* Approved by the Graduate Council, March, 28, 2002
Overview
Graduate Assistant Stipends and Graduate Tuition Scholarships are available to qualified students who are working toward a graduate degree at the University of Northern Iowa. They may only be held by full-time students who are in residence during the time of their appointment.
Graduate Assistant Stipends and Graduate Tuition Scholarships are essential for the recruitment of excellent students into the graduate program. A well-funded graduate assistantship program is an important component in the university's efforts to attract high quality students. Such students enliven the academic environment of the university by setting high standards for their fellows and calling forth the best from their professors.
These awards make it possible for many students to enroll full-time in graduate degree programs who would otherwise be forced to seek their degrees through part-time study. They not only enable the student to complete his or her degree more quickly, but also afford the benefits of full- time involvement in study and academically related pursuits at the university. The level of financial support has become a significant factor in the ability of a university to maintain a strong graduate program.
The spouse of a non-resident graduate student may enroll for classes at the resident rate during any semester that the graduate student is receiving either a full or one-half Graduate Assistant Stipend.
Types of Awards
There are two different types of support available from the Graduate College for qualified graduate students: (a) The Graduate Tuition Scholarship and (b) The Graduate Assistant Stipend. A student may receive one or both of these awards.
The Graduate Tuition Scholarship is an award which pays for all or one half of a student's tuition. It does not cover any non-tuition expenses such as university fees or the costs of books. Students who receive only the Graduate Tuition Scholarship are not required to perform any services or work assignments as a condition of their scholarship.
The Graduate Assistant Stipend, when awarded in full, requires the student to work 15 to 20 hours a week on assignments which meet the guidelines approved by the Graduate Council. Under no circumstances should a graduate student be required to work more than 20 hours per week. If a student worked less than 20 hours during one or more weeks, that student should not be asked to make up this time during any other time period.
The academic unit or department to which a student is assigned identifies and assigns a work load consistent with the following guidelines:
- Assistantships best serve graduate students and the university when they are used as an integral part of graduate education. They should under no circumstances detract from a student's graduate education nor distract him or her from its pursuit. Assistantships cannot be justified merely as a source of inexpensive labor or even merely as financial support for students.
- Graduate Assistant Stipend assignments should enhance students' graduate education by exposing them to the professional activities and concerns of their discipline, involving them in university activities related to their academic and professional interests, and giving them opportunities to work closely with faculty and other university professionals. This extensive, tutorial experience is a valuable part of the professional development of graduate students.
- Students on Graduate Assistant Stipends should provide high quality support for the academic activities of a university. Graduate assistants, within the instructional and research components of a university, provide a flexible, cost-effective, and competent resource. Assistantships can provide the means for an influx of new ideas and viewpoints since they attract students from other colleges and universities.
- In the academic programs, the graduate assistantship system supports and strengthens graduate and undergraduate instruction. The contributions of graduate assistants include teaching under careful supervision, providing teaching or research support for faculty, serving as laboratory assistants, and serving in other academically appropriate ways.
The department or academic unit is responsible for ensuring that the work load is academically appropriate and meets maximum hour guidelines. Departments are encouraged to consult with students in making work assignments.
Academic credit may not be given for Graduate Assistant Stipend assignments or any work or services performed as part of the assigned duties for a Graduate Assistant Stipend.
Actions of the Graduate Council on December 10, 1992 required that each department adopt a procedure for producing a written evaluation or measurement of the performance of their graduate assistants at least once a semester. A copy of the procedure was to be forwarded to the Graduate Dean and the Chair of the Graduate Council by February 15, 1993. Departments are also required to have graduate assistants evaluate their departmental assignments at least once a semester.
A Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend are most frequently awarded for both the fall and spring semesters of an academic year. However, at the discretion of the department and with the approval of the Graduate College, the Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or the Graduate Assistant Stipend may be awarded in full or in half during one or both semesters of the academic year.
If a student with a non-resident status is awarded a half or a full Graduate Assistant Stipend, any tuition not covered during the semester of the award will be billed to the student at the resident rate as opposed to the non-resident rate. Tuition during any semester that a non-resident student is not receiving a Graduate Assistant Stipend will be billed at the non-resident rate. If a non-resident student receives only a tuition scholarship at the resident rate, then the student will be required to pay the difference between the resident rate and the non-resident rate.
Students who have a Graduate Assistant Stipend may not also be employed by the University as a Merit, P & S, Adjunct, or Faculty employee. They may be employed as an hourly student employee, but that position must be outside of the department in which they are a Graduate Assistant.
The Graduate College has no restrictions on the hiring of students who have a Graduate Assistant Stipend by employers outside the University. However, International Students are restricted by immigration regulations from working off-campus without proper authorization. Questions about employment/internships should be directed to the International Services Office at 273-6421.
Application for Graduate Tuition Scholarships and Graduate Assistant Stipends
An individual who wishes to apply for a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend should request an application form for each award from the department from which he or she is seeking a degree or from the Graduate College. Steps in the application process are:
- The applicant must complete all items on the Application for Graduate Tuition Scholarship form and/or the Application for Graduate Assistant Stipend form.
