Graduate Assistantship Orientation Workshop

August 2012, Towson University

Graduate Assistantship Office Contacts

Graduate Assistantship Office Coordinator:Jennifer Scottgao@towson.edu

Graduate Assistantship Office Administrative Assistant:Cassandra Chambers410-704-4484gao@towson.edu

Graduate Assistantship Information

http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/index.asp

General Information Assistantship Application (online) Assistantship Openings Page Financial Aid Implications Graduate Assistantship Handbook External Assistantship Opportunities

http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/index.asp

Applying for an Assistantship

Graduate Assistantship Application

Graduate Assistantship Openings Page

Contact your Program Director

Independent Networking

Graduate Assistantship Application

http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/ga_app.asp Enter information in all required fields Paste resume in space provided Enter validation code Click “submit”

Note:• You must be admitted into a graduate program at TU • Submission of an application does not guarantee that an

assistantship will be granted

Graduate Assistantship Application: Part I

Graduate Assistantship Application: Part II

Graduate Assistantship Openings Page

http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/opening.asp See list of current assistantship openings Click on desired link to view job description Follow specific instructions to apply

Note:• The position does not have to be related to your field of

study• The openings listed are not necessarily the only positions

available

Graduate Assistantship Openings Page

Select link of interest to view full description

Graduate Assistantship Openings Page

Assistantship Openings: Example of Job Description

Description/Responsibilities:

Assistantship Openings: Example of Job Description, cont.

Qualifications/Instructions to apply:

Contact your Program Director

Inquire about available positions relative to your field of study via your program director:

Graduate-Assistantships Research-Assistantships Teaching-Assistantships Doctoral Research/Teaching-Assistantships

Ex. If you are enrolled in the Human Resources Development Program (HRD-M.S.)

Contact: Dr. Alan Clardy, Program Director, HRD (M.S.)aclardy@towson.edu

Independent Networking

Nearly all academic & non-academic departments on campus have at least one graduate assistant position in the works each semester

Navigate the TU net to identify departments of interest Contact one or all departments to inquire about

assistantship opportunities Be sure to have your resume up-to-date and readily

available

Hiring Procedures

Supervisors/Departments select assistantship candidates via the following methods:

GA Application Database

Response to GA Openings

Internal Selections

Hiring Procedures, cont.

Supervisors will choose one or more candidates for a formal interview process before making a decision.

Supervisors will make a selection & offer the student(s) a position

Student accepts the position

Supervisor submits a request form for assistantship position to the Graduate Assistantship Office

Confirmation of Assistantship Award

Once the position request is approved, the Graduate Assistantship Office will…

Mail assistantship award letter to the student’s address Contact the student to complete new employee paperwork via email

• I-9 form at the Office of Human Resources• Payroll Packet: W-4 form, direct-deposit form, demographic form

Note: Students may not begin working until I-9 is completed Students will not be paid until payroll packet is completed Be sure that your current mailing address & email address is accurate in

the TU PeopleSoft system)

Assistantship Stipend Award

Stipend Award will be issued to student in bi-weekly increments Stipend Amount is dependant upon position type/hours/semester

Ex. 10-hour, graduate-assistant, Fall Only 2012

Total stipend: $1,250Check payments: $125Number of pays: 10 Work schedule: 8/15/12 – 12/16/12

Complete information pertaining to assistantship stipend awards is provided in the Graduate Assistantship Handbook:

http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/files/GAHandbook.pdf

Assistantship Tuition Waiver Award

Total Tuition Waiver (per semester)

10-hour assistantship, Fall: 6 credits10-hour assistantship, Spring: 6 credits10-hour assistantship, Summer: 3 credits

20-hour assistantship, Fall: 12 credits20-hour assistantship, Spring: 12 credits20-hour assistantship, Summer: 6 credits

Note: Tuition fees are not covered by assistantship

Tuition Waiver Process

Student enrolls in graduate courses Student receives tuition e-bill from bursar’s office via email

(typically sent to students@towson.edu account or preferred email account noted in PeopleSoft

Student logs into Towson Online Services account Student selects “view e-bill” Student selects “account inquiry” Student selects “account summary” Total all fees, and costs not covered by waiver Submit payment by tuition due date listed

Note: Failure to satisfy your portion of the bill by the due date will result in a $75.00 late fee & possible cancellation of courses

If a Problem Should Occur

Who Should I Contact?

Hiring Issues: Supervisor/Department

Payment Issues: Payroll Department/GAO

Tuition Issues: Bursar’s Office/GAO

Loans: Financial Aid

SS#/I-20 Renewal (International Students): International Student & Scholar Office (ISSO)

Assistant Accountability

Clarify roles/responsibilities with supervisor Practice open communication Set learning objectives & goals Ask for and provide feedback Ask Questions for clarification Strive for a healthy balance: work, school, family Take Initiative Speak up if you have a conflict

Addressing Grievances

Defining Actions for Resolution

1. Informal Consultation, supervisor or department2. Formal Consultation, Dept. Chairperson 3. Formal Complaint, College Dean4. Formal Appeal, Dean of Graduate Studies

Improving Communication Channels

Clarifying work expectations Clarifying work habits Obtaining supervision & Feedback Assessing pitfalls that occur

Questions…

Contact Jennifer Scott at the Graduate Assistantship Office

gao@towson.edu 410-704-4484