The term “Graduate Assistantship” applies to a wide variety of awards that are made to qualified graduate students in return for the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities. Graduate assistantships may be granted to research assistants, residential assistants, and teaching assistants. This term does not include fellowships or scholarships, that is, those awards that do not require a work-related service on the part of the student. It is important that work responsibilities associated with graduate assistantships do not negatively impact the student’s primary responsibilities. These responsibilities should, where possible, bear a meaningful relationship to the student’s course of study.
Offers of assistantships and fellowships are made contingent upon the applicant’s acceptance as a regular graduate student by the Graduate College. All students applying for aid are required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Application. Awards may include partial or full tuition coverage. Students cannot be obligated for more than 20 hours of work per week while school is in session for these assistantships.
Some guidelines concerning the awarding of graduate assistantships are presented below.
Eligibility
Students must complete all Graduate College admission requirements in the period specified in the current Graduate Catalog or in the acceptance letter. Students must be enrolled in a degree program and in good standing at Hampton University (3.0 cumulative GPA or higher on 4.0 scale). In general, students may not hold more than one graduate assistantship at one time. Multiple awards are appropriate if the awards include graduate fellowships that do not require a work obligation on the part of the student. For example, it would be permissible to have one award cover tuition and fees and another provide stipend support. Graduate students must satisfactorily perform the duties assigned by their supervisors. Students cannot be paid for completing work associated with courses for which they receive academic credit. In cases where they are paid to work on projects related to academic requirements, the work responsibilities must reflect time and effort beyond that required for credit.
Duties
The graduate assistant will perform (in some cases) research and related duties assigned by his or her supervisor. Graduate assistantships require an average of 20 hours of work per week.
Students cannot be paid for more than 20 hours per week.
Appointment
All awards to graduate students must be approved by the Director of Financial Aid. Required forms at present include the Student Aid Form (from the Office of Grants Management), and the Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9), a federal form that must be completed annually by the student and can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office, and monthly time sheets (the first one is generated by the Financial Aid Office and subsequent ones by the payroll department). Changes in conditions of employment must be cleared through the Financial Aid Office.
Reappointment
Reappointment to a graduate assistantship is subject to the availability of funds as well as to the student’s acceptable work performance and maintenance of the academic standards of Hampton University. The duration of the assistantship should not exceed the usual length of time needed to complete the degree program.
Payment
Graduate assistants are paid once each month (generally the 15th of the month following the period worked) through the payroll department after timesheets are completed, signed (by both student and supervisor/principal investigator) and submitted in a timely manner. In some cases, graduate assistants may be eligible for remission of tuition (80%) for the first 9 credit hours only.