Graduate Assistantships Overview

What is a Graduate Assistantship?

An assistantship is awarded to a graduate student who provides teaching (teaching assistantship: TA) or research (research assistantship: RA) support to the University that is a part of their academic program. In recognition of this support, tuition is waived by the University and subsidized health insurance is offered. Graduate Assistants (GAs) are responsible for paying their student fees at the negotiated GA rate.

What is the Eligibility Criteria to be a GA?

To be appointed, to retain an appointment, or to be reappointed, a student must hold Regular (not Provisional) status, must maintain a cumulative average of at least B (3.00) in any course work taken, must be eligible to register (i.e., must not have more than three viable grades of Incomplete on their academic record), must be enrolled in a graduate degree program scheduled to extend through the entire period of the appointment or reappointment, and must be a full-time student.

In order to perform duties with direct instructional responsibilities, a graduate student appointed as a Teaching Assistant will need to provide proof of English proficiency. UConn’s English Proficiency Policy for TAs and Testing Procedures details information about how to provide proof of proficiency.

What is the Appointment Length and Hours Per Week?

Effort devoted to the duties of a graduate assistantship typically range between 10 and 20 hours per week (also sometimes called a “half GA” and “full GA” respectively). Appointments ordinarily are made for the nine-month period, August 23 through May 22, but may be of shorter duration for a variety of reasons.

What Benefits Do GAs Receive?

The Human Resources website has an extensive compilation of information on graduate assistant benefits, payroll, and policies, including detailed information about health insurance benefits. If employed in an assistantship that falls under the Graduate Employee Union (GEU), additional benefits may be described in the GEU contract and on our GA Onboarding page. Please note, GAs employed solely at UConn Health do not fall under the GEU.

Do GAs Receive a Tuition Waiver?

A graduate assistantship provides the student with a tuition waiver for the duration of the appointment in the fall and spring semesters. There is no tuition waiver for summer or winter intersession courses. GAs are still required to pay student fees. When graduate fee bills are calculated by the Office of the Bursar, the tuition waiver will automatically populate to the GA’s fee bill once two items are in place:  an active payroll authorization input by the hiring department and enrollment for the semester in at least six credits.

What are the Stipend Rates?

Stipend rates for graduate assistants are graduated in terms of progress toward the advanced degree and experience.

  • Level B/I: for graduate assistants with at least the baccalaureate.
  • Level M/II: for experienced graduate assistants in a doctoral program with at least the master’s degree or its equivalent in the field of graduate study. Equivalency consists of thirty graduate level credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, together with admission to a doctoral program.
  • Level P/III: for students with experience as graduate assistants who have at least the master’s degree or its equivalent and who have passed the doctoral general examination.

Specific stipend rates may be found on Payroll’s website and will be included in the GA offer letter.

Are GAs Required to Do Any Additional Trainings?

As part of their employee role, GAs are required to participate in these mandatory trainings. There may be additional trainings or orientations required or recommended depending on the specific GA duties.

What is a Supplemental Description of Duties?

In addition to an offer letter for a graduate assistantship, the hiring department must also provide GAs with a Supplemental Description of Duties (SDD) form for each semester they are appointed. This form summarizes the specific duties a GA is expected to perform and may include, among other things, the assigned course, lab, research project, or position; the faculty member to whom the GA will report; course meeting times and location; the maximum number of students for which the GA will be responsible per class, section, lab, etc.; and the work location. The Supplemental Description of Duties must be signed by both the GA’s supervisor and the GA. The Supplemental Description of Duties form may be issued separately from the assistantship offer letter.

Can GAs Hold Additional Employment?

Graduate Assistants seeking on-campus employment or wishing to hold an internship in addition to a full-time (20 hour) GA appointment during the semester must complete the online Supplemental Employment Approval form, which requires their advisor’s approval and is submitted to The Graduate School for final approval. International students on UConn-sponsored visas are not able to work above 20 hours per week during the semester.

Job Offer Acceptance Etiquette

When accepting a job offer feel free to ask clarifying questions. If you feel that you are not being given enough time to make your decision, ask if additional time might be granted. Supervisors are encouraged to give candidates up to a week to accept an offer but sometimes this may not be possible. 

Once accepting an offer and if resigning from a different graduate assistant position, it is recommended that you immediately notify the department of your resignation. This is especially important when departments are already counting on you to teach courses or labs. They would rather know immediately and be able to initiate a hiring process to fill open positions, ensuring that course offerings remain available, etc.  

