Graduate assistantships are available for part-time service (teaching, research or extension) to the department. A quarter-time graduate assistant is expected to provide 10 hours of service per week and a half-time graduate assistant is expected to provide 20 hours of service. Thesis/dissertation research is not to be considered part of these hours.

Departmental funding of assistantships will be limited to the first seven semesters (fall, spring, summer) for Master's students and to the first 11 semesters (fall, spring, summer) for Ph.D. students. Graduate assistantships may be terminated because of time limitations, academic performance or lack of significant progress toward the degree as assessed by the major professor and department chair.

The current starting stipend for half-time assistantships is $17, 292. A tuition waiver will be provided during the period of the assistantship (9 credits each for fall and spring semesters and 4 credits for summer semester). Graduate assistants are exempt from out-of-state tuition and matriculation and infrastructure/technology fees are waived. Graduate assistants are automatically enrolled in a health insurance plan, the premium of which is paid by the university.

More detailed information about graduate assistantships and other types of financial aid can be found on The Graduate School's web pages. Two particular items of interest are the Graduate Assistantships Brochure (pdf file) and the Funding Opportunities page.