Graduate Assistantships
Approximately half of ISU’s graduate students receive a graduate assistantship. These graduate teaching, research, and administrative assistantships, and fellowships are available through the individual programs and affiliated research institutes in each academic college. To learn of these opportunities, contact your department or program of interest. For specifics about Graduate Assistantships, please refer to the Graduate College Handbook.
Requirements
Graduate assistants must:
- Be admitted on a full, provisional, or (in limited cases) restricted basis.
- Be registered as a student.
- Devote a specified number of hours per week to the teaching, research, or administrative projects of the sponsoring department or program.
In addition, teaching assistants (and other graduate students who have teaching responsibilities) who are not native speakers of American English must take SPEAK/TEACH (oral proficiency) tests before being assigned teaching duties by their department.If the international TAs test at below level-one they are required to take 1-2 semesters of communication classes. See the testing section for more details.
Stipend
For the 2006-2007 academic year, graduate assistantship stipends for half-time appointments range from $1,250 to $3,000 per month, depending on the program. The stipend is subject to income tax withholding requirements as payment for work. For information on loans and other types of employment, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid, 0210 Beardshear Hall, 515 294-2223.
Tuition and Fee Reduction, and Other Benefits
- Tuition: Graduate assistants with an appointment of one-quarter time or more are assessed resident tuition for each term they have an assistantship. Spouses of graduate assistants are also assessed tuition at the resident rate.
- Graduate College Scholarship: Graduate assistants who are on appointment for at least 3 months during each semester and 6 weeks during the summer, receive a Graduate College Scholarship for a portion of resident tuition (unless they are on restricted admission or academic probation, or they hold a fellowship or traineeship that provides funds for tuition and fee payment). Students who are on half time assistantship or greater and are candidates for doctoral and certain professional master's degrees (M.Arch., M.L.A., and M.F.A.), beginning Summer 2006 will receive a scholarship award that pays 100% of the in-state tuition costs. Master's candidates will receive a 50% tuition scholarship award.
- Computer fee reduction: Graduate assistants are assessed half of the required computer fee for the academic year.
- Health insurance: Graduate assistants receive single student health insurance coverage which includes a prescription drug plan at no charge. (Additional coverage for a spouse, children, and dental is available for additional premiums.)
Graduate assistantship support is generally available for 3 years of full-time study for the master’s degree or 5 years for the doctorate, although shorter periods may be stipulated by individual departments. Graduate assistants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may be paid for other on-campus jobs on an hourly basis as long as the total number of hours worked does not exceed 30 hours per week during the academic year when school is in session or 40 hours per week during the summer. Graduate students who are studying at ISU on a visa should contact the International Education Services office, located in Suite 250/252 in the Memorial Union. |
