Graduate School Policies & Procedures re: Graduate Student Financial Support

1. Graduate School Policies & Procedures re: Graduate Student Financial Support ******************************* Barbara Byrne, Assistant Dean. Graduate_School_Finance@notes.cc.sunysb.edu 631-632-7039

2. Graduate Student Financial Support Financial support comes in many forms. All require you to be enrolled as a full-time Graduate student (# credits dependent on G-level) • Employment as a TA/GA/RA: provides you a stipend, paid biweekly via payroll and provides subsidized health insurance • Tuition Scholarship (TS) : offsets all or part of your graduate tuition bill (details are in your offer of admission). This support is posted as “Financial Aid” in SOLAR. TS does not pay for fees. • Stipend supplements or Graduate fellowships: Lump sum payments each semester, as specified in your offer of admission. Domestic students will see the award in SOLAR as financial aid; International students will receive separate checks, issued by NYS being on 10/8/2010 (Fall 2010) and 3/11/2011 (Spring 2011).

3. Full-time status: You must be registered fulltime before Day 15 to receive financial support

4. Tuition Scholarship: posted to your SOLAR account as financial aid TS amount dependent on your G-level TS amount dependent on your residency status Assistantship (employment): Two employers TAs & GAs are state appts. RAs are Research Fdn appts. Stipend is compensation for work performed – you will receive a biweekly paycheck TA/GA/RA appointments provide subsidized health insurance – you MUST enroll for health insurance Your Financial Support:

5. Graduate Tuition ScholarshipsEligibility & Important Details • Must be registered as a full-time graduate student by “Day 15” – for Spring 2011 that’s February 18, 2011 • Generally, Tuition scholarships are awarded in tandem with employment as TA, GA, RA or to a Fellow • Award decisions are made at the graduate program level, based on academic merit & availability of funding • TS awards may be pro-rated (% of tuition) OR capped at the NYS tuition rates (regardless of your billing amount) • TS values are based on your G-level. If you enroll in additional courses, you may incur tuition charges • TS awards never cover undergrad courses (courses with a designator below “500”)

6. Graduate Tuition ScholarshipApplying for NYS Residency • Grad TS funding is limited • Most Grad TS awards require that you become a NYS resident as soon as possible (this reduces the cost of your GTS) • Failure to become a NYS resident as soon as possible may result in tuition liability

7. Graduate Tuition Rates, 2010/2011* *effective 8/12/2010

8. How to apply for NYS Residency • Domestic students can apply after 1 year of NYS residency • Go to the Bursar/Student Accounts website for form and detailed instructions • Questions regarding NYS residency should be directed to the Student Accounts Office, 632-2455

9. SOLAR , Student billing & Your Financials http://www.stonybrook.edu/it/solar.shtml

10. Accessing your account & financial aid via SOLAR

11. “Operation GreenBill” • Billing is a function of Bursar/Student Accounts • Your bill is available on SOLAR; no paper bills will be printed or mailed to you. • The Bursar's Office has a convenient program for processing student refunds. Through direct deposit, we will deposit any student refund into the financial institution of your choice. Enrollment is done via the SOLAR system. ** If you are expecting Federal loan money or other refunds, Direct Deposit insures the most timely receipt of your monies.

12. Important Facts & Tips • Direct Deposit of Refund checks • Sign up in SOLAR (different from payroll direct deposit) • Eliminate standing in line at Student Accounts to collect check • Obtain refund check in a timely & secure manner • Financial Aid only “disburses” after you become eligible • For GTS awards, you must be fulltime • For loans, etc, you must be registered • Loan monies are applied against outstanding balances first • Check “What Do I Owe” after enrolling, after making changes to enrollment & after Day 15 of classes • Outstanding balances (even small amounts) will result in late fees and “blocks”

13. Graduate Employment • You may be employed as a TA, GA or RA • In many departments, assignments vary from semester to semester and year to year • TAs & GAs are NYS unionized positions – GSEU • RA are employees of Research Foundation and voted to unionize in December 2008 with collective bargaining in process • Health insurance is a fringe benefit of TA/GA and RA employment – however you must enroll in the plan to be covered

14. TAs & GAs: Paid biweekly, alternating Wednesdays Spring 2011 appointments started on 1/13/2011 State payroll has a 2-week time lag First paycheck for Spring 2011 new appointments should be expected on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 RAs & Research Fellows: Paid biweekly, alternating Fridays Appointment dates vary, dependent on the underlying grant No payroll lag Check with your PI/Advisor regarding your appointment paperwork and when to expect your first pay check Graduate Employment : When will I get paid ? Above dates assume departments met campus deadlines. If you have questions, see your Graduate Coordinator.

15. *Many students come to Stony Brook as “self supporting” (no TA, GA or RA & paying own tuition) * If you’re looking for campus employment ….. Graduate Employment –Are there any other options?

16. Hourly positions (no insurance coverage) are available in many administrative offices and the Library Additional campus employment may be found in the food service areas: Campus Dining Jasmine (located within Wang Center) You can find all these positions by accessing SBU Careeer Center’s new webpage – “Zebra Net” http://www.career.sunysb.edu/ Other Campus Job Opportunities