Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships (GA) are available exclusively to graduate students who have been formally accepted into a graduate degree or certificate program at SUNY Oswego as full-time students (enrolled in at least 9 credit hours per semester).

GA Time Commitment

• GA10: Requires approximately 10 hours per week.
• GA20: Requires approximately 20 hours per week.
• No timesheets are required; however, students and hiring agents are encouraged to discuss weekly commitments and expectations, including work during academic breaks.
• Work may be project-based, rather than strictly hourly.
• A student may hold one GA20 or two GA10 positions.

Mentored Experience

Graduate Assistantships are designed to be mentored learning experiences, not hourly jobs. These positions provide valuable professional development and hands-on experience related to the student’s field of study.

International Student Considerations

International students must consult with International Education to ensure compliance with their visa requirements regarding work eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements

• A GA must be registered full-time (9 credits per semester) to maintain eligibility.
• Exceptions may be made for students in their final semester of coursework.

Compensation

• All GA positions must provide both a stipend and a tuition scholarship.
• Tuition scholarships cannot exceed the student’s total tuition bill for any given semester (fees are not included).

Graduate Assistantship Process for Hiring Agents

Hiring agents interested in supporting graduate students with a Graduate Assistantship (GA) are encouraged to consider the following:

• Design the mentored experience for the student.
• Identify specific learning outcomes the student will achieve.
• Include a compensation model that includes both a tuition scholarship and a stipend.

Step 1: Request a GA

Every year, hiring agents must complete a GA Request Form for each new Graduate Assistant they would like to employ. Hiring agents do not need to complete a request form if they are rehiring the same student from the previous semester.

Things to consider when completing the GA Request Form:

• Job Description & Responsibilities: Provide detailed information for students in advance. Graduate Studies will use this information to post the position on the Graduate Assistant Job Board for promotional purposes.
• Learning Outcomes: Specify the learning outcomes related to the student's academic program. These might include communication skills, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, time management, and more.
• Summer Graduate Assistants: Request Summer GAs on a separate GA Request Form. Summer GAs should be enrolled in at least 9 credits to be eligible.
• Funding:
  • Graduate Studies Funding: If the position is funded by the Division of Graduate Studies, the following preset amounts apply:
    • GA 10: $1359 tuition & $600 stipend per semester
    • GA 20: $2718 tuition & $1200 stipend per semester
  • Non-Graduate Studies Funding: Hiring agents can determine stipend and tuition amounts, but both a stipend and tuition scholarship must be provided.

Step 2: Hiring and Re-Hiring GAs

Once a hiring agent has selected the graduate student they wish to hire, they must complete an Appointment Form via Interview Exchange.

How to complete the Appointment Form:

1. Contact Human Resources at [email protected] for access to Interview Exchange if needed.
2. Create a New Form:
   • Select Personnel Records → Graduate Assistant Appointment from the drop-down menu.
   • Title the form with the student's name (first name, last name) and the Job Code provided by Graduate Studies (e.g., Jane Doe Grad Assistant, Job Code ###).
3. Fill out the necessary fields:
   • Enter the student’s name, building location, and Banner ID# (800#).
   • Choose Appointment Request: Renewal or New Hire.
   • Specify Work Obligation: Semester or Academic Year.
   • Enter # of hours per week (10 or 20).
   • Indicate stipend and tuition (based on work obligation, semester, or academic year).
   • Provide effective start and end dates (Fall, Spring, or Summer appointments require separate forms).
   • Specify department and supervisor details.
   • List the previously hired student in Previous Individual in this position.
   • Specify Job Code in the Comments sections.
4. Account Information: List the account number(s) for stipend and tuition charges.
5. Task Routing: This allows you to track the form’s approval process.

Step 3: Graduate Student Responsibilities

All Graduate Assistants must complete the FERPA Acknowledgement form. Once the student agrees to take the position, the form should be completed promptly.

• Required: Student Employee/Teaching Assistant FERPA Acknowledgement

Step 4: Updates/Changes

Tuition/Stipend Adjustments
Tuition and stipend amounts may be adjusted within the first six weeks of the semester. After this period, amounts are finalized, and no further changes can be made. If an adjustment is necessary, a Revised Interview Exchange Appointment Form must be submitted.

GA Status Changes
If a student decides to decline the GA position after the appointment form has been submitted (even if they’ve already started working), the hiring agent must update the Appointment Status using the Appointment Status Updater form.