What Next?

If you are applying to UConn, there is a place within the application where you can indicate that you wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship.

If you have accepted an assistantship offer, please visit our GA Onboarding page. This webpage will orient GAs employed at Storrs and regional campuses who fall under the Graduate Employees Union (GEU) and provide information, resources, and to-do items specific to your role as a GA to help you successfully transition into your assistantship.

Current Opportunities

Are you an academic or non-academic department that would like to advertise a GA position here? If so, please send your job description to gradschool@uconn.edu to be posted. Additional guidance for non-academic units can be found on our Appointing a GA in a Non-Academic Unit page.

Graduate Writing Support Coordinator

Full GA (20 hour/week)

This person leads our efforts to support graduate writers across the university. Specific duties include organizing workshops and writing retreats; representing the Writing Center to the UConn graduate community; doing individualized tutoring/coaching; participating in weekly administrative team meetings; and serving as a core member of the center’s administrative team. Must have a commitment to teaching academic writing, working with multilingual writers, and engaging in interdisciplinary work. Experience with writing centers or peer learning programs preferred. Includes opportunities for doing research and for gaining experience in academic program leadership.

For full consideration, submit application by April 12, 2024 to writingcenter@uconn.edu. 

If you have questions, please email writingcenter@uconn.edu.

Marketing GA – 2024-2025, Center for Career Development

Department

Center for Career Development

 

Graduate Assistant Job Title

Marketing and Communications Graduate Assistant

 

Campus Location

202 Wilbur Cross Building (WCB), Storrs Campus

 

Duration of the position

August 2024 – May 2025 with the potential to renew

 

Hours

20 hours per week, in-person

 

Name and title of individual providing supervision

Evan McMunn, Publicity and Marketing Administrator

 

Three (3) primary Career Readiness Competencies Associated with the role
Communication
Teamwork
Technology

 

Position Summary

The Marketing and Communications Graduate Assistant will directly contribute to the brand awareness strategy of the Center for Career Development. This will be accomplished through various communication channels including but not limited to, email, blogs, social media, and video. The Marketing and Communication Graduate Assistant will also work to further the Career Everywhere movement by assisting in the recruitment of and outreach to Career Champions, who include faculty, staff, employers, and alumni.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Content scheduling – assists Publicity and Marketing Administrator in building out content schedules in coordination with Career Center’s short and long-term goals.
  • Event promotion - markets Career Center events to targeted student populations via email, social media, student organization collaborations, department collaborations, and other UConn communication channels such as Daily Digest and Soapbox.
  • Career Center Development Awareness - Increases awareness of the programs and services offered by the Center via email campaigns, social media posts, original video content, and blog posts.
  • Email Marketing Analysis - Analyzes email communications sent through the Handshake platform and uses the data to inform best practices for future email communication.
  • Social Media Research - Analyzes past social media content to determine what is driving engagement and make recommendations on what content should be increased or decreased. Researches emerging platforms and makes recommendations on joining and posting on additional networks.
  • Website analysis – Audits the Career Center website and reviews peer websites to recommend enhancements and modifications to the website.
  • Blogging - Creates blog posts promoting a combination of Career Center events, resources, and services. Assists in the review and scheduling of all blogs submitted by professional staff, student staff, and guest bloggers. Interviews Career Champions about how they infuse career readiness into their work with students. Uses the interview transcripts to write blog posts and social media content
  • Career Everywhere newsletter - Assists in the creation of content for the monthly Career Everywhere newsletter based on the objectives of senior leadership and the Career Everywhere Committee.
  • Collaborates with the Career Everywhere Committee on projects and administrative tasks related to Career Everywhere and the Career Champion program.
  • Assists the Publicity and Marketing Administrator with overseeing, training, and mentoring a team of undergraduate Marketing Interns.

 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Documented experience in a Marketing or Communications role. This can include experience as an undergraduate student.
  • Excellent storytelling, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to provide clear, concise feedback.
  • Ability to work on tight timelines and shift priorities as needed.
  • Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere.
  • Experience with a website Content Management System such as WordPress.

 

Education and Prior Experience Requirements
Pursuing master’s degree or doctoral degree at the University of Connecticut

 

Application Steps and Materials

Please submit all application materials by email to evan.mcmunn@uconn.edu with the Subject Line: Marketing GA Application. Please include the following application materials:

  1. Résumé
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Contact information for three (3) professional references
  4. Writing Sample. This can include but is not limited to a blog post, newspaper article, social media posts for a club or organization

 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with final submission deadline for consideration: May 24, 2024. Interviews will scheduled on a rolling basis.

