Graduate Student Assistantship Appointments (Policy 70)

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide standard definitions for types of graduate assistantships, forms of support, and terms for appointments for positions normally or frequently held by graduate students. This policy identifies the nature of the responsibilities, obligations, and/or duties concerning the emphasis on research, teaching, tutoring, and service.

1. Graduate Students: Persons who have been admitted to a graduate program at Governors State University (GovState) and who are actively pursuing graduate degrees at the master, specialist, or doctoral level. 
2. Laboratory Assistant (LA): The duties of a Laboratory Assistant are to prepare for, assist during, and clean up after laboratories and other experiential learning environments. Assistants whose primary (i.e. greater than 50%) duties consist of the following types of activities will be categorized as Laboratory Assistants:
   1. Managing material, equipment, and space in science labs, art studios, counseling labs, health and human services labs and photography and film labs
   2. Preparing chemical solutions
   3. Maintaining software in computer science labs
   4. Managing materials and equipment in art studios
   5. Managing photography or film materials and equipment
   6. Managing appointments and clients in counseling labs
   7. Working with students to ensure the proper use of materials in all laboratory settings
3. Research Assistant (RA): The duties of a Research Assistant are to apply and master research concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship. Assistants whose primary (i.e. greater than 50%) duties consist of the following types of activities will be categorized as Research Assistants: 
   1. Assisting with experiments or other research activities 
   2. Gathering, organizing, or analyzing data 
   3. Collaborating with faculty in preparing grant proposals, publications, and presentations 
   4. Collecting or synthesizing existing research 
   5. Other duties as assigned
4. Teaching Assistant (TA): The duties of a Teaching Assistant are to conduct or support instruction. Assistants whose primary (i.e. greater than 50%) duties consist of the following types of activities will be categorized as Teaching Assistants: 
   1. Teaching Classes 
      1. TAs may be assigned to teach a course as long as the course is at a degree level below the level in which the graduate student is currently enrolled. Programs may implement more stringent minimum guidelines for teaching eligibility as appropriate. 
      2. TAs must successfully complete a training session for teaching or its equivalent before being given a teaching assignment. 
      3. The instructor assigned to the course will provide supervision and mentoring.
   2. Grading student assignments 
   3. Proctoring exams 
   4. Leading lab or discussion groups in a course setting 
   5. Assisting in the development and maintenance of academic instructional materials for on-line and face to face courses
   6. Tutoring students for a course(s) or program (if less than 50% of time is devoted to this activity)
   7. Maintaining office hours to provide instructional support 
   8. Other duties as assigned
5. Tutoring Assistant (TuA): The duties of a Tutoring Assistant are to conduct or support instruction outside of the classroom or course, not as the instructor assigned to the course. Assistants whose primary (i.e. greater than 50%) duties consist of the following types of activities will be categorized as Tutoring Assistants: 
   1. One-on-one or small group tutoring sessions 
   2. Assist students with homework or assignments 
   3. Other duties as assigned 
6. Graduate Assistant (GA): Students whose position does not consist of 50% of time devoted to any of the categories above, but who perform the functions designated above may be designated as Graduate Assistant. Other possible duties include, but are not limited to: 
   1. Program outreach 
   2. Assist with program development 
   3. Assist with program assessment 
   4. Other ongoing projects as designated by the hiring unit 
   5. Other duties as assigned

The Policy

1. Scope

   This policy applies to graduate student assistantships. This policy does not apply to other University employment positions that are not included in this policy.

2. Graduate student assistants support the division/department chairperson, faculty members, and/or other professional staff members in the college or university by performing duties as defined by the type of assistantship. Assignment of graduate student assistantships will be determined by the department/division/college. In addition, each graduate student assistantship contract will spell out specific duties, as well as designate the graduate student’s supervisor.
3. Please reference Policy 59, Full-Time Status for Graduate Students for details about how full- and part-time statuses are determined for graduate students. 
4. Graduate student assistantship appointments based on the assigned duties are categorized as and defined above: 
   1. Teaching Assistant (TA) 
   2. Research Assistant (RA) 
   3. Laboratory Assistant (LA) 
   4. Tutoring Assistant (TuA) 
   5. Graduate Assistant (GA) 
5. Graduate student assistants must be masters, specialists or doctoral-level students in good standing. Graduate assistants who are continuing graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Incoming graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade point average. 
6. To be eligible for reappointment, graduate student assistants must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, continue to make satisfactory progress toward the graduate degree, and satisfactorily perform assigned duties. Reappointment is at the sole discretion of GovState, and is dependent upon factors such as performance, unit need, and availability of funding.
7. Graduate student assistants receive a monthly stipend and may apply for a tuition waiver, if eligible.  
8. No graduate student holding an assistantship shall be employed at GovState in any other capacity during the term of that assistantship. Graduate Assistants may be permitted to work outside their assistantship assignments in employment external to GovState only after notifying and obtaining approval from the academic unit’s hiring manager. Any outside employment should not interfere with either the assistantship or the student's graduate study. Formal limits on the number of hours a student may be employed when also financially supported by assistantships are strictly imposed. 
9. Graduate student assistants must maintain a minimum of six graduate credit hours per semester that apply to the completion of their degree requirements and are restricted to a maximum enrollment of 12 graduate credit hours per semester of appointment, except as approved by the respective chair and dean.
10. Graduate student assistants typically work 15-20 hours per week. The assignment of graduate assistants is determined by the respective department/division/college.
11. Graduate student Visa-holders (typically F-1 and J-1) are strictly prohibited by federal regulations from working more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session (8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i)).
12. Graduate student assistants are evaluated at the end of each term by their assigned supervisor(s).
13. Upon appointment, graduate student assistants must complete all required/relevant training (e.g., ethics, laboratory safety).