The Graduate College Funding Model

1. Graduate Assistantships (GAs)
   1. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) are appointed in academic departments or programs to support the university's instructional mission. NC A&T faculty members oversee all GTA duties. There are two types of GTAs: Instructor of Record and Instructional Assistant.
      1. Instructor of Record – Must have at least 18 hours of graduate-level coursework completed in the subject area. Must be credentialed by the Office of Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (OSPIE).
      2. Instructional Assistant – Assists the Instructor of Record with grading, lab sections, recitations, proctoring examinations, etc.
   2. Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are appointed in academic departments or programs to support the university’s research mission by conducting research in an area relevant to their major course of study under the direction of a faculty member.
   3. Graduate Administrative Assistants (GAAs) are appointed in academic departments or programs to support the administrative operations of the various university departments.
      
      
2. Doctoral Student Compensation - GTAs enrolled full-time are funded by the Graduate College or through designated college-level tuition/assistantships. Other Assistantship types are supported by a variety of sources (including the Graduate College, the academic College or Department, grant funding, or other sources). Doctoral students will receive funding as long as they remain eligible:
   1. A one-year funding commitment which may be renewed for a maximum of two years. Doctoral students should be supported by a GRA funded from other sources, i.e. faculty research grants, for the remainder of their program.
   2. Academic year (9 months) compensation at a minimum of $20,000
   3. Full tuition pursuant to the guidelines and student eligibility requirements listed below.
   4. Health insurance premium payment for the student health insurance plan.
      
      
3. Master's Student Compensation - GTAs enrolled full-time are funded by the Graduate College or through designated college-level tuition/assistantships. Other Assistantship types are supported by a variety of sources (including the Graduate College, the academic College or Department, grant funding, or other sources). Master’s degree students will receive funding as long as they remain eligible:
   1. A one-year funding commitment.
   2. Academic year (9-month) compensation at a minimum of $16,000
   3. Full tuition pursuant to the guidelines and student eligibility requirements listed below.
   4. Health insurance premium payment for the student health insurance plan.
      
      
4. Workload
   1. During the academic year, students in GA positions can commit to up to 20 hours/week.
   2. GTAs are expected to support large classes, teach 2-3 labs/semester, serve as instructor of record, if qualified, or manage 3-4 recitation sections. Programs are expected to ensure that GTAs are well-trained, have equitable workloads, and serve the instructional mission.
   3. Graduate students must work no more than 20 hours/week, even when holding multiple positions on campus.
      
      
5. Summer Support
   1. During the summer session, programs may pay students at the standard monthly rate for 20 hours per week. Enrollment is not required during the summer for continuing students, but enrollment is required for NEW students.
   2. If not enrolled in courses, continuing GAs may be hired for up to 40 hours/week, but they must be enrolled in courses in the next Fall semester.
      
      
6.  How to Apply for Funding
   1. New graduate students must apply for admission to a graduate program at A&T. This application for admission is also the student’s application for funding under the graduate funding model. Hence, students should apply to graduate programs early (by the priority application deadline). Students who apply late have significantly reduced chances of receiving funding as offers are made to eligible students on a first-come, first-serve basis. Departments will send offer letters to selected students.
   2. Continuing students should submit a request for funding to their Graduate Program Coordinator by the priority application deadline.
       
7. Graduate Assistantship Eligibility - To be eligible for appointment as a graduate research, teaching, or administrative assistant, applicants must meet the terms and conditions in addition to the following:
   1. To be eligible for appointment as a graduate assistant, an applicant:
      1. Must have a baccalaureate degree, or a baccalaureate degree and work experience, that equips them for the assignment;
      2. Must have been admitted to full standing in a graduate degree program; and
      3. Must have had an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0 or better overall or completed at least six hours of graduate work with a GPA of 3.0 or better.
   2. To retain their appointment, graduate assistants:
      1. Must participate in any required orientation program or training;
      2. Must follow instructions of the employing department to complete the INS Form I-9 to certify employment eligibility before the first day of employment. Assistantships cannot start until the date that work authorization was provided. (International GAs complete this form in the Office of International Affairs);
      3. Must enroll in at least nine credit hours each semester of the assistantship unless a student is in their final semester and has applied for graduation or is in the dissertation or thesis research phase (having completed all non-research courses) of their program and is enrolled in research courses only;
      4. Must work no more than twenty hours per week in the assistantship and any other employment on campus;
      5. Must perform assigned duties satisfactorily according to the terms of appointment and participate in the supervision and evaluation processes required for the assistantship; and
      6. Must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 and be making satisfactory progress toward completing a graduate degree at NCA&T or through an approved joint degree program.
         
         

Additional Guidelines

1. Doctoral and master's students in campus-based (non-distance education) programs may be hired on graduate assistantships. Students enrolled in distance education programs must work on campus for the hours designated in their award to receive an assistantship.
2. Stipend, tuition, and health insurance are allowable expenses that may be provided to graduate students by a department from other sources.
3. Uniform Guidance requires that students in the same program, with comparable duties, have the same compensation packages. Packages may be differentiated based on GA type (GTA versus GRA), student level, experience, etc. Students hired as GAs without the full compensation package must be hired as hourly temporary workers. Students on a grant-funded GRA may not be hired hourly.
4. External, competitively awarded fellowships, philanthropic fellowships, or externally funded traineeships are not considered compensation and do not fall within these guidelines.
5. Minimum compensation levels are to be reviewed at least every three years by the Graduate College.
6. Domestic out-of-state graduate students are eligible for tuition support for the first two semesters of study, after which a student must establish North Carolina residency. This does not apply to international students with visas that render them ineligible for North Carolina residency. Students are advised to begin the residency process immediately upon beginning their studies.

Human Resources Policies

The Department of Human Resources also outlines employment policies that apply to graduate and teaching assistants, including the following:

• Continuing students may work up to 40 hours per week during the summer semesters unless they are enrolled in summer classes.
• Applicants must complete employment paperwork with Human Resources or the Office of International Affairs no later than the first day of employment.
• Salary is paid monthly on the last business day of each month.

Related Policies

• Faculty Credentialing
• Graduate Assistantships
• Student Employment