 

Compensation and Benefits Statement

Compensation & Benefits: Stipend consistent with UConn Graduate Employee Union (GEU) rates and successful candidate’s level of education. Stipend rates can be found here. See the GEU contract for other generous benefits provided, including paid time off, tuition remission, and subsidized health insurance through the Connecticut Partnership Plan.

 

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer.

 

Questions may be directed to: Evan McMunn, evan.mcmunn@uconn.edu

The Graduate School – GA for Communication + Media

Brief description of the non-academic unit:

The Graduate School is the home for graduate and postdoctoral education at the University of Connecticut. The University offers graduate degree programs in virtually every field of instruction and confers more than 2,200 graduate degrees and certificates every year. The Graduate School nurtures a vibrant community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, fosters collaboration across departments, programs, and campuses in research and teaching, and facilitates the preparation of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for their future careers. The vision for training of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at UConn rests on these pillars: community, collaboration, and preparation. The Graduate School serves as a central resource for applicants to graduate programs, for current graduate students, and for postdoctoral scholars. In addition to supporting graduate students’ academic relationship with the University, The Graduate School seeks to build an active, engaged community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

 

Campus location(s) of non-academic unit:

The Whetton Graduate School, Storrs Campus

 

Graduate Assistant Job Title:

Graduate Assistantship for Communication and Media

 

Position Summary:

This GA will report directly to the Director of Programming and Diversity Recruitment and will support Graduate School communications and marketing, development of our online orientation and beyond orientation programs, as well as website design and updates.

 

Duration of the position: One year (renewable)

 

Hours: This assistantship is a 20 hour per week, 9-month appointment to begin in August; evening or weekend hours may be required. Employment may also be available during the summer. This appointment is for one year with the potential for renewal. Renewal is typically subject to satisfactory performance, department needs, and continued availability of funds.

 

Work location: Whetton Graduate School, Storrs Campus

 

Name and title of individual providing supervision: Stuart Duncan, Director of Programming and Diversity Recruitment

 

Three (3) Primary Career Readiness Competencies Associated with this Role Include:

Critical Thinking Equity & Inclusion Communication

 

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Maintain and support development of The Graduate School’s multi-stage orientation build in Slate
  • Manage marketing, develop social media campaigns, and create content prior to a series of events (events include, but are not limited to, Orientation, Graduate Student Appreciation Week, Post Doc Appreciation Week, monthly Graduate Gathering events, and graduate fellows events)
  • Develop content for and provide leadership to The Graduate School’s online presence via social media, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
  • Support, maintain, and update communication lists and work with The Graduate School staff to post information to various campus communities via Soapbox, the Daily Digest, listservs,
  • Assist in updating, organizing, and improving The Graduate School website
    • Maintain awareness and utilize data analytics to inform the design of the website, as well as to discover areas of interest for our communities
    • Provide technical and creative support in developing web content, possibly including videos, podcasts, and interactive training modules
    • Ensure all material is current and links are active
    • Create content for our website, social media, and orientation including writing, photography, and video production
    • Develop and maintain content on our website, including announcement posts, graduate student and postdoctoral scholars’ profiles/testimonials, and information on events, competitions, and orientations
  • Co-develop marketing materials for graduate recruitment through applications such as InDesign and Publisher
  • Identify newsworthy stories to highlight the scholarship of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars
  • Attend Graduate School events and provide photos, videos and written content
  • Attend staff meetings and retreats of The Graduate School and the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs team
  • Other duties as assigned

 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Experience in web content management and coordination of professional communication
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities
  • Ability to work and communicate effectively with diverse populations and as a team
  • Ability to maintain high standards regarding accuracy and attention to detail

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Ability to use or learn how to use Aurora/Word Press, social media platforms, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite and other new software
  • Experience designing marketing and recruiting materials and experience using social media platforms

 

Education and Prior Experience Requirements:

 

Application Steps & Materials

Please submit all application materials by email to Stuart.Duncan@UConn.edu with the Subject line: Graduate Assistantship for Communication and Media

 

Include the following materials

  1. cover letter
  2. resume/CV
  3. names and contact information for two references

 

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with priority given for applications submitted by May 1, 2024 and a final submission deadline for consideration by May 30, 2024.

