|
The purpose of graduate assistantships (GAs) is to provide graduate students with academic and professional development while at Florida Poly as assigned by the Office of Graduate Studies in collaboration with the Provost and Department Chairs. The assistantship includes two support elements: direct payment in support of your graduate educational experience and tuition support.
- Direct Payment is paid as a stipend* across four semesters and one optional summer. The assistantship requires a commitment of ten (10) hours per week of instructional support as assigned by the academic department. The summer semester at the end of a student’s first year is to be utilized as an intentionally high research period. Students unable to commit to thirty (30) hours per week minimum on their research during summer semesters on-campus are not eligible for the summer award.
- Tuition Support at the in-state graduate student level is available for up to 9 credit-hours per semester, which allows a student to maintain full-time status. Support as a graduate assistant allows a student to be considered as a Florida resident for the purposes of tuition.
*Stipend amounts may vary depending on entry term. Students starting the program in Fall 2023 and forward will be paid $4,000 per semester.
Application Process
Graduate assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis by the Office of Graduate Studies. This is not a scholarship award, but rather support for your graduate education as a student that has chosen to include a thesis as part of their educational program. Students interested in a graduate assistantship should apply to their graduate program and speak with their admissions counselor. Students working a full-time job should not apply for an assistantship.
Students must be admitted into an eligible graduate degree program and offered a graduate assistantship as part of their admission process. If approved for an assistantship, applicants will receive an email with instructions on completing their assistantship agreement. This agreement solidifies the pact between the graduate assistant and their hiring department to perform duties for a specified time period. This agreement must be signed prior to starting the assigned assistantship.
Maintaining Eligibility
Maintaining the assistantship is contingent upon appropriate academic progress, remaining in good academic standing as defined for graduate students, and is renewable on a semester-by-semester basis for up to four academic semesters and one summer.
To continue to qualify for the graduate assistantship, students must maintain the following requirements:
- Student must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 while in the graduate degree program.
- Student must commit ten (10) hours per week of instructional support as assigned by the academic department. The student must satisfactorily perform duties assigned that fall within the ten (10) hours per week of assistantship work assignment, typically conducted during normal business hours.
- Student must be on the thesis pathway in their program, making adequate progress toward their expected graduation date. This may include producing deliverables to their advisor, thesis committee, or Office of Graduate Studies in a timely manner.
- Student is expected to spend significant time on their coursework, their thesis research, and their assistantship. Students may, if it is available, work on-campus for ten (10) hours per week in addition to their required ten (10) hours of instructional support. The expectation is that GAs do not work beyond ten (10) hours per week in addition to their required instructional support hours (not to exceed 20 hours total). Student must maintain full-time enrollment during the semester(s) while serving in an assistantship, unless otherwise stipulated by the department chair and approved by the Office of Graduate Studies.
If a student fails to meet performance expectations, withdraws from Florida Polytechnic University, fails to remain enrolled as a full-time student, or fails to meet the minimum expectations including adequate progress on research or other deliverables as defined by the program or Office of Graduate Studies, the university may terminate this agreement. The university may also terminate this agreement at any time.
Assistantships are awarded by the Office of Graduate Studies on the recommendation of the Department Chairs and Office of Admissions. GAs must make themselves available for instructional support, noting that their course schedule takes precedence over their teaching support duties. Instructional support may include the following:
- Grading, in the form of checking answers (but not correcting); substantive feedback is not an expectation;
- Highly coordinated and supervised lab management assistance;
- For experienced GAs (2nd-year with proven track-record), more responsibility in leading some level of laboratory course delivery and support may be assigned.
- Where appropriate and if demonstrated competency, academic support for the course.
Expectations:
- GAs are expected to coordinate with their supervisor to determine weekly work assignments and responsibilities, set deadlines and expectations, and carry out all duties in a timely manner.
- GAs are expected to put their coursework first and their Assistantship duties second. If they have work schedules outside of the University that conflict the University is under no obligation to make an accommodation for such purposes. Multiple instances of such conflicts risk loss of assistantship.
- Graduate Assistantships will not extend past the 4th semester unless student is placed on a different funding support structure.
Faculty may employ graduate students through external funds according to the following provisions:
- Students must be assigned to support an active grant.
- Pay rate is equal to the GA stipend per semester (10 hours/week).
- If a faculty member wishes to support a student for a full 20 hours and has the means within the terms of the grant, this may be negotiated with the Department Chair, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, and Provost prior to the term in which the student’s employment in desired.
- Students supported fully on a grant will also have their tuition and fees charged to the grant to the extent that the grant terms allow.
- Start and End Dates may be set as needed by the grant beginning and end dates.
Graduate Studies Funded GAs: The summer semester at the end of a student’s first year is to be utilized as an intentionally high research period. With department chair and Office of Graduate Studies approval, students may continue their stipend and instructional hours into the summer semester. Students are expected to dedicate significant time toward their research and thesis progress, with an estimate of 30 hours per week in addition to the 10 instructional hours. Students unable to commit to 30 hours per week minimum on their research during summer semesters on-campus are not eligible for the summer award.
Grant Funded GAs: Faculty hiring graduate students on external funding must work with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the Office of Academic Affairs, and ensure the student enrolls in summer research hours, or a graduate class, if offered, as required for funding.
International students must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) before they are eligible to work. After being sent their GA offer letter, international students may contact International Student Services for the required process steps.
|
.jpg)