- An applicant can apply for a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or Graduate Assistant Stipend for both fall and spring semesters of an academic year or for the fall semester only or the spring semester only. Tuition Scholarships awarded under externally funded grants will be allocated in the same proportion to time and effort as a Graduate Assistant Stipend. For example, a graduate assistant who receives a half-time stipend would be eligible for a maximum half-time tuition scholarship as well. Exceptions may be made only with written approval of the funding agency.
- The applicant must submit the application form(s) directly to the department or academic unit in which she or he is requesting a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend. The applicant should not submit these forms to the Graduate College.
- Before an applicant can be awarded a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend, the applicant must be accepted into a degree program by a department.
- The department or academic unit will decide which applicants to recommend to the Graduate College to be awarded a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend.
- A department or an academic unit may inform an applicant that the applicant has been recommended for a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend, but under no circumstances should it be conveyed to the applicant that the applicant has received the award(s).
- All formal letters of offer for the Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or the Graduate Assistant Stipend will come directly from the Dean of the Graduate College.
- To accept a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend, an applicant must submit a signed and dated letter of acceptance to the Dean of the Graduate College. The letter should indicate clearly which awards are being accepted.
A student who has been awarded a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or a Graduate Assistant Stipend receives the award only for the duration stated in the formal letter(s) of offer from the Dean of the Graduate College. Students seeking continued support must complete a new application for the Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or the Graduate Assistant Stipend and submit the form(s) directly to the department or academic unit. For first year students seeking a second year of support, the application form(s) should be submitted during February of their first year. Failure to do so may prevent the student from being considered for further support.
Qualifications for a Graduate Tuition Scholarship or a Graduate Assistant Stipend
Assistantships at the University of Northern Iowa are granted to excellent students. The following are the requirements for appointment:
- The student must possess a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution prior to admission to graduate study and to the appointment of an assistantship.
- The student must have been admitted to graduate study at the University of Northern Iowa on a degree-track basis, either regular admission or provisional admission. For regular admission, the student must hold a 3.0 overall undergraduate grade point average.
- The student must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 graduate grade point average throughout the program of study.
- The student must be enrolled full-time and carry a minimum of 9 and a maximum of 12 on-campus graduate hours in the program of study for each semester during the award. Audit, undergraduate, or courses offered through Continuing Education may not be used as part of the minimum load.
- The student must hold a full-time Graduate Tuition Scholarship for both Fall and Spring semesters to be eligible for tuition support in the summer. For a student to be eligible for summer tuition support, an approved program of study must be on file in the Graduate College. No summer tuition will be provided for courses which are not in the approved program of study.
The Appointment Process
Graduate Tuition Scholarships and all Graduate Assistant Stipends, whether funded through the Graduate College or through department or college funds, are awarded by the Graduate College and are made under the Association of Graduate School guidelines. The steps in the appointment process are:
- By February 15, the Graduate College will notify each department of the minimum number of Graduate Tuition Scholarships and/or Graduate Assistant Stipends committed to the department from Graduate College funds.
- Departments forward the application forms and the Personnel Action Forms for the Graduate Assistant Stipends and/or the application forms and the Tuition Authorization Forms for the Graduate Tuition Scholarships to the college dean for signature.
- College deans forward the signed forms to the Graduate College.
- Letters offering Graduate Assistant Stipends and Graduate Tuition Scholarships are sent by the Graduate College.
- It is the responsibility of the department head or designee to notify those students who have not been recommended for an award in a timely fashion.
- The student must respond in writing to the Graduate College accepting or declining the offers.
By recommending a student to the Graduate College for a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and/or Graduate Assistant Stipend, the department or academic unit certifies that the student meets the qualifications stated in the preceding section.
The Personnel Action Form or Tuition Authorization form initiated by the department must indicate whether the award is for one or two semesters and whether the awards will be made in full or in half for one or both semesters. The letter of offer sent by the Graduate College to the student also specifies whether the award is for both semesters or one semester and whether it is a full award or one-half. A student must notify the Graduate College in writing that he or she accepts a Graduate Assistant Stipend and /or a Graduate Tuition Scholarship.
Graduate Tuition Scholarships and Graduate Assistant Stipends are recommended to the Graduate College and individuals are notified of the awards by a letter from the Graduate Dean. No other document committing a Graduate Tuition Scholarship or Graduate Assistant Stipend is to be forwarded to a student by a department or academic unit.
Instructional Assignments to Students on Graduate Assistant Stipends
Graduate students given primary responsibility for the instruction of undergraduate courses are the exception rather than the rule. Students should only be given such responsibility under carefully defined conditions. The department and the Graduate Assistant must adhere to the Policy on Teaching Assistant Evaluation and Training at the University of Northern Iowa approved by the Graduate Council on September 1, 1992.
Ideally, instructional assignments are to be undertaken by second year graduate students. The assistant assigned significant instructional responsibilities is to be carefully supervised by senior faculty, and the assistant's assignment should not exceed two courses a semester. Students assigned to teaching functions should not be given sole responsibility for courses. The conditions under which a student may assume primary responsibility for an undergraduate course must include the following components as well as other conditions described in the Policy on Teaching Assistant Evaluation and Training at the University of Northern Iowa: (a) proficiency in oral communication, (b) pre-service training and orientation, (c) ongoing instructional support, and (d) teaching performance evaluation/course evaluation.
