Frequently Asked Questions
General
Q: How do I apply for a position?
A: You should complete the Graduate Assistantship Employment Application and submit it to the supervisor responsible for overseeing the position. Please submit your resume with the application.
Q: Can I apply for a graduate assistant position as a 3+3 student?
A: No. Even though you are enrolled in graduate-level classes, you are still considered an undergraduate student since you have not earned your bachelor’s degree. Even though you are paying graduate tuition in your last year of your undergraduate studies and your first year of graduate studies, you are saving a year’s worth of tuition! You are eligible to apply for a position, once you complete your undergraduate degree.
Q: How long can I have a graduate assistantship position?
A: Graduate Assistantships may be awarded for up to two years maximum (FOUR academic semesters, fall and spring ONLY). This includes any and all prior graduate assistantship appointments during the student's graduate studies at Slippery Rock University. In addition, students are eligible to complete a maximum of one graduate degree utilizing under a graduate position.
Q: If I have a current graduate assistantship position, how long am I guaranteed a position?
A: There are no guarantees! Some graduate assistantship contracts are issued for the fall and spring semesters (academic year). Some graduate assistantship positions are fall or spring semesters ONLY. With approval, your supervisor has the ability to extend your contract for a second year, provided you have not reached the FOUR maximum number of semesters for a graduate assistantship position.
Q: What doesn’t a graduate assistantship cover financially?
A: Graduate assistants are required to pay tuition for credit hours exceeding their award and all fees each semester. GA positions do not cover housing, books, and other living expenses, etc.
Q: How many positions may I apply for?
A: There is not a limit on the number of GA positions that you may apply for each semester. We recommend applying for multiple positions. GA awards are competitive!
Q: When are new positions posted?
A: Positions for the new academic year, usually post in mid- to late February. Summer positions are posted in mid-March. You may view the full list of current positions on the graduate webpage, under “Assistantships”.
Q: Do I have to take all graduate level coursework to fulfill the GA course requirements?
A: Yes, only graduate coursework will fulfill the GA requirements. Undergraduate coursework does not count toward the required credit hours.
Q: Does SRU offer Winter graduate assistantship positions?
A: No, SRU does not offer winter graduate assistantship positions. The winter term is short and campus offices are closed during most of the break.
Work Hours
Q: How should I document my work time?
A: Graduate assistants must enter their hours worked in e-Time, in order to receive a pay check. This should be done each day that you work. You not only must enter your hours worked but you must electronically sign your entries. Your supervisor must also sign your entries to document their approval. Please remember that your work time is paid through the stipend. Your stipend (aka bi-weekly pay check) is directly connected to your tuition waiver. If your hours do not meet the required work time for your assistantship, you will receive a tuition bill.
Q: What if I am scheduled to work and I call off?
A: If you call off work, you must make-up the hours. A general rule of thumb, if you are a full-time GA you should be working 17.5 hours per week. This is based on a 15-week semester. If you miss work hours, you must make-up the work hours. Please note that spring break is NOT included in the 15-week per semester.
Q: Do I have to work on finals week?
A: Yes, finals week is part of the 15-week per semester. We value you and your education! Students should be communicating with their supervisors to work out the best schedule for success, during finals week!
Q: How many graduate credits must I take and complete each semester to satisfy my graduate assistantship requirements?
A: Please review the chart below. Students are receiving the tuition waiver based on the amount of credit hours they are required to take for a full-time, three-quarter time, half-time, and one quarter-time position.
|
Assistantship Awarded
|
Stipend Awarded
|
Hours of Work per Week Required
|
Total Contract Work
|
Number of graduate credits student must take per semester
|
|
Full-Time
|
$2,000
|
17.5
|
262.5
|
9
|
|
Three-Quarter Time
|
$1,500
|
13.5
|
202.5
|
8
|
|
Half-Time
|
$1,000
|
8.75
|
131.25
|
6
|
|
One Quarter-Time
|
$500
|
4.5
|
67.5
|
3
|
Q: When do I receive payment for my work hours?
A: Students are paid every two weeks, if their time has been entered and approved in e-Time.
Graduate Contract
Q: I just received my graduate assistantship offer. When will I receive my contract?
A: You will receive a contract as soon as your supervisor submits the Graduate Assistantship Appointment Request Form to Graduate Admissions.
Q: How will I receive my graduate assistantship contract?
A: Once you are selected/hired, your supervisor must complete the Graduate Assistant Appointment Request Form. Once Graduate Admissions receives the form, your contract is created and sent electronically to the email address that you provided on your application for admission. You must print, read, sign, and email/scan the contract to Graduate Admissions at graduate.admissions@sru.edu.
Q: What happens once I submit my graduate assistant contract to Graduate Admissions?
A: Once Graduate Admissions receives your GA contract, we inform Student Accounts, Payroll, and Financial Aid. Student Accounts will apply your tuition waiver to your student account. Financial Aid will factor your award into your aid, if necessary. Payroll will await your clearance paperwork from you.
Q: I submitted my contract to Graduate Admissions, but I do not see my tuition.
A: Please contact Student Accounts at 724.738.2088.
Q: Once I have submitted my graduate assistant contract, what is the next step?
A: You need to complete Payroll paperwork such as clearances, direct deposit info., etc. Please go to the Payroll webpage for more information.
Q: What if I do not work all of my hours during a week or the semester?
A: If you do not work all of your hours during a given week, you can make those up hours in subsequent weeks as long as the total hours worked during a given week does not exceed 20 hours. Once the last day of finals comes in the given semester, any hours not worked will be documented and you will be billed for the tuition costs.
Q: Can I work more hours each week than contracted?
A: If you are making up hours from a prior week you can work more than your contracted weekly hours as long as it does not exceed 20 hours in a given week. Hours worked over the contracted total hours each semester need to be entered separately in e-Time and will be paid through student wage funds rather than graduate assistant funds. This all requires approval from your supervisor.
