The graduate assistantship program is administered by the Graduate School to provide financial support, academic training and work experience to graduate students. Appointments for assistantships are made by departments/schools for not more than four enrollment periods, based on the recommendation and approval of the Graduate School
Departmental G.A.'s are hired by the department/school/program. These awards provide experimental learning opportunities, involvement in ongoing faculty research, instructional activities and/or administrative work. The Graduate School is notified of the department's G.A. selection and handles the subsequent paperwork.
Who is Eligible to Become a Graduate Assistant
The graduate assistant applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university or recognized international institution of higher education
The graduate student must be currently admitted to a graduate program of study or a graduate certificate program and demonstrate the skills required by the hiring academic or administrative department
The graduate student applicant CANNOT BE admitted as a non-degree, condition 4 or continuing education student. Some visa holders (including H-1 and H-4) may not be employed. Teaching certification students may not receive a graduate assistantship
To Keep a Graduate Assistant Position
Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
Be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours if appointed fall and winter semesters, and 1 credit for the spring and summer semesters
Make progress toward completing a graduate program of study filed with the Office of Records and Registration, without an excessive number of incompletes or course withdrawals.
Benefits of being a Graduate Assistant
Paid tuition for up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year for a full time award (differs for half time award)
Paid registration, general, student union and technology fees
Paid parking permit for student lots
Stipends/income paid bi-weekly by the hiring department/school.
Priority registration
Library privileges
Discount at the bookstore in the Student Center
Disadvantages to being a Graduate Assistant
Reduction in eligibility for student loans and some scholarships or fellowships
Additional responsibility to the university which may take away from study time
Deadlines There are no official deadlines for becoming a Graduate Assistant, as openings are available until filled. Most positions are filled for fall/winter with February 15 applications. Check with your academic department/school or program regarding any deadlines they may have.
How to Apply - see PDF download (upper right) for full explanation of the process. Note: some departments will hire their own graduate students (majors) with an internal process. Contact them directly.
To complete a general application, follow the instructions below:
On the left hand side of the page, click Applicant Tutorial in either PDF or PPT (Power Point) format,
The applicant tutorial will take you through the application process step by step in great detail,
Please allow at least 30 minutes to work through the instructions and to fill out the application form.
How to Look for Available G.A. Positions
Once you have completed your application, you will be able to look for available G.A. positions. You will need to apply for each individual assistantship. Setting up a general application is only the first step in this process. You will still need to find assistantships that match your skill set and apply for those positions. Most positions require a resume and cover letter, so it's a good idea to keep a current copy available.
On the EMU Jobs website (www.emujobs.com) there are three green buttons in the lower area of the screen. You will want to click on the one that says View/Apply for Graduate Assistantships/Doctoral Fellowships. This link will take you to available graduate assistantship positions where you will post your application and upload attachments, such as a resume, cover letter, letters of recommendation, or other required materials.
From this point, hiring departments/schools will be able to review their candidates' materials and begin interviews. Should you be accepted to be a graduate assistant, you will receive an offer letter from the hiring department/school. To learn about what happens next, please refer to the document on our website - What happens if you are offered a graduate assistantship. (link).
Work-study Assistantships
Work-study assistantships are need-based assistantships that are federally funded through the financial aid process and offered on a very limited basis. Positions are made available to departments/schools on a rotational basis. Departments find qualified G.A.'s through the above-described process (emujobs.com) and then are further deemed qualified in coordination with the Graduate School and the Office of Financial Aid.
Most federal and state financial aid is awarded on the basis of need. To apply for financial aid, students must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The FAFSA collects information about family income, assets and the number of family members attending college at least half-time. This information is used to determine the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Need is defined as the difference between the cost of education and the EFC. To be eligible for financial aid consideration, applicants must:
Be accepted by the Graduate School as a graduate degree-admitted or a conditionally admitted student. Note: if admitted with Condition 2, senior admit, the student is eligible for undergraduate aid amounts for one semester and may need to submit parent information on the FAFSA. Students admitted with Condition 4, low GPA, qualify for 12 consecutive months of undergraduate aid amounts and may need to submit parent information on the FAFSA.
Be enrolled at least part-time, four credits for degree-admitted, six credits for Condition 2 and Condition 4 admits.
Be a U. S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (see the FAFSA for definition)
Make Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward the completion of a defined course of study (see below)
Not be in default on a Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan or Graduate Plus Loan.
Not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, or other Federal Title IV aid
By completing the FAFSA, graduate students are applying for the following:
Stafford Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized): The Subsidized Stafford Loan is need-based and is interest-free prior to repayment. Students may borrow up to $8, 500 per academic year. Unsubsidized Stafford Loans are available to eligible students, regardless of need, with an annual borrowing limit of up to $20, 500 (minus Subsidized Loan); interest begins at the time of disbursement. Stafford Loan amounts are determined based on the cost of attendance minus other aid such as fellowships, scholarships and Graduate Assistantships.
File Review
By federal regulation, some student aid applicant files must be reviewed for accuracy of financial information reported. If selected for file review, the Office of Financial Aid will request additional documentation including, but not limited to, most recent federal income tax return (1040), W-2 and a Verification Worksheet that requests information such as child support paid or received, social security benefits and income credits. All documents must be received and reviewed by financial aid staff prior to processing student loans and earning College Work Study GA wages.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor the academic progress of all students toward degree completion. Academic progress is measured using three factors: GPA, number of credit hours taken and the percent of credit hours completed with a passing grade. Failure to maintain SAP will result in cancellation of eligibility to receive funds from federal, state or University programs.
A copy of the SAP Policy is available at the Office of Financial Aid and on line.
When You Recieve A G.A. Position:
See PDF "What happens If You Are Offered a G.A." (upper right corner) that Explains next step when you are offered a position.