Resignation of a Graduate Tuition Scholarship or Graduate Assistant Stipend
A graduate student may elect to resign the Graduate Tuition Scholarship or the Graduate Assistant Stipend, or both. If students are carrying a full-time load in their program of study and are maintaining a 3.0 grade average or higher they may retain their Graduate Tuition Scholarship even if they elect to resign their Graduate Assistant Stipend. Full-time students in good academic standing cannot be forced to resign their tuition scholarship, even if their Graduate Assistant Stipend is terminated because of their failure to perform the work assignments required by their stipend.
If students resign from their Graduate Assistant Stipend, they must provide written notice to the Graduate College and to the department. Their stipend will terminate on the day the resignation is effective. They will continue to be paid their stipend until the effective resignation date.
If students resign or lose a Graduate Tuition Scholarship because they are dropping all classes or dropping below a full-time load in the program of study, the scholarship will be revoked and they will be required to pay the entire tuition charges for that semester.
Termination of a Graduate Tuition Scholarship or Graduate Assistant Stipend
Neither the Graduate Assistant Stipend nor the Graduate Tuition Scholarship can be terminated without appropriate procedures.
Suspension or dismissal of a graduate student from the University for disciplinary reasons will terminate concurrently both a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and a Graduate Assistant Stipend.
Any member of the University who is found to have engaged in sexual harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, including termination or dismissal. Faculty and graduate students should familiarize themselves with the University Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, copies of which may be obtained from the Graduate College or the Office of Affirmative Action Programs. Suspension or dismissal of a graduate student from the University for sexual harassment will terminate concurrently both a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and a Graduate Assistant Stipend. Other disciplinary actions against a graduate student resulting from a sexual harassment complaint may also lead to termination of both a Graduate Tuition Scholarship and a Graduate Assistant Stipend.
A Graduate Assistant Stipend and/or Graduate Tuition Scholarship may also be terminated for any one of the following reasons: (a) the overall grade point average for courses in the program of study falls below 3.0, (b) the semester course load falls below the minimum full-time load of 9 on-campus graduate credit hours in the program of study, or (c) an allegation of academic or scientific misconduct such as cheating, plagiarism, or falsification of data, has been investigated and verified. Departments need to monitor the GPA and enrollment requirements closely.
In addition to the above reasons, a Graduate Assistant Stipend may be terminated when there is substantial written documentation that a student consistently has not carried out work assignments which fall within the guidelines of the Graduate Assistantship System. If a student holds both a Graduate Assistant Stipend and a Graduate Tuition Scholarship, the failure to perform work assignments for the Graduate Assistant Stipend normally cannot lead to termination of the Graduate Tuition Scholarship. However, Tuition Scholarships awarded under an externally funded grant may be terminated as well if required under the terms of the grant.
Students on Graduate Assistant Stipends are employees of the University for the duration of their appointment. During the appointment period, they should enjoy similar protection afforded other University employees.
A Graduate Assistant Stipend or Graduate Tuition Scholarship can be terminated by the Graduate College following the recommendation of the department or unit to which the graduate student is assigned. The Graduate College and the department or unit to which the graduate student is assigned have a joint responsibility to ensure that appropriate procedures are followed before the termination of an award.
Before a department recommends termination, it must: (a) notify the student of the specific nature of the problem or problems, (b) allow the student a reasonable opportunity to be heard, whether the student wishes to respond orally or in writing, (c) if possible, attempt an informal resolution to avoid termination, (d) give the student written notification of the department's reasons for recommending termination if an informal resolution cannot be achieved.
After the above steps have been followed, the department shall forward its written recommendation, including the reasons leading to the recommendation, to the Graduate College for review and approval. A department or unit cannot terminate an award without the review and approval of the Dean of the Graduate College, even if the funding is not provided by the Graduate College.
If a student elects to file a grievance under the Graduate Assistant Grievance Procedure, then the procedures therein take precedence over all of the above.
Grievance Procedures and Appeals for Graduate Assistants
When complaints or disagreements arise concerning a student's Graduate Assistant Stipend assignment, efforts should be made to resolve problems informally. However, in such efforts fail, graduate assistants have the option of filing a grievance.
Students who hold or have held a Graduate Assistant Stipend and who have a complaint or disagreement concerning their graduate assistantship may file a grievance according to the steps outlined in the Graduate Assistantship Grievance Procedure, revised form approved by the Graduate Council March 9, 1989.
For academic grievances, graduate assistants also may use the procedure which is available to all graduate students called Grievances - Student Academic (Graduate), revised form approved by the Graduate Council January 27, 1994.
Copies of both grievance procedures are available from the Graduate College. Appeals arising from suspension or dismissal for disciplinary reasons will be processed under the University's Discipline - Student policy.
Appeals from either party in a sexual harassment complaint will be processed according to the appeal procedures specified in the University Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harrassment, approved by the University Cabinet, 1993.