A limited number of graduate assistant positions are available to qualified graduate students. Units must have graduate assistant budget allocation in order to make appointments. Appropriate documentation indicating graduate assistant appointments must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs each semester. The Student Employment office is responsible for all employment and payroll documents.
Minimum Qualifications.
Applications for graduate assistants should be addressed to the head of the department in which the student will do the major work. Minimum qualifications for a student receiving a graduate assistant appointment:
1. Must be enrolled in a McNeese State University graduate program and seeking a graduate degree;
2. Must be enrolled in at least six hours of graduate course work toward the degree or thesis for the semester;
3. Must be in good standing (academic and otherwise) with the University.
Graduate Assistant appointments are made to qualified graduate students on a semester by semester basis only. A student may hold a maximum of 1½ assistantships per semester provided service is proportionate. Reappointment is contingent upon satisfactory progress toward the degree and satisfactory performance of graduate assistant duties. Satisfactory progress toward the degree is defined as completion of a minimum of 6 hours of graduate course work each semester applicable to the degree.
Duties and Responsibilities.
Duties and responsibilities expected of a graduate assistant must be communicated clearly to the student assistant by the supervisor. Teaching Graduate Assistants are employed according to the University’s academic calendar (from the first day of classes through the last day of final examinations) for each term. Non-Teaching Graduate Assistants are employed with varying employment dates which are announced by the Student Employment office each semester. Some departments/units may require graduate assistants to work prior to or beyond the defined academic calendar, but no more than the cumulative hours required in a normal employment term.
The University requires the following service for a full assistantship:
1. Teaching Graduate Assistants teach two undergraduate classes or an equivalent of lab supervision (may include more than two labs). A teaching graduate assistant may be assigned responsibility for teaching a class only after he/she has completed at least eighteen graduate hours in the field to be taught; however, a teaching graduate assistant may supervise labs without having earned 18 graduate hours. Teaching Graduate Assistants should consult with the department head to verify specific responsibilities for their classes and the undergraduate students they will teach; departments must supply the Teaching Graduate Assistant Handbook to teaching assistants. Revised May 30, 2006
2. Non-Teaching Graduate Assistants (teaching, research, or administrative) perform twenty hours of service per week during the semester. These assistants may perform a combination of duties to assist with labs, instruction, research, clerical and/or administrative operations.
Unless otherwise approved by the President’s Executive Staff, Teaching Graduate Assistants receive a stipend for work responsibilities and exemption of one-half of the tuition portion of the student’s fees and exemption of non-resident fees if applicable. Non-Teaching Graduate Assistants receive an hourly wage for hours worked, and receive the same tuition exemption as Graduate Teaching Assistants. For Non-Teaching Graduate Assistants, the waiver of tuition is considered taxable income.
Graduate students who resign assistantships during the semester or are terminated after the end of late registration do not reimburse the institution for the pro-rated share of their exempted tuition; however, they are ineligible for future employment as graduate assistants unless approved by the Graduate School dean. Assistantships may be revoked at any time duties are not fulfilled satisfactorily.
Because of their role as student and employee, graduate assistants assume particular responsibility for upholding the University’s Student Code of Conduct. All graduate assistants should be provided a copy of the McNeese State University Graduate Student Orientation Handbook. Teaching graduate assistants must uphold responsibilities according to relevant sections of the McNeese State University Faculty/Staff Handbook. Supervisors should supply appropriate handbooks to the assistant.
Summer Session Graduate Assistants.
A limited number of assistantships are available for the summer session. Students must be enrolled in a graduate degree program for at least 3 credit hours.
