Graduate Assistantships  

The College of Business and Economics makes available a limited number of Graduate Assistantships for qualified applicants.  To qualify for a Graduate Assistantship, the student should have achieved an excellent academic record and completed substantial coursework in the major field involved in the appointment. The student must be admitted as a degree-seeking student in accordance with the admission policies and procedures of the Graduate College. A minimum of a 3.0 GPA must be maintained for the duration of the appointment.  A graduate student may apply for an assistantship as part of the admission application or continuing students may fill out the required application form.

The target dates for submitting an assistantship application are as follows: 

• Fall           March 1   

• Spring       October 1

• Summer    February 1

All GA's must take a minimum of nine credit hours of graduate coursework in the fall and spring terms and six credit hours in the summer term.  An exception to the nine credit hour requirement may be granted in the semester which the GA will graduate.  In order to qualify for this exception, students must be registered for at least six credit hours and submit a Nine Credit Hour Exception Form to the Graduate College.

Students receiving Assistantships may not engage in any additional employment without filing a written Request for Outside Employment form with the Dean of the College of Graduate and Extended Education. This request will either be approved or disapproved based on the Dean's assessment of individual circumstances. The total number of hours worked in a week cannot exceed contracted hours. Failure to abide by this policy can result in the immediate termination of the assistantship.

It is also expected that every GA complete a mandatory online orientation each fall.  The online orientation module should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete.  You will receive a certificate of completion within 2 weeks of completing the module. 

The duties assigned to GA's by each department or program are determined entirely by that unit, provided they are consistent with the intent of these assistantships and with the SACS rules governing them. These duties may vary widely, but generally include the following types of work:

• Administrative assistance

• Bibliographic research and record-keeping

• Undergraduate advising

• Paper grading

GA's enjoy all the rights and privileges of other graduate students. Additional privileges and benefits will necessarily vary within different departments and programs. GA's are covered by the University's liability insurance and by Worker's Compensation. Student medical coverage for GA's and their families is available at an additional cost to the student through the Dean of Students Office.

Federal and state taxes will be withheld based on the information provided on the W-4 and VA-4 tax withholding forms. These forms are to be submitted to the Payroll office in Walker Hall. Returning employees should file new tax withholding forms if they have been off the payroll for more than 18 months, have had a change in family status, or otherwise need to change the tax withholding status.

All paychecks are distributed from the Cashier's Office in Walker Hall from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. GA's are paid four times a semester with pay dates posted on the Payroll Office website.

Click here to  view additional information on graduate assistantships and eligibility requirements.