T

College of Graduate Studies

Graduate Assistantship Information
College of Graduate Studies

CLICK HERE FOR POTENTIAL ASSISTANTSHIP POSITIONS

Am I eligible?

Assistantships may only be awarded to new graduate students who have unqualified admission to the College of Graduate Studies under the “Regular” (not Provisional) classification, and to any current students who are not Provisional. Graduate assistants must maintain a cumulative 3.0 grade point average and register for and earn 9 credit hours of course work or the equivalent each semester within the program of study throughout the period of the assistantship appointment.

If an Incomplete (I) grade is received, the graduate assistant must remove the "I" during the semester following the semester in which the "I" was recorded.

Graduate students enrolled in fully online graduate programs are not eligible for graduate assistantships.

How do I apply for and get an assistantship?
 
Many graduate students would like to be on a graduate assistantship. We currently have about 280 assistantships and over 2,600 graduate students, so competition is intense for assistantships. How do you start? Here is a step-by step process that can help:
  1. If you have not applied for admission, please do so first and pay the application fee.
  2. Complete the online Graduate Assistantship application. Graduate Assistantship Application.
  3. Ask the Graduate Program Director or Department Chair for your department. This is often your best chance of an assistantship. Ask for advice on where to look for assistantships if your department’s assistantships are already full.
  4. Check the College of Graduate Studies website often for listed VACANT ASSISTANTSHIPS. Ask us if we are aware of vacant assistantships that are about to be advertised.
  5. March 1 is the deadline for the receipt of applications by the College of Graduate Studies to have priority consideration for employment during the upcoming Fall Semester. Applicants are encouraged to submit applications early.
  6. Go to Human Resources the week before classes begin to fill out required paperwork.
Renewal of a previous year's contract is not automatic. Each year the student must compete with other applicants for a position. A student’s acceptance of an assistantship constitutes an agreement which the College of Graduate Studies expects the student to honor. If the student accepts the offer subsequently desires to withdraw, the student may submit, in writing, a resignation of the appointment within two weeks after accepting the offer. However, an acceptance left in force after this date prevents the student from accepting another offer without first obtaining a written release from the College of Graduate Studies.

What are the work requirements?

A normal load for a full time graduate assistant is 20 hrs/wk in both the fall and spring semesters. Graduate assistants are limited to a maximum of 25 hrs/wk in each of the fall and spring semesters in any combination of on-campus appointments. Federal law generally limits the number of hours that international students can work on campus to 20 hrs/wk in the fall and spring semesters.

When do I start? Stop?
 
The standard starting date for a graduate assistant may be one week before the first day of classes and the standard ending date shall be the last day of final exams.
 
What are the benefits?

The stipend for a full time graduate assistantship is determined by the department/unit awarding the assistantship, with the minimum amount being $7,200.00 for the academic year beginning Fall 2009. Payment is made on a regular schedule.

Graduate assistants are responsible for paying all University Fees and the Technology Fee each semester.

Mandatory Health Insurance

All Graduate Assistants are required to have health insurance.  Health Insurance is provided by Pearce & Pearce, Inc. through the University System of Georgia Student Health Insurance Program.  All Graduate Assistants must apply for health insurance through the Pearce & Pearce web site at:  https://www.pearceandpearce.com//PearceSite/Schools/GA/gsou/Default.asp

Graduate Assistants who already have their own personal health insurance may apply for a waiver of the mandatory student health insurance through the Pearce & Pearce web site at: https://www.pearceandpearce.com//PearceSite/Schools/GA/gsou/Default.asp and select "Waive Online". Proof of insurance must be provided each semester.

How do I resign from my current assistantship?
A graduate assistant choosing to resign or terminate his/her employment must submit a letter or resignation to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
 
 
Can my assistantship be terminated?
Yes. Suspension or dismissal of a graduate student from the University for disciplinary reasons will terminate the assistantship. A graduate assistant may also be terminated for the following reasons: (a) the overall GPA drops below 3.0, (b) the semester course load falls below the minimum full-time load of 9 hours or the equivalent, (c) an allegation of academic or scientific misconduct, and (d) failure to perform work assignments at a satisfactory level. Note that all graduate assistants should receive prior written notice of termination, with a minimum expectation of two weeks’ notice. Failure to satisfactorily perform work assignments in particular needs to be documented in writing prior to the dismissal notification. Additionally, the University reserves the right to terminate a graduate assistant if, in the discretion of the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, the circumstances of a particular situation warrant such action. A student choosing to resign or terminate employment must submit a letter of resignation to the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies through the Department/Division Chair of the employing unit.

 

Current Students

Important Dates

Matriculation Checklists

Program of Study Checklists

Doctoral Student Info. Sheet

Graduation Clearance Checklists

Georgia Southern Catalog

Office of Student Fees

Travel and Research Grant Info.

Elec. Theses & Dissertations.

Scholarship Information

Graduate Student Organiz. (GSO)

How to look for a job
Contact Information: College of Graduate Studies
P.O. Box 8008, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30460
Office: (912) GSU-2647 Fax: (912) GSU-1330