Graduate Assistantships

The School of Graduate Studies assists academic and administrative units with hiring forms for Graduate Assistants (GA) or Graduate Research Assistants (GRA). This form of financial support is available to fully matriculated students through the individual administrative or academic units. The level of support for these assistantships, as well as the requirements and job duties, vary from college to college. However, the main characteristics of each are detailed below.

All graduate student employees and hiring supervisors are expected to be familiar with the Graduate Student Employee handbook.

Available Job Opportunities

All available graduate employment opportunities, including GA/GRA positions, are posted on the Graduate Student Job Board. Rowan students can view positions on the Job Board and click to view additional information and application instructions in PROFS JOBS. Please note that if you email the School of Graduate Studies or Graduate Research Services, we will direct you to the above job board.

If you are a potential student who does not have Rowan login credentials yet, you may view a list of open positions that are updated each week.

Graduate Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants

Graduate Assistants (GA) are graduate students who provide academic and program support. GA responsibilities may include assisting with the administration of student services, participating in student recruiting, assisting in program planning, and advising undergraduate student groups. GA responsibilities may also be academic in nature, which may include assisting instructors with laboratory sessions and assignments, setting up displays for lectures or laboratory sections, preparing or maintaining equipment used in laboratory sections, and assisting researchers with the collection of data and bibliography.

Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) are graduate students conducting academically significant research under the direction of a faculty member, who is generally a principal investigator on an external grant or contract. GRAs are awarded by departments and professors who are engaged in research projects and provide exciting opportunities to participate in new and ongoing research activities conducted at Rowan University. Since GRAs are typically funded by sponsored research grants, the stipend and tuition compensation level may vary with the nature of the grant.

Most GA/GRA contracts span the the entire academic year. However, in rare cases where funding is not guaranteed for an entire academic year, a GA/GRA contract may be offered for a single semester and renewed if funding permits.

A full-time GA/GRA requires a 20-hour per week commitment and may receive tuition remission (typically 9 credits) of course work related to their major or program and/or a stipend each semester. Full-time GAs/GRAs are committed to 20 hours per week and cannot work additional jobs on campus.
A part-time GA/GRA requires a 10-hour per week commitment and may receive tuition remission (typically 6 credits) of course work related to their major or program and/or a stipend each semester. Part-time GAs/GRAs are committed to 10 hours per week and can work additional jobs on campus not exceeding 20 hours per week.

Instructions for Hiring Managers

Once a hiring decisions has been made, the student and hiring supervisor should fill out and sign the Terms and Conditions of Appointment to a GA/GRA. The Terms and Conditions form can be revised if additional job duties are assigned. For example, if a teaching or supplemental research component is added after initial hiring, the form must be filled out again to reflect the increase the student's stipend per the additional job descriptions. Students may not work more than 20-hours per week on-campus in any combination of duties.

The form the hiring supervisor/delegate uses to initiate hiring a GA/GRA is located on Banner Self-Service. After logging in, navigate to the Employee Dashboard. In the right-hand menu you will see "Submit Electronic Forms." On this page, find the Graduate Assistant form and route that for approvals. The signed Terms and Conditions of Employment Form must be attached to the Graduate Assistant hiring form.

For students who are re-hired, a new application and a new Terms and Conditions of Employment Form is required. If a new I-9 form must be completed, Human Resources will notify the student and the hiring manager. Otherwise, unless the student would like to make a change to their tax withholding (W-4) or Direct Deposit information, no other employment forms are necessary for returning students.

Please note that if a potential GA was working any other student employment position, the hiring supervisor must terminate that position before the start of a full-time GA assignment (full-time GAs may not have other on-campus employment positions).

For more assistance with the hiring paperwork and forms, please e-mail graduateresearch@rowan.edu.

Instructions for Hired Students

It is the responsibility of the student to submit the following forms and materials to the appropriate Rowan office: state and federal W-4, Direct Deposit form, and I-9. Students can find information on how to complete these forms on this page: https://sites.rowan.edu/hr/recruitment_and_staffing/student_payments.html (click on "HIREtech & I-9s" and "Student Employment Forms" for form instructions.

GA/GRA Employment Terms & Conditions

Typically, GA/GRAs are hired for the academic year. Assignments may end either on the last day of the semester or on June 30. Ending the assignment on the last day of the semester allows students to seek additional employment if project work will not continue through June 30. Single-semester hires will be considered on a case-by-case basis subject to certain conditions.
Stipend pay periods start on the date of hire and end after the contracted period ends as determined on the Terms and Conditions of Appointment to a GA/GRA.
Full-time GA/GRAs are committed to 20 hours per week and cannot work additional jobs on campus. Part-time GA/GRAs are committed to 10 hours per week and can work additional jobs on campus not to exceed 20 hours per week.
GA/GRAs are generally not expected to work during winter break or spring break unless discussed with the hiring supervisor. Stipends are, however, divided over the full contractual period, so students will receive paychecks during winter and spring breaks. Total stipend amount should take periods of non-work into consideration.
Normally, GA work assignments take place during regular business hours. However, temporary work assignments may be made in the evenings or on weekends to meet special needs. Due to the nature of research, GRAs may be required to be available outside of normal working hours as agreed upon prior to accepting the position.
GA/GRAs are not required to work on formally declared federal or state holidays. Those wishing to observe other religious holidays should make the necessary arrangements with their work supervisors.
GA/GRAs who are absent during their regular scheduled work assignments are expected to make up lost time.
Full-time GA/GRAs are subject to the following terms and conditions:
- Required to maintain full-time status of a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester during the fall and spring semesters, a courseload that is equivalent to full-time per the program curriculum, or is enrolled in credits related to dissertation or benchmarks. Only courses that apply to the degree are eligible for tuition remission.
- Expected to work 20 hours per week.
- Must carry a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
- Must perform the assigned duties and responsibilities successfully. GA/GRAs who fail to honor these commitments are subject to termination.
Part-time GA/GRAs are subject to the following terms and conditions:
- Required to maintain 6 credit hours per semester during the fall and spring semesters. Only courses that apply to the degree are eligible for the tuition remission.
- Expected to work 10 hours per week.
- Must carry a minimum 3.0 grade point average.
- Must perform the assigned duties and responsibilities successfully. GA/GRAs who fail to honor these commitments are subject to termination.
University fees and health insurance costs are typically not covered by the hiring unit and become the responsibility of the student.
GA/GRAs who are terminated or who resign before the end of the period of appointment are subject to the following:
- If the termination or resignation is effective at the end of the semester, but prior to the end of the period of the work assignment, the stipend will cease upon the date of termination or resignation; however, the tuition waiver for the current semester will not be in jeopardy. The student will forfeit any tuition waiver and stipends for the succeeding semesters.
- If the termination or resignation becomes effective at any time during the fall or spring semester, the student will be responsible for that semester's tuition that has been waived. The stipend will cease with the effective date of termination or resignation.

Contact Information

Hiring managers who have questions regarding the GA/GRA hiring process can contact the Office of Graduate Research Services at graduateresearch@rowan.edu