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Graduate Associates
GA appointments complement formal instruction and give the student experience in teaching, research, or administrative activities.
Overview
GA responsibilities should not interfere with a student’s reasonable progress toward completion of the graduate degree.
A graduate student’s principal objective is to earn a graduate degree. The graduate school recognizes that paid apprentices for research, teaching or service activities at the university can form an enriching experience for graduate students. This section summarizes the major types of paid apprenticeships for graduate students, graduate associate (GA) appointments. In addition, during their program of study some graduate students can support themselves directly through external sources. These include federal aid and loans, sponsorships and scholarships provided by entities external to the university, (summarized in
Titles. The three graduate associate (GA) titles are: Graduate Administrative Associate (GAA), Graduate Research Associate (GRA), and Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA).
Benefits for 50% (and greater) GA Appointments
All graduate associateships include the following benefits:
Stipend - Payment of a student’s
general/instructional andlearning technology fees , and resident or nonresidenttuition - Payment of 85% of
Student Health Insurance premium Summer Fee Authorization Time Off - Short-Term Leaves and Leaves of
Absence Military Leave - Access to "B" (staff)
parking permits Workers’ Compensation - Access to the
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS)
Pay
Paycheck Calendar
Graduate associates appointed for autumn semester will receive their first paycheck at the end of August. GAs on a nine-month appointment will receive one-half of a month’s paycheck in August and one-half in May.
Payroll Deduction
Payroll deductions for student health benefits and other student service fees will occur in four installments for both autumn semester and spring semester. Deductions will be reflected in September through December paychecks for autumn semester and January through April paychecks for spring semester. For summer term, deductions will be reflected in June and July paychecks.
Appointments
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | August 16, 2023 | January 1, 2024 | May 8, 2024 |
| End | December 31, 2023 | May 7, 2024 | August 15, 2024 |
2021–22 Appointment Dates
| Autumn | Spring | Summer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | August 16, 2022 | January 1, 2023 | May 9, 2023 |
| End | December 31, 2022 | May 8, 2023 | August 15, 2023 |
2021–22 Appointment Dates
Appointment Description
All graduate associates must receive clear, complete, and written information about the terms and conditions of their appointments. Continued regular, clear communication between graduate associates and their supervisors is critical to establishing and maintaining a positive and productive environment.
All GA-appointing units are required to use the Graduate School's standard GA Appointment Document for new and renewed GA appointments. Individualized offer letters are also an important part of the graduate student recruitment process. Offer letters should reflect the particular culture and values of the appointing unit and should refer to the GA Appointment Document.
Enrollment Requirements
| AU/SP | SU | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student | Max | Min | Max | Min |
| Graduate Associate, 50% | 18 | 8 | 15 | 4 |
| Graduate Associate, 25% | 18 | 4 | 15 | 2 |
| Graduate Fellow | 18 | 12 | 15 | 6 |
| Post-Candidacy Student | 18* | 3 | 15 | 3 |
| For Financial Aid and Fees† | 18 | 8 | 15 | 8 |
* Post-candidacy students typically enroll in three hours. Post-candidacy students who wish to take more than three hours should speak with their graduate program.
†Students may be eligible for financial aid at half time. Please contact the Buckeye Link for detailed information about financial aid.
Appointment as a GA contributes to the overall objective of earning a graduate degree by providing an apprenticeship experience along with financial support. This apprenticeship complements formal instruction and gives the student practical and personal experience that can be gained only by performing instructional, research, or administrative activities. It is expected that GA responsibilities will not interfere with a student’s reasonable progress (
The GSCC or head of the appointing unit considers petitions concerning waiver of rules established by the appointing unit.
First Four-Week Summer Session
A typical graduate associate appointment is for autumn and spring semesters. However, work patterns are determined locally, and they may vary due to the first four-week summer session.
If the first four-week summer session is part of a GTA’s established teaching load, for example, no additional pay is required. Alternatively, GTAs who have fulfilled their teaching obligations during autumn and spring semesters may be hired on supplemental appointments to teach during that session.
Other Information About Appointments
Eligibility
All GAs must meet the following eligibility requirements:
-
Graduate Degree
GAs must be pursuing a graduate degree -
Minimum Registration
GAs must register for the minimum number of hours for their appointment -
Good Standing
GAs must maintain a
high GPA and be making reasonable progress toward their degree, see alsoSection 5.1 of the Graduate School Handbook. -
Spoken English Certification
Applies only to international graduate students whose nation of origin has an official language other than English (including those nations with English as one official language among others). Details about certifcation can be found at the IELP site.
Learn More -
Other Requirements
still have questions?
grad-schoolregistrationservices@osu.edu