Graduate Assistant Policy
The University of Jamestown graduate assistantship program provide students with education and training opportunities that align with the educational mission of their degree program. The appointment as a Graduate Assistant contributes to the graduate student’s principal objective, which is to develop academically and earn a degree, while also providing financial support to assist in the completion of the academic program.
Graduate assistants are typically full-time graduate students who participate in teaching, research, or administrative activities in exchange for financial support. Graduate assistantships are awarded to graduate students who, based on their credentials, are deemed likely to be highly successful as students.
Graduate students attend the University of Jamestown for the benefits that come because of the educational opportunities we provide in our programs. Graduate assistantships augment those education experiences and provide financial support to help our students focus on their educational goals. Graduate assistantships may be awarded outside of the student's home program. These assistantships require the continued approval of the graduate program director of the student’s program, the student’s adviser, or the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Assistantship appointments may vary in length and are contingent upon the availability of funding. Some assistantships are granted for one academic term or year with reappointment dependent upon performance review. Other assistantships are for multiple years with annual performance reviews. A general guideline for maximum time allowed is two years for master's students. Additional time may be approved on a case-by-case basis if the work being accomplished by the student warrants such action.
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If a graduate assistant leaves their role at the University of Jamestown prior to their two-season or two-year commitment and choses to continue their studies, they will pay the remainder of the tuition cost.
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If a graduate assistant completes their two-season or two-year commitment and has remaining credits, they may finish out their credits with full tuition remission unless the remaining credits are for courses that are being retaken.
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If a graduate assistant must retake a course due to academic unsatisfactory performance, they are responsible for the cost of tuition.
• If a Graduate Assistantship is terminated, or the student resigns prior to the withdrawal date, the student is responsible for the prorated full tuition rates for the current term. Full tuition rates shall be assessed in all subsequent terms in which the student is not awarded a Graduate Assistantship.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT ELIGIBILITY
Students must be registered for credit each term they receive an assistantship and must be in good academic standing and maintaining satisfactory progress toward their degree. In addition, international students must maintain the appropriate residency status.
Recommendations for assistantships are made to the Dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and are subject to the dean's approval. Before any assistantship can be awarded, students must be admitted into the academic program of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies as a degree-seeking student. Students placed on Academic Warning may retain their assistantship. Students placed on Probation may no longer receive an assistantship.
Students offered a graduate assistantship must pass a criminal background check.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT EXPECTATIONS
Students receiving a graduate assistantship are expected to maintain good academic standing and satisfactory progress toward their degrees. Graduate Assistants must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Please refer to the College of Graduate and Professional Studies catalog for more information.
Students receiving a graduate assistantship are expected to complete required trainings annually (e.g., Safety Training, Sexual Harassment Prevention Training, Title IX Training). Failure to complete training can lead to sanctions, including revocation of the tuition waiver and termination of the assistantship.
Students receiving a graduate assistantship are expected to fulfill their responsibilities adhering to the professional and academic expectations of their discipline and in compliance with University of Jamestown policies. Violations of these policies and expectations may result in sanctions, including loss of the assistantship and/or termination from the College of Graduate and Professional Studies.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR/SUPERVISOR EXPECTATIONS
Graduate programs may have specific requirements for eligibility. The College of Graduate and Professional Studies requires that a contract be provided to all graduate assistants. This document should specify expectations for the assistantship, including number of service hours, stipend amount, activities, etc. Programs/assistantship supervisors must provide periodic oral and written assessment and feedback regarding a graduate assistant’s performance. This feedback should document areas where improvement is needed, and graduate assistants should be given adequate time to improve in those areas. Feedback should be provided annually at a minimum.
The responsibilities associated with a graduate assistantship may be variable in nature. Activities that are relevant to each student's program of study and contribute to the university's teaching, research/creative activity, or service efforts must be incorporated. The hour commitment defined by an assistantship may be averaged across a given time period. Supervisors must also remain sensitive to the academic demands faced by graduate students.
GRADUATE ASSISTANT TUITION BENEFIT
Students awarded graduate assistantships receive tuition waivers covering up to 6 graduate credits per term at the base tuition rate for regular University of Jamestown graduate courses.
Students are responsible for:
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Any differential tuition
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All student fees
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Tuition for non-graduate credits, including undergraduate courses
Room and board waivers may also be available, depending on the specific assistantship position.
Students eligible for a graduate assistantship waiver may not also receive other tuition waivers. If a student is eligible for more than one waiver, then the waiver which results in the highest tuition to be waived will be applied.
Graduate assistantship stipends vary by discipline. Graduate Assistants cannot receive compensation greater than the value of a full grant-in-aid for a full-time student. The US Department of Labor defines the Graduate Assistant role as one that is primarily an educational relationship and not an employment relationship with the school or with a grantor. An employment relationship will generally exist when a student receives compensation and his or her duties are not part of an overall education program.