GradAsstHandbook.pdf

GRADUATE ASSISTANT

HANDBOOK

G raduate a ssistant H andbook

W elcome

As a graduate assistant, you will contribute in signiicant ways to

the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. For many new freshmen, you will be

the irst contact in the classroom, and your interactions with students will

deine for them the climate of UTK. UTK, in turn, wants to ensure that your

status as a student is acknowledged as the main reason you are working

here. An assistantship is awarded primarily to help you complete your

degree program in a timely fashion and to provide a positive introduction

to your chosen profession. We know that it is a dificult balancing act to

pursue a graduate degree while assisting in teaching, administrative, or

research work at UTK. We hope that this Handbook will answer many of

your questions and offer some helpful advice about making sure you get

the most out of your assistantship.

D r . A nne M Ayhew , D eAn of G rADuAte S tuDieS

Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs

D r . M Ary e. P APke

Associate Dean of Graduate Studies

D r . k Ay r eeD

Assistant to the Dean of Graduate Studies

G raduate a ssistant H andbook

C O N T E N T S

PAGe

1. Basic facts, regulations, and expectations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

2. What is an assistantship? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

3. What are the different types of assistantships? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

4. Are there any other requirements than those listed above

for graduate teaching assistants and associates? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

5. Is the department obliged to offer orientation and

training of graduate assistants? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

6. Besides one-fourth time and half-time, are there any other

term stipulations in the offer?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

7. How much do I work each week? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

8. How does the assistantship affect the number of hours in

which I must be enrolled? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

9. Can I hold another job in addition to my assistantship? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

10. What is timely progress toward my degree? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

11. How long can I hold my assistantship? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

12. What must I do to be reappointed as an assistant? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

13. What if I have a complaint about my supervisor or department

about the work required of me? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

14. What do I need to know about intellectual property rights? . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

15. What do I need to know about sexual harassment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

16. What is in my paycheck? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

17. What do I need to know about my health insurance? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

18. Do I receive any other beneits besides health insurance?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

19. What if I need a leave of absence because of health, family,

or other personal issues? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

20. Do graduate students have a voice in the governance

of the university? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

List of References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Appendix: Offer template. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

G raduate a ssistant H andbook

1. Basic facts, regulations, and expectations

Graduate students play a vital role in scholarship and instruction at the University of

Tennessee, Knoxville. This handbook will identify a number of the professional and academic

issues you may encounter in your graduate studies and in your employment. The goal is to

clarify and explore frequently asked questions about assistantship duties and workloads,

the importance of professional development, and other concerns commonly experienced by

those just starting out in their scholarly endeavors. These concerns include deinition of duties,

information about workload, terms of assistantships, grievance procedures, contract-renewal

information, explanation of stipend disbursement, tuition waivers and employee beneits, and

participation in UTK governance.

In recognition of the multiple duties that graduate students perform as beginning

scholars, researchers, administrative assistants, and teachers, this handbook aims to clarify your

rights and responsibilities at UTK. In your unique position—as both student and employee of

UTK—you are protected by UTK, as well as by state and federal law.

Either before or shortly after your arrival on campus, your department should provide you

with a graduate studies handbook speciic to your program. You need to study that document

carefully since department rules and regulations can vary from general university policy and in

cases of such variance will inevitably be stricter than the general rules described here. Many

departments offer access to their handbook electronically (go to UTK’s homepage at

http://www.utk.edu , access the A-Z Index, and click on your department or program). You

should also be offered general orientation to your program of study, faculty, and facilities.

You already will have received your letter offering an assistantship and a notiication of

your duties (see the offer template in the appendix for the type of information that should have

been included in your letter). You are now a graduate assistant, a graduate research assistant,

a graduate teaching assistant, or a graduate teaching associate. For the sake of brevity and

conciseness, sometimes the term “graduate assistant” in this document is used generically. As

you will learn, there are different types, terms, qualiications, requirements, and expectations. Be

sure to identify what pertains to your award and, consequently, your rights and responsibilities.

2. What is an assistantship?

An assistantship is an appointment as a student employee, which offers a inancial

payment to a graduate student for part-time work in teaching, administration, or research.

Appointments are normally on a one-fourth or one-half time basis, and the annual stipend is

payable in either nine or twelve monthly installments. For those with a nine-month appointment,

payment over twelve months will ensure summer eligibility for fee waivers. In addition to the

G raduate a ssistant H andbook

stipend, graduate assistants are entitled to a waiver of most fees for the period of appointment

in accordance with university policy. University fees include a maintenance fee (required of

all students), tuition (an additional charge only for out-of-state students), a programs and

services fee, a technology fee, a facilities fee, and a transportation fee. The waiver of fees

for assistantships applies only to maintenance and tuition fees and only to appointments at

one-fourth time or more. You will still be responsible for the programs and services fee, the

technology fee, the facilities fee, and the transportation fee. In 2005-2006, these fees will

total approximately $400.00 per semester, with some students paying more fees related to

their academic programs. For graduate research assistants, the maintenance fee is paid by the

granting agency and is in addition to the stipend paid; tuition for out-of-state students is paid

centrally by the university administration.

An assistantship of one-fourth time or higher also includes health insurance. To maintain

health insurance through the summer months, a student must be enrolled in course hours or the

use-of-facilities course for at least three hours of credit. Other important conditions related to

health insurance access are discussed in the answer to question 17. Your assistantship, if paid

over twelve months, will cover maintenance and tuition for summer registration, but you will be

responsible for all other fees.

3. What are the different types

of assistantships?

There are four different categories of assistantships. You have been assigned an

assistantship in a particular category. The descriptions below indicate what is expected of you

and what you can expect of your department, program, or ofice.

Graduate Assistant. Graduate assistants are appointed to perform various types of

duties other than those related directly to teaching or research. Most commonly, these duties

relate to supervisory or administrative functions of the university.

Graduate Research Assistant. Graduate research assistants perform duties

in support of university research, which may or may not relate directly to the student’s thesis

or dissertation. A student appointed as a GRA works under the direct supervision of the

administrator of the research contract, who often may be his/her major professor. Research

assistantships may be inanced through funds from gifts, grants, contracts, state appropriations

designated for research, or through the university’s internally sponsored programs. Department

heads are responsible for assuring that GRAs receive ample opportunities to make continuing

progress toward their degrees.

Graduate Teaching Assistant. Graduate teaching assistants work under the direct

supervision of regular faculty members and may be assigned only to duties related directly

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