• Be sure you have a copy of your contract and fully understand its terms.

• Graduate Assistants can only work a maximum of 20 hours per week.

• You must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade point average to continue as a graduate assistant.

• If your tuition is being paid from university funds (as opposed to a grant), you must maintain enrollment in 12 hours of graduate credit (or 6 hours if only taking dissertation/thesis). Dropping below 12 hours without prior approval could result in your contract being terminated. NOTE: If you enroll in less than 6 hours in any semester, you will have FICA and Medicare withheld from your pay.

• Enrolling in fewer than 12 graduate credits requires approval by the Vice Provost for Graduate Programs.

• In order for your tuition and fees to be paid, your contract must reach the Graduate School by the 4th day of classes. It is essential that you provide the department with all relevant information as soon as possible.

• When the Bursar's Office processes your contract, they pay your tuition and fees. Any services (such as Parking, Financial Aid, or the Recreation Center) that are contingent upon payment of fees have to wait for your contract to reach that office.

• If you are working less than 20 hours per week, you may pay half of your truition by the appropriate fee payment deadline. For specific fee payment requirements, fee information, deadlines, and penalities, go to the Bursar's Office web site at tigerweb.memphis.edu and select "Fee Payment."

• If you hold an assistantship in the Spring semester, you are eligible to pay in-state tuition rates for the summer semester even if you do not hold a graduate assistantship during the summer. See the Graduate School for additional information.

• If you have financial aid, you need to notify the Financial Aid Office because the amount of your loan may need to be adjusted.

• If you are receiving federal work study as part of your stipend, be sure you fully understand the implications. See the Financial Aid office or the Graduate School for details.

• Additional Assignments are sometimes available to Graduate Assistants. To be eligible, you must have at least a 3.2 GPA, have the approval of your assistantship supervisor, the graduate coordinator of your program, and the Graduate School. These approvals must be secured BEFORE you begin any additional work. Additional assignments cannot exceed 10 hours/week. Students on F-1 visas are generally not eligible for additional assignments. See the Graduate School for more details.

• If you are a non-resident alien:
• You must apply for a social security number as soon as possible.
• You must give Human Resources a copy of your social security number.
• After obtaining your social security number, you must see Ms. Senese Duhart, Administration Building 276, to complete a Form W-4 for tax purposes.

For any information about graduate assistantships, please contact Ms. Jan Brownlee at 678-4370 or at jbrownle@memphis.edu

Last revised on: August 11, 2006.