Include the following:

• Student’s name and ID number
• Statement: "This student will no longer be employed as a Graduate Assistant for [Department Name]"
• Effective date of the change

This will stop stipend payments and notify the necessary offices.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact Graduate Studies.

All Graduate Assistantships are either a  GA10 (typically about 10 hours per week) or a GA20  (typically about 20 hours per week). The 10 or 20 hours are guidelines and may be “project-based” work.  The Graduate Assistantship is a mentored experience for the student and should not be thought of as an hourly job. A student may hold one GA20- or two GA10’s. 

* Note: International students should always work with International Education to make sure they are in full compliance with their specific VISA requirement as it relates to their eligibility to work. 

Graduate Assistants’ activities are quite varied, therefore assistantships will be categorized into the four types described below.

Graduate Teaching Assistant

The duties of a Graduate Teaching Assistant are to conduct or support instruction. Assistants whose primary (i.e. greater than 50%) duties consist of the following types of activities:

• Teaching classes
• Providing artistic instruction
• Grading student assignments
• Proctoring exams
• Leading lab or discussion groups in a course setting
• Leading lab or discussion groups in a course
• Developing academic instructional materials
• Tutoring students
• Accompanying/coaching musical or vocal performances
• Maintaining office hours to provide instructional support

Graduate Research Assistant

The duties of a Graduate Research Assistant are to apply and master research concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship. Assistants whose primary (i.e. greater than 50%) duties consist of the following types of activities:

• Conducting experiments
• Presenting findings in a publication
• Organizing or analyzing data
• Collaborating with faculty in preparing publications
• Overseeing work of other resident assistants
• Other research activities

Graduate Assistant for Academic Support

The duties of a Graduate Assistant for Academic Support are to fulfill administrative functions. Assistants whose primary (i.e., greater than 50%) duties may consist of the following types of activities:

• Advising, outreach and/or technical services
• General office work/clerical/receptionist
• Website management/assisting faculty with web pages
• Network administration/end user support
• Assisting with event management
• Monitoring instructional and service labs (computer, video, etc.)
• Social Media, Marketing and or non-research publications
• Providing curricular and academic advice to students

Graduate Assistant - Pre-professional

Graduate Assistants — Pre-professional are appointed to positions in which their duties are directly related to their fields of study and in which they gain experience, practice, or guidance directly related to their career preparation.

• Example: A Mental Health Counseling (area of study) student may be appointed by the Counseling Center (hiring unit).

Graduate students receiving a stipend are also members of the GSEU which includes health benefits.

SummaryHealth Plan

Graduate Assistant Benefits

Parking

Graduate Assistants (GAs) are entitled to receive one employee parking sticker, which allows parking in employee lots. There is no registration fee. When registering for the parking permit, GAs must identify as a graduate assistant to receive this benefit.

College Store Discount

GAs receive a 10% discount on new textbooks purchased through the College Store. To qualify for this discount, GAs must identify as a graduate assistant when making their purchase.

Holiday Leave (Stipendiary GAs)

If there are no classes on a state holiday, GAs are treated as holidays with pay, and they are not required to make up the hours. However, if a GA is required to work on such a holiday, they are entitled to compensatory time off.

Sick Leave (Stipendiary GAs)

Graduate Assistants are eligible for sick leave. Starting with their second semester of employment, GAs receive 5 days of sick leave per agreement year. This leave is not accrued like other employees' leave but is instead provided in a block. Unused sick leave does not carry over from one agreement year to the next. Sick leave can be used for temporary disability, illness, or death in the immediate family. The employer may request medical verification in cases of illness.

Graduate Assistants: Professional Development Awards (GSEU)

SUNY Oswego graduate assistants can receive funds once a semester for up to $1000 in reimbursements for professional development activities (when funds are available*). Professional development activities may include: 

• Research
• Curriculum development conference, workshop, or seminar attendance
• Conference participation
• grant proposal development
• preparation of material for publication
• artistic or creative endeavor
• other job related professional development projects or activities

For instance, if you are attending a conference and pay for the flight and the conference fee, you can submit those receipts in your professional development application for reimbursement.

APPLY

Current Graduate Assistant Forms

The following forms and documents are relevant for current Graduate Assistants at Oswego.

• Link to the online Student Employee/Teaching Assistant FERPA Acknowledgement (required)

The Graduate Assistantship Handbook outlines your responsibilities as a GA as well as the responsibilities of your supervisor. It includes information about appointment, GPA and course-load requirements, workload, performance concerns, and resignation.