Eligibility Criteria

 Minimum Criteria to obtain and maintain a GA/Fellowship/Tuition Scholarship: 

Admitted to a degree program



3.0 GPA

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Enroll for a minimum of 9 credits applicable towards your graduate degree program

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Work Hours

In setting the work schedule , be aware that, even though specific duties may sometimes require working more hours per week than an appointment specifies (for example, during finals week when tests must be graded and grades submitted by a deadline), total hours should balance out over the appointment period.

 Graduate assistants hired for the academic year are expected to work the week before the beginning of both fall and spring semesters , and through final exam week.

Probationary Period

 During the probationary period, a graduate assistant can be released from employment without cause , without notice, and without a statement of reasons; however, graduate assistants may appeal their release to the Graduate Dean, whose decision is final.

 Probationary period last 90 days

Continuation of GA Support

 The decision to offer a continuation of an assistantship beyond the original appointment period is based on:  Not automatic  satisfactory job performance  satisfactory academic progress (3.0 GPA)  Master's students are not granted assistantships for more than two years , regardless of the source of the funding

Benefits for Graduate Assistants

 Tuition Waivers/Remission (currently at 100% for 20-hour GA and 50% for 10-hour appointment)  Health Insurance Benefits for full time GA (20 hour). Student must sign up for benefit.

 Must be employed for the entire semester to be eligible for benefits  If non-resident, out of state waived during assistantship appointment period

Residency Changes

 Out of state residency waived during period of appointment  Residency reverts back after GA ends  To change residency, you must submit a petition to the Graduate College after having established residency here  For more information, visit the residency page at the Graduate College website: http://home.nau.edu/gradcol/residency.asp

Additional Employment at NAU

.    Graduate students with 20-hour appointments are not allowed to work a second job , in any capacity, for NAU. Exceptions are normally approved only for one time work, such as driving a van for a field trip.

Exceptions to this policy, regardless of the amount of work and number of hours require the submission and approval of the 

Exception to Allow Additional Work Form

Summer Graduate Assistants

 Summer-only appointments for graduate assistants are not permitted. In such instances, you may be hired as a part-time temporary or student-wage employee.

 If the employment, regardless of position title, is going to cross over into a regular academic semester

even

for a day or a week, you must completed the

Request for Additional Work Form

and receive Graduate College Approval.

Job Performance and Evaluation

 Speak to your supervisor about job expectations  You should receive a written evaluation and an opportunity to discuss it with your supervisor  If you don’t receive one, work with your supervisor to obtain one  All teaching assistants (especially instructors of record) will be evaluated through the evaluation system 

Rights and Privileges of Graduate Assistants

 notified in writing of all decisions that affect their status as a graduate assistant including advance notification of evaluation procedures and a summary of their performance evaluation.

 the right to be notified of any complaints received by a supervisor or department chair concerning their performance of duties.

 the right to respond in writing to such complaints.

Disciplinary Process for Graduate Assistants

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Set up a meeting between the student and the supervisor to whom the student reports If improvements are not made and actions taken by the supervisor calls for sanctions other than a verbal reprimand or warning the supervisor’s decision must be in writing and the student must receive a copy. If the student wishes to appeal the decision, she or he must do so in writing to the next appropriate level. Grievances should be resolved internally at the level closest to the grievant whenever possible. Check the handbook for dates, timelines and with whom you can file an appeal

Additional Policies

 Ethics and Professionalism: You must adhere to general standards of professionalism and to the specific professional ethics of each discipline 

Safe Working and Learning Environment Policy

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Mandatory Training

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Academic Integrity

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Research Integrity Training

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FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)

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Drug-free Workplace

Why didn’t you receive a paycheck?

 Did the student complete the New Hire Packet online? If a student has not worked for NAU within the last 6 months, the student must complete a new hire packet and submit it to Payroll prior to the first day of work.

 Did the new hire packet and the letter of appointment arrive in the payroll before the deadline for the current pay period?

Why doesn’t the health insurance benefit appear on your account?

     Did the student enroll for health insurance when enrolling for classes? The student must enroll themselves for health insurance each semester. Is the student enrolled for 9 credit hours? Is the graduate assistant working 20 hours per week? Only graduate assistants who work 20 hours per week for the entire semester are eligible for the student health insurance benefit. Did the Letter of Appointment arrive in the Graduate College before the processing deadline? If not, then the processing of the benefit has been delayed.

Why doesn’t the tuition/waiver remission appear on the student’s account?

  Is the student enrolled for 9 credit hours? Did the letter of appointment arrive in the Graduate College before the processing deadline? If not, then the processing of the benefit has been delayed.

 Student may also need to check with financial aid if they are receiving other forms of aid   Student is receiving employee related benefits Student did not submit information for Prop 300