graduate assistant is expected to make steady progress toward the degree while serving in an employment role complementary to that goal. Therefore a graduate assistant must be enrolled for at least nine hours of graduate course work in the fall or spring semester and three semester hours in a summer session. Doctoral assistants are allowed to take a minimum of six hours in the fall, and spring. Should a graduate assistant fall below the nine or three hour minimum for a semester or summer session, he or she will not be eligible for an assistantship the following semester. In addition, a graduate assistant must maintain at least a 3.0 graduate grade point average to continue to serve as a graduate assistant. A graduate student on scholastic probation may not hold a graduate assistantship.
Since the awarding of assistantships is considered a staffing function of the department making such appointment, evaluation is a normal and necessary process which will be conducted at least annually by the faculty supervisor. Individuals holding teaching assistantships will be evaluated at the end of each semester by the department chair or the faculty supervisor. Graduate assistants who are also teachers of record must be evaluated by their students. The evaluation process should focus on job performance and be designed to help the assistant identify strengths and weaknesses, and to plan for improvement. The department chair may initiate appropriate corrective action at any time during the semester. In case of termination, the graduate assistant shall have the right to appeal through normal administrative channels. Priority for reappointment will be given to those graduate assistants making good progress toward completion of the degree and performing well in their assistantship duties.
The criteria for reappointment include, but are not limited to: (1) a minimum overall GPA of at least 3.0 for the current year and overall, (2) recommendation of the faculty supervisor and/or department chair, (3) formal evaluation of the graduate assistant's job performance, (4) length of time on assistantship, and (5) length of time in the degree program. Final decisions will be based on departmental needs, financial resources, and the welfare of the graduate program.
