Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships

The university awards, on a competitive merit basis, a number of graduate assistantships for qualified graduate degree-seeking students in most degree areas of graduate study. A Bachelor's degree must be conferred and a successful criminal background check must be completed for all applicants seeking an assistantship. A student with an assistantship cannot hold another position on campus at the same time while on contract.

The maximum time that a graduate student may hold an assistantship is for a total of four academic semesters, unless approved by the Graduate Dean in consultation with the department chair for extenuating circumstances.

Students with an assistantship must be registered in a minimum of six graduate hours in courses approved on the program of study for fall and spring semesters (three credit hours for summer semesters). However, in order to be considered a full-time graduate student, a graduate assistant must be registered in a minimum of nine graduate credit hours for fall and spring semesters.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are provided tuition waivers based on the below chart. Unless otherwise noted, Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) and Administrative/General Graduate Assistants (GAs) are not provided tuition assistance. All students with an assistantship are provided on-campus tuition and fee rates, regardless of citizenship and/or residency.

All assistantship applications must be completed via Workday and required supporting materials must be sent directly to the Graduate School. No application can be reviewed until all materials are submitted and the student has been admitted to a graduate degree program.

Departments sometime secure private funds, governmental grants, and other funds that may assist graduate students financially and professionally. Inquiries concerning departmental assistantships, which carry no tuition waivers, should be directed to the chair of the departmental major. The student seeking departmental assistantships must also apply through the Graduate School via Workday.

***Graduate Assistantships will not be counted toward the proof of funds but will be listed as additional funds on the I-20 document. Students must be able to provide proof of the required funding regardless of holding an assistantship position. This is in the event that the assistantship is lost or discontinued.

Per Semester

The number in parentheses indicates the percent assignment based upon 40 hours.

To apply for a Graduate Assistantship:

• Current students who have a Workday account (are currently employed by FHSU):

Log in to your FHSU Workday account. In the search bar type "Find Student Jobs" and click the report link. Click apply for graduate assistantship position and turn in the Consent to Background check form to the Graduate School Office.

• Currently, there is not a way to view or apply for graduate assistant positions unless you have been admitted as a graduate student and have a Workday account. 

You will need to fill out an application for each type position you are interested in. Please indicate each semester that you are interested in, up to four semesters (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024).

Background Check Consent Form:

• Consent to Background Check
• Summary of Rights

*A criminal background check is required to be completed before any benefits from the position can be issued (stipend, tuition assistance, in-state rate). For international students, a Social Security Number is required to be obtained before we can start the background check. Please contact International Student Services for the process needed to obtain a Social Security Number.

Once you are hired, your employee onboarding process will kick off in Workday. Employee onboarding includes completing the required forms online and presenting required identification documents to the Student Employment Office. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has a complete list of acceptable documents. The most common documents for students to present include the following:

• social security card or state-issued birth certificate;
• and
• photo ID such as driver's license or Tiger card;
  or
• U.S. passport, when applicable.

All employee onboarding forms and identification documents must be completed/presented before you are allowed to clock in and begin working. Your supervisor will receive a notification when your employee onboarding is complete and you are authorized to begin working.

Mandatory Requirements for all Graduate Assistants

Each year, all Graduate Assistants are required to attend orientation, which is held the Friday before classes begin in the Fall semester. All on-campus Graduate Assistants must attend this orientation in accordance with their position. In addition to attending orientation, all Graduate Assistants are required to complete Sexual Harassment/Title IX training during the first semester/term of employment. Even as a returning Graduate Assistant, these conditions are mandatory.

Timesheet Entry for FHSU Student Employee: Exempt/Salary