Graduate Programs
MSU Collage Image

Graduate Information for Supervisors

A graduate assistantship contributes to the student's professional development. The primary purpose is to assist students in strengthening and successfully completing their academic program. It should include activities that are relevant to each student's program of study, if possible, and contribute to the university's teaching, research/creative activity, or service efforts.

Assistantships are first and foremost an educational tool, providing graduate students the opportunity to apply some of the skills and knowledge they have already acquired. They may also be used as a way to:

  • Recruit outstanding and promising students to graduate study, with special attention to enhancing diversity

  • Provide appropriate graduate-level learning experiences through supervised assignment

  • Provide support that enables graduate students to complete their degrees in a timely fashion

  • Provide the campus with support services in selected programs and areas

 

Reminders

  • Job descriptions must be on file for all GA positions

  • Supervisor evaluations are due two weeks prior to the end of Fall/Spring semester

  • View GA training  PowerPoint Presentation  

  • View  GA Handbook  

 

 GA Training Evaluation 

 

  

Graduate Assistantships      

 

A number of assistantships are offered each year for graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate degree program. Two types of assistantships may be available; Full and Half.  **Note - individual departments determine the allocation of full/half awards.**

 Full assistantship (20 hours per week) - Benefits include:

  •  Annual stipend of $10,000 ($5000/semester)
  • Students will be responsible for their housing costs
  • Tuition waiver for out-of-state students to reduce tuition fees to the in-state rate.  In-state students are responsible for all tuition/fees incurred.

 Half assistantship (10 hours per week) - Benefits include:

  •  Annual stipend of $5,000 ($2500/semester
  • Students will be responsible for their housing costs
  • Discounted tuition for out-of-state students.  In state students will be responsible for full in-state tuition rate, while out-of-state students will be responsible for in-state tuition plus 50% of the difference between the in-state and out-of-state rates. (For example: in-state $2,865 + [ (out-of-state rate $7,275 - in-state rate $2,865) / 2) ].

 

All graduate assistants must be a full-time student working on a degree program. The students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and register for at least 9 graduate credit hours, but no more than 13 hours each semester. The student is expected to devote a minimum of 10 hours (half assistantship), but no more than 20 hours (full) per week to the duties of the assistantship depending on the departmental GA assignment. All recipients must pay any incidental fees in addition to tuition.

International students who accept graduate assistantships must apply for and receive a Social Security card before they can be paid. Representatives from the Ashland Social Security Office visit the Rowan County Court House the third Wednesday of the month.

 

STEPS TO APPOINTMENT

 

  • The student must first be admitted to a Graduate degree program.
    • Conditionally admitted students, (must have prior approval), will be eligible for a one semester appointment.  If unconditional admission is not obtained within that one semester, the student will lose his/her GA appointment.
    • Unconditionally admitted students are eligible for a GA position for up to four semesters (two years).
  • Complete the Graduate Assistant application for employment through the Office of Human Resources located at https://secureweb.moreheadstate.edu/NovusHRapps/JobPostings.aspx.
  • Complete all other employment paperwork (I9, W4, etc.) through the Office of Human Resources prior to beginning work.
  • It is the responsibility of the student to obtain an open GA position by contacting the his/her department of choice and inquiring about availability. For department telephone numbers, locations, and/or email addresses, please refer to the MSU Directory.
  • Once the department has made the hiring decision(s), a PAR (Personnel Action Request) will be submitted to the Graduate Office.  Please contact the department to determine if you have been selected as one of their GAs.
  • Once approved, the following steps will take place:
    • All GA waivers (tuition and/or housing) will be applied to the student’s financial account approximately one week prior to the beginning of the semester (if department has submitted paperwork on time).
    • The student is to report to their hiring department and begin the 10/20 weekly hours of work during the first week of classes.
    • Also during the first week of classes, an award letter/contract will be issued to the student from the Graduate Office.  This contract must be signed and returned in order for the GA appointment to be valid.
  • In order to assure proper benefits are awarded to the appropriate students, a list of approved GA’s will be distributed to the necessary University offices.

 

  

SUMMER GA HOUSING POLICY

 

**Please Note—Beginning Fall 2009, Students will no longer be eligible for Summer Housing. Students will be responsible for their own housing if they continue to stay on campus during the summer.

  

Qualifying Graduate Assistants are eligible for free summer housing during Summer I and Summer II sessions only.  Housing awards will be based on double occupancy rates in Fields Hall** and do not cover housing costs incurred during intersessions or times when classes are not in session.  All charges beyond those incurred during Summer I/Summer II are the sole responsibility of the student.

  

To qualify for free summer housing, a GA must:

 

  • Have been a GA in the Spring semester immediately preceding the summer session(s) for which housing is being sought.
  • Be in good academic standing (3.0 g.p.a. or higher)
  • Be one or more of the following:
    • Employed for at least eight weeks on campus during the summer as either a GA, workstudy, or other staff position.Enrolled in at least one, but no more than two, courses for at least two of the three summer terms.

 

Students failing to meet the above criteria will be responsible for all summer housing charges.