Q. Can I, as a graduate student holding a graduate assistantship, obtain outside employment?

Q. Are there any general eligibility requirements that I must meet before receiving a graduate assistantship?

Q. Where do I go to learn about / obtain an assistantship?

Q. I am an international student, are there language or speech requirements?

Q. What benefits are associated with a Graduate Assistantship?

Q. I received a Graduate Assistantship, does that mean I automatically get a tuition waiver?

Q. How many hours per week can I work as a graduate assistant?

A. Graduate appointments are not to exceed 100%. For example, a 50% (half-time) graduate appointment is no more then 20 hours a week with coursework occupying the other 50%. A 1/4 (quarter-time) graduate appointment is 25% employment (about 8-10 hours a week) and 75% coursework. Students are not allowed to work more then 20 hours a week on campus, although small exceptions (e.g., 4 hours one week for non-reoccurring projects) may be granted by obtaining permission of the Dean of the Graduate school.

Q. Can I, as a graduate student holding a graduate assistantship, obtain outside employment?

A. Yes, BUT the Graduate School does not encourage outside employment for Graduate Assistants. Such employment may limit the ability of the student to make satisfactory progress toward one's degree.

Q. Are there any general eligibility requirements that I must meet before receiving a graduate assistantship?

A. Yes, several factors must be met before an appointment can be received:

• Must have received a bachelor's degree and have been granted admission to the Graduate School
• Only degree students in Approved and Qualified Status may hold awards, appointments or tuition waivers. Paperwork for students in provisional status will not be processed until their status is changed.
• Assistants may not exceed 100% in both school and work (half-time appointment, half-time coursework)
• Students must maintain the credit load requirements defined in the appointment letter
• Students must maintain a 3.00 GPA to retain award or appointment
• A student must maintain satisfactory job performance or could be subject to removal or termination
• Students in good academic standing (i.e., a GPA of 3.00 or higher; 2.75 for Master of Engineering candidates) and who are performing their assigned duties satisfactorily are eligible for reappointment.
• Students who withdraw from or are dismissed from the Graduate School become immediately ineligible for and may not continue to hold an appointment or award.

Q. What forms need to be completed so I can receive my paycheck?

A . Formal appointment of all GA's is by virtue of a university contract issued by the Dean of the Graduate School . The student must sign to accept the contract. If a student receives an assistantship AND a waiver BOTH must be signed for BEFORE any paperwork will be processed.

Q. Where do I go to learn about / obtain an assistantship?

A. The first place to check is your own graduate department. In addition, there are other places one can look in order to find assistantship opportunities.

• GTA (Graduate Teaching Assistantships) appointments are initiated by the major department chairperson and require the approval of the Dean of the college/school in which the instruction occurs and of the Dean of The Graduate School.
• GRA (Graduate Research Assistantships) appointments are initiated by the research supervisor and require the approval of the major department chairperson and the Dean of The Graduate School.
• GSA (Graduate Service Assistantships) appointments are initiated by the service unit administrator (i.e., Graduate School , Memorial Union, etc.) and require the approval of the Dean of The Graduate School.

Q. I am an international student, are there language or speech requirements?

A. Yes, International Graduate Assistants who are non-native speakers of English are required to take the TSE (Test of Spoken English) and achieve a score of 50 before an assistantship may be offered if either lecture or laboratory assistance is involved. Students who have taken the Internet based Toefl test and achieved a spoken score of 26/30 are eligible for assistantships. If the appointee has not taken the TSE or iBToefl, he/she must take the SPEAK test (offered at UND) and achieve a score of 50. For further information on the SPEAK test, contact the Counseling Center at (701) 777-4157.

Q. What benefits are associated with a Graduate Assistantship?

A. Benefits of Graduate assistants include:

• Health insurance provided for all US/Canadian GA's for each semester they hold a Graduate Assistant appointment.

• International students are covered under a separate plan and are required to purchase health insurance prior to attending any college or university in North Dakota . An international student GA will be reimbursed the portion of the premium equal to what is paid for a US/Canadian GA for each semester he/she holds the appointment.
• GA's are exempt from Social Security participation and are not eligible to participate in the university retirement plans.
• GA's are covered by Worker's Compensation.
• Half-time GA's are eligible to obtain faculty parking privileges
• Half-time GA's may also be assigned priority for student housing, subject to its availability.

Q. I received a Graduate Assistantship, does that mean I automatically get a tuition waiver?

A. No, Graduate Tuition Waivers may be assigned with or without a Graduate Assistantship. The amount of tuition waived will appear as a credit on the student's Campus Connection account. This is not a payment to the account but a waiver of tuition charges. Tuition Waiver eligibility is determined first by the student's academic department and second by Graduate School policy with final approval by the Graduate School Dean.