Graduate assistantships are excellent opportunities for graduate students to engage with faculty and departments in rewarding interactions to help solve real world problems and/or further teaching, research, and creative activities.
Available Positions
Students can view available positions through the Graduate Assistantship Board.
Graduate assistantships are available only to graduate students who have been formally accepted into a graduate degree or certificate program at SUNY Oswego as full-time students.
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.
Parking
A GA is entitled to receive one employee parking sticker (permits parking in employee lots) and does not pay a registration fee. (Must identify as a graduate assistant when registering.)
College Store
A GA is entitled to a 10% discount off new textbooks purchased through the College Store. (Must identify as a graduate assistant to receive discount.)
Holiday Leave (Stipendiary GAs)
If there are no classes on a state holiday, then holidays are treated as holidays with pay and the GA is not required to make up the hours. If a GA is required to work on such holidays, the GA is entitled to compensatory time off.
Sick Leave (Stipendiary GAs)
Graduate assistants are eligible for sick leave. Students on assistantships will receive 5 days of sick leave per agreement year commencing with their second semester of employment. Such leave is not, however, "accrued" as with other employees; but is instead available in a "block" and the unused portion is not carried from agreement year to agreement year. This leave is for any occasion that the employee cannot fulfill obligation due to a temporary disability or death or illness in the immediate family. The employer is, of course, able to require medical verification of an 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.
Current Graduate Assistant Forms
The following forms and documents are relevant for current Graduate Assistants at Oswego.
Hiring agents have many choices when they are interested in hiring student help in their divisions or units. Within the graduate student space, we would like to offer some clarity around the types of choices that are possible when looking to provide financial support to graduate students.
Graduate Assistantships (Tuition Scholarships + Stipend)
Hiring agents interested in supporting graduate students with a graduate assistantship are encouraged to think through the mentored experience, identify learning outcomes and include a compensation model that includes both a tuition scholarship and a stipend. Graduate assistants may fall into one of four categories: Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Academic Support & Pre-Professional. All graduate assistants are eligible for benefits through the GSEU (Graduate Student Employee Union). Those looking to create/fill a position are asked to fill out the GA request form. More information on eligibility and the categories can be found on the Graduate Studies Funding page.
Tuition Scholarships (Tuition-only support)
Hiring agents that are interested in supporting graduate students with tuition assistance, may choose a tuition scholarship. Tuition scholarships should have clear eligibility criteria and an articulated selection process. Graduate studies can assist in publicly posting the opportunity and overseeing the paperwork necessary to attach these funds to the students accounts once selected. Examples of current scholarships can be found here.
Graduate Student Employee (Stipend only)
Hiring agents that are interested in paying graduate students for hourly work, may choose a stipend-only model. Hiring graduate students for hourly work would follow the student employee instructions provided by HR on their website.