Financial Support
Assistantships
3.1 About Assistantships
3.1.1 Obtaining an Assistantship
3.1.2 Work Assignments and Course Loads
3.1.3 Grading Assistance
3.1.4 Laboratory Assistance
3.2 Continuing An Assistantship
3.3 Definitions
3.4 Minimum Conditions for Reappointment (RA and TA)
3.6 Changing Between an RA and TA
3.7 Duration of Assistantship Support
Note: Master's students awarded research or teaching assistantships are required to choose the thesis option.
A Research Assistantship (RA) is a fractional-time professional appointment to assist a faculty member in a specific research project. The faculty specifies the work to be accomplished by the RA during the appointment. There is a wide latitude in the types of work an RA may do for the research effort, and the time spent in various aspects may vary widely. As a guide, a half-time appointment should average about 20 hours per week, with other fractional appointments in proportion.
A Teaching Assistantship (TA) is a fractional-time professional appointment. A Teaching Assistant provides professional assistance as either a grader or as a laboratory assistant. The GSC and the Associate Director make TA assignments.
The TA is expected to report to the School of EECS, one week prior to START of classes; if he/she fails to do so, the assistantship will be revoked immediately. The TA’s responsibilities are not completed until the final course grading is completed, unless excused earlier by the instructor.
The specific work duties are the responsibility of the faculty member to whom the TA is assigned. TAs usually have contact with students and may teach laboratory courses or recitation sections, grade course related materials, and perform other support work for a faculty member. The TA is expected to be familiar with the course material and/or laboratory and experiments before the beginning of classes. The TA may be required to attend the lectures if so specified by the course instructor. Foreign students must have passed the English proficiency examination required by the Graduate School prior to assignment.
3.1 About Assistantships
3.1.1 Obtaining an Assistantship
A beginning graduate student who meets the admission requirements of EECS and the Graduate School is eligible to apply for a graduate Teaching Assistantship (TA) or Research Assistantship (RA). Formal application must be made to the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (usually at the time of application for admission).
If an assistantship is not awarded for the first semester of graduate work, the student may apply for support for subsequent semesters by filling out an assistantship request form available from the Graduate Coordinator.
3.1.2 Work Assignments and Course Loads
Assistantship students are expected to be available for performance of their duties beginning one week prior to classes through the date grades are due at the end of the semester. Assistantships require a work commitment of about 20 hours per week.
Graduate assistants are required to choose the thesis option and must register for 16 credit hours. This total includes graded course work, and research hours.
3.1.3 Grading Assistance
A TA assigned as a grader may review, critique, and grade problem sets, exercises, reports, examinations and other written or oral material. A grader may assist in preparing programs, problem sets, and contribute to examination sets.
3.1.4 Laboratory Assistance
The lab TA assists in the laboratory by interpreting the laboratory instructions, demonstrating proper use of equipment and supplies, answering students’ questions, encouraging students to perform quality work and investigating odd or unexpected results. The TA may aid in preparing experiments and exams, performing demonstrations, preparing and grading reports and examinations.
Laboratory assistance may include helping students learn computer techniques.
3.2 Continuing an Assistantship
It is the intention of the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science to continue financial support through the timely completion of the degree program. However, appointments are competitively based and dependent upon funding available to the school. Students must reapply every semester and continuation or renewal of an assistantship is contingent upon:
- Satisfactory academic progress,
- Satisfactory performance of assistantship duties,
- Professional and personal conduct of an exemplary nature,
- And for non-native English speaking students, passing the required oral English exam.
Students will be evaluated on the quality and quantity of work performed. The Graduate Studies Committee, with the recommendation of the student’s supervisor and advisor, awards assistantship renewals.
Research Assistants
The research supervisor determines satisfactory progress.
Teaching Assistants
- A student is required to enroll in 3 graded courses unless his or her course work is essentially complete.
- The MS program must be filed by the end of the second semester of enrollment.
- The PhD program must be filed by the end of the fourth semester of enrollment.
3.3 Definitions
Regular TA Appointment:
Any appointment resulting from the normal reappointment of existing TAs and any new appointment made from a list of candidates approved by the department at the normal fall and spring selection times (approximately November 1st and April 1st).
Special TA Appointment:
These are exceptional appointments, such as to fill unexpected mid-semester resignations, or to fill any temporary teaching assistant positions.
RA Appointment:
These appointments are offered to students by principal investigators on funded projects. The Graduate Coordinator or Associate Chair, however, should be informed of such offers as early as possible to assist in departmental planning.
3.4 Minimum Conditions for Reappointment (RA and TA)
Only students on regular TA appointments are eligible for reappointment.
Students who once held but do not currently hold appointments are to be placed in competition with new applicants for available positions.
The department has established the following criteria as the minimum standard for reappointment. (Reappointments are subject to the availability of positions.)
- Satisfactory progress in research as determined by research advisor.
- A cumulative GPA at or above 3.4 and no more than one semester with a semester GPA below 3.0.
- Satisfactory progress in coursework as determined by the student’s advisory committee and/or the graduate coordinator.
- (Teaching Assistants only) Satisfactory performance as a TA as determined by faculty supervisor.
- (Teaching Assistants only) Passage of TA oral English exam (for non-native English speaking students).
3.5 Termination Conditions
Unsatisfactory performance of duties as a teaching or research assistant.
A semester GPA below 2.5 at any time or a semester GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 for more than one semester.
Failure to file a program by required date.
Violation of academic integrity policy.
Failure to pass the TA oral English exam (for non-native English speaking students applying).
3.6 Changing Between an RA and TA
Students can switch from a TA position to an RA position if they find a suitable research project and arrangements are made with the principal investigator in charge of that research project and the Associate Director.
A student holding an RA position, however, cannot be automatically switched to a TA position. A formal request must be made to the Graduate Studies Committee (through the Graduate Coordinator) during the semester preceding the semester in which the change is to be effective. In addition, the student should request that the principal investigator write a letter to the Graduate Studies Committee explaining the circumstances of the RA termination and an assessment of the student’s potential as a TA. This procedure applies to both MS and PhD students.
3.7 Duration of Assistantship Support
State supported assistantships for MS thesis students are normally continued for three semesters with a maximum of four semesters. Students should be aware that it may be necessary to work on their research during the summer even if they do not have a TA. Very few TA positions are available in Summer Session.
PhD students have a major commitment to research. As such, it is customary for a PhD student to hold an RA position. Departmental support (in the form of a TA) for PhD students is offered to some new students and some continuing students on a funds-available basis. Students holding a TA are generally expected to obtain RA support before becoming a PhD candidate (i.e., when the student passes the preliminary examination). Financial support questions for PhD students should be coordinated through their advisor.