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About the Graduate Assistantship

Welcome to Valdosta State University’s Graduate Assistantship Program information page!  VSU’s graduate assistantships are designed to promote the research, teaching, and service responsibilities of the University and to provide students with valuable professional development opportunities while earning a graduate degree.  Therefore, the graduate assistantship involves the dual responsibilities of maintaining a satisfactory academic performance and of successfully performing the assigned teaching, research, or other responsibilities.

AND THE BEST NEWS ABOUT OUR ASSISTANTSHIPS - TUITION IS REDUCED TO A FLAT, PER-SEMESTER FEE OF $38.00!!  This is the case for both in-state and out-of-state students!  More information below!

PROCEDURES AND STIPULATIONS

In order to apply for an assistantship, students need to:

  1. Secure a Graduate Assistantship application from the Graduate School office or from the web site at www.valdosta.edu/gradschool.
  2. Carefully complete the application and return it to the Graduate School office located at 903 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA  31698 (or Suite 234 in the Regional Center for Continuing Education).
  3. Renewal of a previous year’s contract is not automatic – it is up to the supervising department to renew.  A student may need to submit another application.  Each year the student must compete with other applicants for a position; however, experience is a valuable asset. A student may retain an assistantship up to two years - the length of time it ususally takes to complete a master's or specialist's degree.
  4. Applications may be submitted at any time, but early submission is recommended.  Submit applications preferably during the spring semester for fall semester employment.
  5. The Administrative Coordinator to the Graduate Dean works with individual departments in the assignment of assistantships, employment appointments and other areas dealing with graduate assistantships.  The Administrative Coordinator can be reached at (229) 333-5694 or 800-618-1878 opt. 5.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

  1. The student must be accepted as either “Regular” or “Probationary” in an approved graduate degree or post-master’s program at VSU.  Students classified as either “Irregular” or “Non-Degree” are not eligible for an assistantship.

  2. For the second year student, satisfactory progress toward the degree must be evidenced by the completion of a minimum of 12 semester hours (6 hours minimum per term) with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average.
  3. Graduate Teaching Assistants who will have the primary responsibility of teaching a course and assigning final grades must have earned at least 18 semester hours in their teaching discipline.

ASSISTANTSHIP APPOINTMENT PROCEDURES

  1. Upon receipt of the Graduate Assistantship application, the Administrative Coordinator will screen the document for appropriate admission status.
  2. Qualified applications are forwarded to a department when the department requests applications.
  3. The department head or coordinator of graduate students (or selection committee) will review the applications.  If the department elects to employ the student, a memo of recommendation for employment is sent to the Graduate Office by the department head or the designated coordinator.
  4. The Graduate School arranges with the student to complete necessary tax forms for payroll purposes and the signing of a Graduate Assistantship Appointment form.  The appointment form contains information such as starting and ending dates, stipend, payment dates, required duties, etc.
  5. If the student chooses to accept the assistantship, he/she should complete all forms and sign the appointment form, and also bring a driver’s license and social security card for proof of identification.
  6. Any questions regarding completion of the forms should be addressed to the Administrative Coordinator in the Graduate School.

ACADEMIC RESPONSIBILITIES

The GRADUATE ASSISTANT is expected to enroll and earn credit for a minimum of six (6) graduate semester hours each term in which the assistantship is held.  If a graduate assistant drops below the six hour minimum, the student will be assessed the full amount of tuition and the assistantship will be terminated (exceptions may be considered for Summer terms only).  An overall grade-point average of 3.0 (B) must be maintained in order to continue as a graduate assistant

Indeed, one may view the graduate assistantship as a kind of working scholarship with steady and successful academic progress as the utlimate and most significant goal for the student. The position of a graduate assistant carries with it expectations from the Graduate School that the work being done should not interfere with the timely and successful completion of the graduate degree.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. A GRADUATE ASSISTANT is expected to work an average of fourteen (14) hours per week, not to exceed 224 hours per semester (summers hours may vary), unless special exception is applied for by the department in which the Graduate Assistant works and is granted by the Dean of the Graduate School for limited and specific reasons.
  2. The department supervisor sets the student’s schedule.
  3. The employing department will provide written descriptions of duties and responsibilities.

STIPEND AND PAY SCHEDULES

The stipend for all graduate assistantships is stipulated in the appointment form.  Payment is made monthly.  Graduate assistantships are considered part-time employees; therefore, they are ineligible for employment benefits.  No annual or sick leave is accrued. 

TUITION RATES FOR GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

The graduate assistantship program allows graduate assistants to pay a flat, per-semester tuition rate of $38.00 - this is applicable to both in-state and out-of-state students!  The student also pays the various fees as presented in the Graduate Catalog or VSU’s fee schedule.  These fees include the Health, Athletic, Student Activity, Transportation, Technology, Access Card and other fees in addition to the $38.00.

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES, RESIGNATION, OR TERMINATION

  1. Consult the Administrative Coordinator of the Graduate School for procedures to be followed in case of a grievance concerning the assistantship.  The Graduate School has developed a formal appeals procedure for academic and other matters that can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook and on the Graduate School web site.
  2. A graduate assistant choosing to resign or terminate his/her employment must submit a letter of resignation to the departmental supervisor and the Graduate School's administrative coordinator..
  3. Failure to perform satisfactorily the duties assigned by the supervisor could result in the termination of the assistantship.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact the Graduate School’s Administrative Coordinator at (229) 333-5694; 800-618-1878 opt. 5; or e-mail gradschool@valdosta.edu.

Or visit the Graduate School Office at 903 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA  31698, on the second floor in the Regional Center for Continuing Education.

 

Valdosta State University is a regional university of the University System of Georgia and an Equal Opportunity Employer.