Students who are awarded a fellowship or an assistantship for the fall and/or spring semester assume a contract with the University and are expected to give their full-time attention to graduate study in those semesters. Students are classified as "on contract" if paid at least 50% of the U.D. minimum stipend and 50% of tuition in the fall and/or spring semester. Students who receive no stipend but receive a departmental tuition scholarship of at least 50% in the fall and/or spring semester and are matriculated as full-time students are also classified as "on contract." Students who are classified as research assistants and are paid at least 100% of the minimum stipend in the months of June and July and/or August are classified as "on contract" in the summer months.
● Nine graduate credits or sustaining in the fall and spring semesters is the minimum registration requirement to be classified as a full-time student for those who receive a fellowship.
● Six graduate credits or sustaining in the fall and spring semesters is the minimum registration requirement for students to be classified as a full-time student for those who receive an assistantship. Programs may require that students register in more than six credits if holding an assistantship as stated in the plan of study for that program.
● Three graduate credits in research or sustaining in the 7 1/2-week summer session is the minimum registration requirement for students to be classified as a full-time student for those who receive a 100% research assistantship in the summer.
● Registration is not required in Winter Session for students who are classified "on contract" when the contract is written to include the fall and spring semesters.
● Students classified as graduate or research assistants are required to provide an average of 20 hours of service per week in the winter session as part of their fall and spring award.
● Students who receive 100% of the minimum stipend and a 100% tuition scholarship may not hold additional employment on or off campus. As with any professional appointment, the amount of service may vary from week to week, but the average is usually expected to be no more than 20 hours of service per week for the U.D. minimum stipend. Dean's permission is required for any exception to this "no other employment policy" and must be approved by the Office of Graduate and Professional Education.
● Students who receive less than a 100% minimum stipend and are expected to provide service of less than 20 hours per week may accept additional work on or off campus.
● Students who receive a departmental tuition scholarship only (no stipend) may accept additional work on or off campus.
● Students who are classified as "on contract" are eligible to receive the medical and/or dental insurance reduction benefit.
● Students who withdraw or are dismissed from the University during the time of the contract appointment will become responsible for the tuition in that semester.
● The appointment is for the time period as indicated on the contract form and the unit does not need to report non-renewal to the student.
● Federal and state taxes, if applicable, will be withheld from the stipend check.
● Tuition scholarships are not taxed. (Students may not work for tuition.)
● Attendance at the Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) workshop is required for all first time GTAs. International GTAs must also attend the ELI ITA training program and meet the SPEAK/UDIA score requirements to be eligible for a GTA appointment.
● Students holding assistantships are expected to be at the assistantship site except for times when the University is officially closed or as noted on the contract form in the reporting hours section. Winter session is considered a regular session and graduate and research assistants are required to be at their assignment site during the winter session time period if the contract has been written from 9/1 through 5/31.
● This contract does not provide for payment of the Student fees that are charged by the University each semester unless so noted as part of the contract.
● An offer of continuation of the appointment is contingent upon satisfactory performance of assigned duties each semester, continued academic eligibility in each semester (minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00), compliance with the University’s Code of Conduct, availability of funds and stated policies of the program as to the number of semesters that a student is eligible to receive fellowships or assistantships.
● Any exception to the policies stated must be presented in writing by the appropriate departmental/college office to the Office of Graduate and Professional Education for consideration and action.
