Graduate Assistantship Orientation Workshop

1. August 2012, Towson University Graduate Assistantship Orientation Workshop

2. Graduate Assistantship Office Contacts Graduate Assistantship Office Coordinator: Jennifer Scott gao@towson.edu Graduate Assistantship Office Administrative Assistant: Cassandra Chambers 410-704-4484 gao@towson.edu

3. Graduate Assistantship Information http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/index.asp • General Information • Assistantship Application (online) • Assistantship Openings Page • Financial Aid Implications • Graduate Assistantship Handbook • External Assistantship Opportunities

4. http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/index.asp

5. Applying for an Assistantship • Graduate Assistantship Application • Graduate Assistantship Openings Page • Contact your Program Director • Independent Networking

6. Graduate Assistantship Application • http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/ga_app.asp • Enter information in all required fields • Paste resume in space provided • Enter validation code • Click “submit” Note: • You must be admitted into a graduate program at TU • Submission of an application does not guarantee that an assistantship will be granted

7. Graduate Assistantship Application: Part I

8. Graduate Assistantship Application: Part II

9. Graduate Assistantship Openings Page http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/opening.asp • See list of current assistantship openings • Click on desired link to view job description • Follow specific instructions to apply Note: • The position does not have to be related to your field of study • The openings listed are not necessarily the only positions available

10. Graduate Assistantship Openings Page Select link of interest to view full description

11. Graduate Assistantship Openings Page

12. Assistantship Openings: Example of Job Description Description/Responsibilities:

13. Assistantship Openings: Example of Job Description, cont. Qualifications/Instructions to apply:

14. Contact your Program Director Inquire about available positions relative to your field of study via your program director: • Graduate-Assistantships • Research-Assistantships • Teaching-Assistantships • Doctoral Research/Teaching-Assistantships Ex. If you are enrolled in the Human Resources Development Program (HRD-M.S.) Contact: Dr. Alan Clardy, Program Director, HRD (M.S.) aclardy@towson.edu

15. Independent Networking Nearly all academic & non-academic departments on campus have at least one graduate assistant position in the works each semester • Navigate the TU net to identify departments of interest • Contact one or all departments to inquire about assistantship opportunities • Be sure to have your resume up-to-date and readily available

16. Hiring Procedures Supervisors/Departments select assistantship candidates via the following methods: • GA Application Database • Response to GA Openings • Internal Selections

17. Hiring Procedures, cont. • Supervisors will choose one or more candidates for a formal interview process before making a decision. • Supervisors will make a selection & offer the student(s) a position • Student accepts the position • Supervisor submits a request form for assistantship position to the Graduate Assistantship Office

18. Confirmation of Assistantship Award Once the position request is approved, the Graduate Assistantship Office will… • Mail assistantship award letter to the student’s address • Contact the student to complete new employee paperwork via email • I-9 form at the Office of Human Resources • Payroll Packet: W-4 form, direct-deposit form, demographic form Note: • Students may not begin working until I-9 is completed • Students will not be paid until payroll packet is completed • Be sure that your current mailing address & email address is accurate in the TU PeopleSoft system)

19. Assistantship Stipend Award • Stipend Award will be issued to student in bi-weekly increments • Stipend Amount is dependant upon position type/hours/semester Ex. 10-hour, graduate-assistant, Fall Only 2012 Total stipend: $1,250 Check payments: $125 Number of pays: 10 Work schedule: 8/15/12 – 12/16/12 Complete information pertaining to assistantship stipend awards is provided in the Graduate Assistantship Handbook: http://grad.towson.edu/finance/ga/files/GAHandbook.pdf

20. Assistantship Tuition Waiver Award Total Tuition Waiver (per semester) 10-hour assistantship, Fall: 6 credits 10-hour assistantship, Spring: 6 credits 10-hour assistantship, Summer: 3 credits 20-hour assistantship, Fall: 12 credits 20-hour assistantship, Spring: 12 credits 20-hour assistantship, Summer: 6 credits Note: Tuition fees are not covered by assistantship

21. Tuition Waiver Process • Student enrolls in graduate courses • Student receives tuition e-bill from bursar’s office via email (typically sent to students@towson.edu account or preferred email account noted in PeopleSoft • Student logs into Towson Online Services account • Student selects “view e-bill” • Student selects “account inquiry” • Student selects “account summary” • Total all fees, and costs not covered by waiver • Submit payment by tuition due date listed Note: Failure to satisfy your portion of the bill by the due date will result in a $75.00 late fee & possible cancellation of courses

22. If a Problem Should Occur Who Should I Contact? Hiring Issues: Supervisor/Department Payment Issues: Payroll Department/GAO Tuition Issues: Bursar’s Office/GAO Loans: Financial Aid SS#/I-20 Renewal (International Students): International Student & Scholar Office (ISSO)

23. Assistant Accountability • Clarify roles/responsibilities with supervisor • Practice open communication • Set learning objectives & goals • Ask for and provide feedback • Ask Questions for clarification • Strive for a healthy balance: work, school, family • Take Initiative • Speak up if you have a conflict

24. Addressing Grievances Defining Actions for Resolution 1. Informal Consultation, supervisor or department 2. Formal Consultation, Dept. Chairperson 3. Formal Complaint, College Dean 4. Formal Appeal, Dean of Graduate Studies Improving Communication Channels • Clarifying work expectations • Clarifying work habits • Obtaining supervision & Feedback • Assessing pitfalls that occur

25. Questions… Contact Jennifer Scott at the Graduate Assistantship Office • gao@towson.edu • 410-704-4484