301 SCEN
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 575-3351 (office)
(479) 575-8630 (fax)
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301 SCEN University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-3351 (office) (479) 575-8630 (fax) |
Initial AppointmentsNew graduate assistants are appointed by the Chairman of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Department Chair and Vice-Chair. Appointments are awarded on the basis of academic background, potential as a graduate student, and potential as a teaching assistant. This assessment is made primarily on the basis of transcripts and letters of recommendation but national test scores might also be considered. In order to qualify for a graduate assistantship, the potential student must be regularly admitted by the Graduate School to pursue a degree program in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The Graduate Catalogue specifies the requirements for regular admission. A student admitted conditionally may not hold a graduate assistantship. If the applicant's native language is not English, then s/he must submit a score of 50 or better on the TSE (Test of Spoken English), a 7 on the IELTS, or 50 or better on the SPEAK test (a local version) in order to qualify for an assistantship with classroom teaching responsibilities. There are only a limited number of assistantships available that do not involve classroom teaching.Continuing AppointmentsGraduate assistantships are offered to continuing students by the Chairman of Graduate Studies in consultation with the Graduate Committee, the Department Chair, and Vice-Chair. In order to considered for re-appointment a student must be making required progress toward a degree and performing all assigned duties (teaching, grading papers, holding office hours, etc) satisfactorily. Making required progress toward a degree is defined as having completed a minimum of six hours toward the degree or its deficiencies each semester, and maintaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0. Attendance at departmental colloquia and seminars is also considered when evaluating a graduate assistant for reappointment.Students pursuing a Master's degree may receive financial support as a graduate assistant for no more than four semesters, excluding Summer appointments. Students pursuing post-master's degrees may receive financial support as a graduate assistant for no more than eight semesters beyond the master's degree, excluding Summer appointments. Registration RequirementsA graduate assistant must be a full-time graduate student. This means that a graduate assistant on 50 percent appointment must maintain a minimum of six hours of registration in course work which either counts toward the graduate degree or has been specified as a deficiency for the degree. Thesis registration may be applied towards this requirement. Dropping below six hours in any semester is cause for immediate termination of the graduate assistantship. A graduate student, with the approval of the Graduate Advisor, may register for up to twelve semester hours. Higher loads must be approved by the Department Chair and the Graduate Dean.BenefitsMost graduate assistantships in the Department of Mathematical Sciences are half-time appointments for the nine-month academic year beginning with the Fall semester. These appointments have a stipend of $10,300 for the nine-month period. All graduate students appointed to at least a 25 percent graduate assistantship are considered, for tuition and fee purposes, as residents of the State of Arkansas. Resident tuition for all graduate students appointed to at least a 50 percent graduate assistantship (this is the typical assistantship) are paid by the University from the appropriate account. This tuition benefit is limited to degree-related enrollment. It does not include tuition for non- degree-related courses (e.g. Physical Education Activities courses); courses that do not carry graduate credit, unless they have been specified as deficiencies in the student's graduate degree program; enrollment for audit rather than credit; or late registration fees, drop-add fees, laboratory fees, international student fees, or other similar costs. The 50 percent assistantship also pays 60% of the students health insurance fee. The department also provides several fellowship opportunities .Summer AppointmentsA limited number of appointments as graduate assistants are available on a competitive basis during the Summer terms. These appointments are normally available only to continuing students. Summer assistantships are half-time appointments for one of two six-week summer terms. They carry a stipend of 15 percent of a nine-month academic year stipend. Assistants are normally required to teach one three-hour course during a six-week term. Assistants must complete at least three hours of degree-related mathematics course work during the summer (exceptions must be approved by the graduate committee). Other registration restrictions may be made by the Department at the time of the appointment. A Summer assistantship carries a tuition and fee benefit of up to four hours, subject to the same restrictions as apply to academic year tuition and fee benefits.DisclaimerThis is an unofficial and informal document designed to address the questions most often asked by graduate students. While we intend for it to be as accurate as possible, we can not guarantee that this document reflects official University policy. The student should refer to the Graduate Catalogue and other publications of the Graduate School and the University for official and authoritative statements regarding the issues addressed here. |