 

Compensation and Benefits Statement

Compensation & Benefits: Stipend consistent with UConn Graduate Employee Union (GEU) rates and successful candidate’s level of education. Stipend rates can be found here. See the GEU contract for other generous benefits provided, including paid time off, tuition remission, and subsidized health insurance through the Connecticut Partnership Plan.

 

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer.

 

Questions may be directed to: Dr. Stuart Paul Duncan, stuart.duncan@uconn.edu

The Graduate School – GA for Programming

Brief description of the non- academic unit:

The Graduate School is the home for graduate and postdoctoral education at the University of Connecticut. The University offers graduate degree programs in virtually every field of instruction and confers more than 2,200 graduate degrees and certificates every year. The Graduate School nurtures a vibrant community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, fosters collaboration across departments, programs, and campuses in research and teaching, and facilitates the preparation of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars for their future careers. The vision for training graduate students and postdoctoral scholars at UConn rests on these pillars: community, collaboration, and preparation. The Graduate School serves as a central resource for applicants to graduate programs, for current graduate students, and for postdoctoral scholars. In addition to supporting graduate students’ academic relationship with the University, The Graduate School seeks to build an active, engaged community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

 

Campus location(s) of non- academic unit:

The Graduate School, Storrs Campus

 

Graduate Assistant Job Title:

Graduate Assistantship for Programming

 

Position Summary:

The GA will report directly to Stuart Duncan, The Director of Programming and Diversity Recruitment (Stuart.Duncan@UConn.edu) and will work closely with other members of The Graduate School staff on projects supporting the community of graduate students and postdoctoral scholars. Specific duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on office needs.

 

Duration of the position:

One year (renewable)

 

Hours:

This assistantship is a 20 hour per week, 9-month appointment to begin in August; evening or weekend hours may be required. Employment may also be available during the summer. This appointment is for one year with the potential for renewal. Renewal is typically subject to satisfactory performance, department needs, and continued availability of funds.

 

Work location:

The Graduate School, Storrs Campus

 

Name and title of individual providing supervision:

Stuart Duncan, Director of Programming and Diversity Recruitment

 

Three (3) Primary Career Readiness Competencies Associated with this Role Include:

Critical Thinking

Equity & Inclusion

Leadership

 

Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • In collaboration with the supervisor and other members of the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs team, organize, manage, and facilitate several signature events, including:
    • Graduate Student Appreciation Week
    • Post-doctoral Scholars Appreciation Week
    • The Graduate School Fellows Events
    • Network for Enriched Mentorship Events
    • New Graduate Student Orientation
    • Affinity-based Programming
    • Three-minute Thesis Competition
    • Post-doc Seed Award
    • Grad Student Resource Fair
  • Manage program/event logistics such as room reservations and catering; facilitate the sign-up process; develop pre-/post-feedback materials; attend events, including set-up and breakdown.
  • Provide leadership, vision, and overall management of regularly scheduled events for graduate and postdoctoral communities.
  • Provide co-leadership in developing our professional development support and mentorship for graduate students, including online support of graduate students.
  • Provide programmatic support for initiatives from the Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education and Dean of The Graduate School.
  • Support communications from The Graduate School to the graduate student and postdoctoral scholar community.
  • Assist as needed with collaborations with the Graduate Student Senate and other student-facing units across the University.
  • Attend staff meetings and retreats of The Graduate School and the Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Affairs team.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications

  • Candidates must possess exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, strong organizational skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and the willingness to work and communicate effectively with diverse populations and as a team.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to learn new software is crucial.
  • High standards regarding accuracy and attention to detail are required, as is the ability to use experience and good judgment to make appropriate decisions.

 

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience working with students in a programming capacity (residential life, student affairs, first-year experience, student activities or equivalent)

 

Application Steps & Materials

Please submit all application materials by email to Stuart.Duncan@UConn.edu with the Subject line: Graduate Assistantship for Communication and Media

Include the following materials:

  1. cover letter
  2. resume/CV
  3. names and contact information for two references

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with priority given for applications submitted by May 1, 2024, and a final submission deadline for consideration by May 30, 2024.

 

Compensation and Benefits Statement

Compensation & Benefits: Stipend consistent with UConn Graduate Employee Union (GEU) rates and successful candidate’s level of education. Stipend rates can be found here. See the GEU contract for other generous benefits provided, including paid time off, tuition remission, and subsidized health insurance through the Connecticut Partnership Plan.

 

The University of Connecticut is an AA/EEO employer.

 

Questions may be directed to: Dr. Stuart Paul Duncan, stuart.duncan@uconn.edu