Frequently Asked Questions
What is a graduate assistantship?
How do I apply for an assistantship?
What do I receive monetary compensation for and when do I get paid?
How many graduate hours do I need to take during the fall and spring semesters?
What is the maximum number of graduate hours I can take each semester?
Can I register for an undergraduate course and have the tuition paid?
How many graduate hours does a graduate assistant have to take in the summer?
Will my assistantship pay the tuition for graduate courses in the summer?
How do I pay for classes?
Will my assistantship pay for graduate courses taken at the other three University of Nebraska campuses (UNL, UNK and UNMC)?
What happens if I resign my assistantship?
What happens if I don't start my assistantship at the beginning of the semester?
May I hold another job (additional employment) in addition to my assistantship?
What if I become sick and miss work or take a vacation?
Do graduate assistants work when offices are open, but the university is closed for classes?
How long may I hold a graduate assistantship?
Where do I park my car?
What is a graduate assistantship?
A graduate assistantship is based on academic and/or professional excellence. Recipients receive tuition remission and a stipend (salary) to work approximately 20 hours per work on assigned professional responsibilities.
Graduate assistants are assigned responsibilities that provide supervised educational experiences at the graduate level. Frequently, this means assistants either teach or participate in research projects.
How do I apply for an assistantship?
Contact the department/school/office you are interested in for any available positions and their application procedures. Also, check with Human Resources (Student Employment), 205 Eppley Administration Bldg., they may have a list of the current open assistantships. You must be admitted to a graduate degree or certificate program to be a graduate assistant; non-degree & unclassified students are ineligible. Graduate Assistants must be in good standing in a degree or certificate program to receive or continue with an assistantship.
What do I receive monetary compensation for and when do I get paid?
Graduate Assistants typically work 20 hours per week. On the last working day of the month, your paycheck will be electronically deposited directly into your bank.
How many graduate hours do I need to take during the fall and spring semesters?
Graduate Assistants are required to carry a minimum of six (6) graduate hours in the fall and spring semesters (please note that undergraduate deficiencies do not count toward this minimum requirement). You must be aware that nine (9) graduate hours is a full-time course load for graduate students and, in order to defer some student loans, you must register for nine (9) graduate hours; however, most require only 1/2 time course load. Please check with the Office of Financial Support and Scholarships regarding the details of your particular loan.
The minimum of six (6) graduate credit hours may be waived if you are in your last semester & need less than six (6) graduate credit hours to complete the requirements for graduation. The Office of Graduate Studies will review your plan of study and contact you to complete the "Student Social Security Tax Exemption State-Last Semester."
The minimum of six (6) graduate credit hours also may be waived for doctoral candidates, with the approval of their adviser & the Graduate Dean, if all required courses except dissertation have been completed and the student will not be employed for more than 20 hours per week. The Office of Graduate Studies will review your plan of study and contact you to complete the "Student Social Security Tax Exemption Statement–Certification of Full–Time Graduate Status."
What is the maximum number of graduate hours I can take each semester?
Your Assistantship will pay for a maximum of twelve (12) graduate hours a semester.
Can I register for an undergraduate course and have the tuition paid?
Yes, if the undergraduate course is required to fulfill a deficiency that is listed on your original plan of study AND you are also enrolled for a minimum of six (6) graduate hours.
If the undergraduate course is not listed as a deficiency on your original plan of study, your assistantship will not pay for the tuition.
How many graduate hours does a graduate assistant have to take in the summer?
None.* You are allowed to take a maximum of twelve (12) graduate hours.
*If you are working as a Graduate Assistant during the summer & are not registered at least 1/2 time (4 hours), you will be required to pay Social Security taxes.
Will my assistantship pay the tuition for graduate courses in the summer?
Yes, if you were a Graduate Assistant for the preceding fall and spring semesters or are working as a graduate assistant during the summer.
If you were a Graduate Assistant for the spring semester only and will be one in the upcoming fall, you will be eligible for reimbursement for your summer graduate courses. Please consult with the Office of Graduate Studies.
How do I pay for classes?
Once the necessary paperwork has been submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies by your department/school/office, Cashiering/Student Accounts will be notified of your assistantship. Your account will then be credited for the classes which are covered by your assistantship. Please be sure you pay the fees and any other charges not covered by your assistantship.
Will my assistantship pay for graduate courses taken at the other three University of Nebraska campuses (UNL, UNK and UNMC)?
Yes, if the courses are required in your plan of study, a tuition voucher will be completed by the Office of Graduate Studies at the time of verifying enrollment. You will need to complete the online Intercampus Registration form available here.
What happens if I resign my assistantship?
The Office of Graduate Studies will send you a prorated bill from the date you resigned your assistantship. You will be placed on stop enrollment until the bill is paid.
What happens if I don't start my assistantship at the beginning of the semester?
Assistantships may be awarded on an academic-year basis, a calendar-year basis, or semester-by-semester basis. Normally these appointments start at the beginning of a semester. The department/school/office should contact the Office of Graduate Studies for prior approval if the assistantship is not starting at the beginning of a semester. If the late hiring is approved, the Office of Graduate Studies will send you a prorated bill for the graduate courses you are enrolled in; beginning with the date you started your assistantship.
May I hold another job (additional employment) in addition to my assistantship?
The Graduate Faculty considers a student who is pursuing graduate study and holding a Graduate Assistantship to be carrying the equivalent of a full-time work load and therefore, discourages the practice of holding additional jobs which may interfere with satisfactory performance of assigned duties. With the approval of your graduate program committee and the Dean for Graduate Studies, an additional assignment may be accepted if professionally relevant and if your total FTE does not exceed .49.
What if I become sick and miss work or take a vacation?
Graduate Assistants do not earn sick or vacation hours, please consult with your department/school/office concerning their policies.
Do graduate assistants work when offices are open, but the university is closed for classes?
Yes, generally, as the graduate assistant is paid for 20 hours of work per week. You should check with your department/school/office regarding their policy.
How long may I hold a graduate assistantship?
Assistantships may be awarded on an academic-year basis, a calendar-year basis, or semester by semester basis.
Students working towards a master's degree may not hold an assistantship for more than four (4) semesters: Educational Specialist students are limited to four (4) semesters beyond their master's degree; doctoral students are limited to six (6) semesters beyond their master's degree. These appointments exclude summer sessions. An assistantship may be extended on an individual basis upon the recommendation of the Graduate Program Committee of the department and the approval of the Dean for Graduate Studies.
Where do I park my car?
You may purchase a student pass but are eligible to purchase a faculty/staff pass from Parking 107 Eppley Administration Bldg.
CONTACT US
- Main: 402.554.2341
- Toll Free: 800.858.8648
- Fax: 402.554.3143
- UNO Office of Graduate Studies
- 6001 Dodge Street
- Eppley Administration Building, Room 203
- Omaha, NE 68182-0209
Our Campus. Otherwise Known as Omaha.
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