Graduate Assistantships 10.5-1

Introduction/Purpose:

SVSU offers a limited number of assistantships to actively enrolled and academically qualified graduate students. The graduate assistantship program is designed to:

1. recruit students to SVSU graduate programs;
2. complement the classroom learning of graduate students by providing supervised experience in professional roles;
3. serve as a source of income for well-qualified graduate students, and;
4. fulfill high-priority needs of University units for skilled assistants

Policy:

SVSU Graduate Assistantships have the following titles:

• Graduate Assistant
• Graduate Research Assistant
• Graduate Writing Fellow

Graduate students are eligible for regular student employee appointments separately from this policy.

Working Hours

Graduate Assistantships must be employed for a minimum of 10 hours per week.  Fall and winter semester employment must not exceed 20 hours per week. Graduate Assistants may be employed up to but not exceed 40 hours per week during the Spring/Summer semesters.

The term date of each appointment are:

Appointment Limitations

The maximum appointment period for an individual Graduate Student Assistantship student is four Fall/Winter academic semesters or two calendar years from the appointment start date, whichever is greater.  Supervision of Graduate Assistants must be performed by faculty or administrative professionals.

Enrollment Requirements

Graduate Assistants must be registered for SVSU courses during each term of employment and must be registered as full-time students during the Fall and Winter semesters.  Spring and Summer term enrollment is not required.  Less than full-time enrollment is allowed in the final semester for completion.

Procedure:

Position Funding

Funds for employment must be paid from regular student employment departmental budgets or with discretionary or grant funds.

Graduate Assistantships may be paid as part of the University’s matching funds for grant applications with approval from the Provost & Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.

Tuition and Fees

Graduate Assistantships are eligible for a full tuition/fee waiver up to 12 credit hours per semester, paid by the SVSU central budget.  All tuition/fee waivers will be reportable as taxable income per IRS regulations.

Eligibility for Financial Aid

Graduate Assistantships requiring financial assistance in addition to their Graduate Assistant pay in order to complete their graduate programs may apply for financial aid. Their needs will be considered using the same criteria applied to other students.

Academic Standing

All Graduate Assistantship students must remain in good academic standing.  Students placed on academic probation will be terminated from their positions.

Policy Exceptions

The Provost & Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs is authorized to approve exceptions to this policy.

Related Policies & Forms:

SVSU Graduate Student Assistantship Handbook*
SVSU Graduate Assistant Appointment Procedures*
*DOCUMENTS FORTHCOMING -- Both MUST be followed for employment purposes