Assistantships



To be eligible to initially receive an assistantship upon entry into a graduate program, the following criteria must be met:

  • The student must be unconditionally or conditionally accepted into a graduate program. Students who are provisionally accepted will not be eligible until they achieve unconditional acceptance into their program.
  • The students must have an official transcript on file indicating completion of a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
  • After receiving an assistantship, the student must maintain at least a 3.0 graduate GPA in order to retain or reapply for the assistantship.

These are minimum criteria. Graduate program coordinators have the right to impose additional criteria if they see fit.

The following information can be found on this page:

Types of Assistantships
Stipends
Tuition Scholarships
Registration Policies
Application Process
Additional JMU Employment

Additional information can be found at the following links:

Assistantship Fact Sheet
Assistantship Departments
Guidelines for Assistantship Departments
GA Contract Form

Types of Assistantships

Teaching Assistant (TA)
A limited number of Teaching Assistantships are available in departments offering major programs of graduate study. Students awarded a teaching assistantship are assigned to an academic department and are expected to instruct 6 credit hours of course work or laboratory. Students may also be awarded a teaching assistantship to assist professors within the department with grading, etc. TAs carry a course load of 9 credit hours of graduate study per semester. TAs must have completed 18 graduate credits in the teaching discipline and be directly supervised by a faculty member (SACS requirement).

Graduate Assistant (GA)
Graduate Assistants are assigned to an academic department or administrative office to assist faculty members in preparing for instruction, grading papers, conducting research, preparing laboratories, performing departmental administrative tasks, or other assignments as required by the assistantship department. Assistantships require 20 hours per week in the assistantship department and GAs carry a course load of 9 hours of graduate study per semester.

Other Types of Assistants
Some Graduate Assistants are assigned to Student Affairs, Athletics, or grants. The assistantships in Student Affairs are handled within their division, and the grant related assistantships are handled individually by departments with external funding.

Graduate assistantships do not pay undergraduate tuition. Tuition will be covered at the on-campus rate for the hours stated on the contract. Any additional credit hours and any additional charges for web-based courses will be the responsibility of the student.

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Stipends

Assistants are paid the following stipends (2009-10):

Teaching Assistant (TA and AA):  $8,664 ($4,332 per semester)

Graduate Assistant (GA): $7,382 ($3,691 per semester)

Assistants funded through grants may be paid at different rates.

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Health Insurance is not included in assistantships. Graduate students may purchase health insurance; for information please call: 888-308-7320 or visit: GM-Southwest Student Insurance Plans

Tuition Scholarships

Assistants receive the following tuition scholarship amounts, per semester, for graduate level course work only:

Teaching Assistant (TA)

9 credit hours

Graduate Assistant (GA)

9 credit hours

Service Assistant (SA)

9 credit hours

Athletic Assistants (AA)

9 credit hours

DOC tuition awards may differ. Grant-funded assistantship tuition scholarships may or may not be available. GAs are responsible for tuition for any undergraduate hours and for all additional hours for which the student is registered over and above the designated number specified in your contract.

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Registration Policies

All assistants must register each semester for all courses to be paid by tuition scholarship during the regular registration period, and prior to the tuition refund date outlined in the the current Schedule of Classes. Students who register for additional courses after this time will be held personally responsible for additional tuition and fees.

NOTE: Assistantships do not pay tuition for courses dropped after the university's tuition refund deadline. Tuition for dropped courses will be the responsibility of the student and the student will receive a grade of W for the course. Exceptions will be made only for documented extenuating circumstances and will be handled case by case.

The registration time period for graduate students coincides with registration for undergraduate students.

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Application Process

Your graduate program may have assistantship positions that you may be eligible to fill. Your first step to acquire an assistantship should be to contact your own graduate program to inform them of your interest in an assistantship.

To apply for an assistantship

  • go to http://joblink.jmu.edu/
  • click on "search job openings"
  • under position type drop down menu, click on "graduate assistantship"
  • click on "search"
  • select position you are interested in and complete and submit application. Assistantship departments contact applicants directly to set up interviews. If you are selected for an assistantship, the department draws up contract materials and forwards them to the Graduate School. After you sign the contract and complete the tax forms, return them immediately to the assistantship department so information can be entered into the payroll system.

    Questions concerning your assistantship should be made directly to the assistantship department.

    Regarding Additional JMU Employment:

    Graduate students receiving stipends from VA state funds are occasionally permitted to accept JMU employment in addition to the 20 assistantship hours. Permission for such employment must come from The Graduate School, in response to a request by the student's graduate coordinator or advisor. The student and the coordinator or advisor should carefully consider the overall effect of additional employment on the student's academic performance. If the coordinator or advisor endorses the additional employment, he or she sends an e-mail requesting approval to the Director of Student Support. If approved, TGS will notify payroll.

    • Important Dates

    Fall 2009

    October 2 - Application for a Graduate Degree due to TGS for graduation

    November 20 - Thesis or Dissertation due to TGS for graduation

    December 11  - All coursework must be completed for graduation

    December 12 - Commencement

    Spring 2010

    January 22 - Application for a Graduate Degree due to TGS for spring graduation

    April 21 - Thesis or Dissertation due to TGS for graduation

    May 7 - All coursework must be completed for graduation

    May 7 - Commencement for Graduate Students

    Summer 2010

    June 4 - Application for a Graduate Degree due to TGS for graduation

    July 8 - Thesis or Dissertation due to TGS for graduation

    August 6  - All coursework must be completed for fall graduation