M.Arch Graduate Assistant Positions

Eligibility and Application

The School of Architecture hires only Master of Architecture students as Graduate Teaching Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants, or Graduate Administrative Assistants. To be eligible to apply, M.Arch students must be in the first or second year of the 2-year program or in the second or third year of the 3-year program.

All ARCH GA positions are 0.3FTE, meaning they are 30% of a full time position. Positions run September 16th - June 15th for a total of 156 hours per term (12 - 15 hours per week, depending on job duties during breaks between terms). It is recommended that GAs do not hold another job during this time, as the combination of GA job duties and schoolwork will be significant and inability to complete job duties may result in termination.

M.Arch Graduate Assistants are required to be University requirements for GA eligibility are available on the Graduate School's website.  GAs are required to be enrolled in a minimum of 9 credits per term; however, GAs in their last two terms before graduation can work as little as 5 credits per term. GAs are responsible for notifying the School when registering for less than 9 credits (see Enrolling for Less Than 9 Credits section below).

Every May, applications open for positions the following year (e.g., in May 2021 applications opened for positions beginning September 16, 2021). Only students enrolled in studio  during May and new 2-year M.Arch students who begin the following Fall will be sent an email reminder. Students not following the standard curriculum (taking more years to complete their degree or taking classes out of order) are responsible for contacting the office to learn more about the current year's application process and deadlines.

GAs who do well in their position the first year must reapply to be considered for the position (or a different position) the second year.

Applicants do not get to see the list of positions available, as they can vary from year to year. Faculty will review applications and make position offers based on the applicant's demonstrated strengths and interests.

Applications are submitted digitally as attachments (PDF preferred) by the deadline to architecture@pdx.edu.

Compensation

Graduate Assistant positions are represented by the Graduate Employees Union (GEU). To see the active bargaining agreement and amendments, which determine salary and tuition & fee remission amounts, please visit the GEU Website.

All ARCH GAs have their tuition converted to resident rates for the academic year they are employed, if they are not already residents.

Salary is paid on a monthly basis, and salary rates change from one year to the next, based on the bargaining agreement. As an example, in 2021-2022 the salary rate was $17.00 per hour or $7,956.00 for nine months at 30%  ($884 gross per month - before taxes/deductions).

Tuition & Fee remission amounts are also determined by the bargaining agreement,  and the School of Architecture pays a maximum of 9 credits of tuition & fees per term. For example, in 2021-2022 the tuition remission and fees amount was $5,031 (9 credits and 100% of University fees), which was applied three times (Fall/Winter/Spring) for a total of $15, 093 in tuition compensation for the academic year.  This amount is applied after tuition is converted to resident rates.

Hiring Process

After applications are reviewed, those students who are not offered a position will have their applications held on file for a year, should a position become available.  Accepted students will be notified to begin the hiring process through Human Resources:

1. Applicant receives Notice of Appointment email from the School of Architecture, naming the position being offered (e.g., Graduate Teaching Assistant for ARCH 230/231/232 Lecture Series). Notice also includes compensation information and details about the School's requirements for GA employees. Applicant must respond to the email, confirming that they accept the position (applicants may request additional information before accepting).

2.  ARCH office staff complete the digital hiring form (an EPAF), which requires the GA to accept the position through Banweb. If an accepted applicant has never worked for PSU before, they must complete the New Employee Documents for HR before the EPAF can be completed and sent to the GA for their approval.

3. Work Assignment Notices (WAN) are created for and sent to each GA, detailing their job duties, the name of their faculty supervisor(s), etc. This document must be signed by the GA no later than the first day of work, September 16th.

4. Confidentiality Agreements are required by the School. This document must be read and signed by the GA no later than the first day of work, September 16th.

5.  If conditions allow, the School will host a GA Orientation in the Architecture office (Shattuck Hall 235) on September 16th or later (after the GA contract begins, but before the start of classes). 

Reporting Time Worked or Sick Time

All GAs accrue paid sick leave hours based on the amount of hours they work per month. GAs may report sick hours used in place of hours worked (or check their leave balance) by using the Leave Dashboard on Banweb (instructions). GAs need to schedule time off with their faculty supervisor in advance, or in case of emergency, notify their faculty supervisor as soon as is safely possible.

HOURS MUST BE REPORTED NO LATER THAN THE 15th of every month, October - June.

Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA) and Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) are salaried workers, meaning their positions are paid a flat amount each month (see examples under Compensation section above).  These GAs report all of their hours and a short description of work completed on an ARCH-generated Google Time Sheet produced by office staff. Every month on the 16th, staff download a copy of each GA's Google Sheet and produce a report for faculty supervisors and the Director.

Graduate Administrative Assistants (GAA) are hourly employees, who must report their hours in two ways each month to receive a paycheck:

1.  Report hours and describe work on ARCH-generated Google Time Sheet produced by office staff and used for internal reports.

2. Report hours to HR using the Time Sheet function in Banweb (instructions).

Enrolling for Less than 9 Credits

GAs may only register for less than nine credits during the last two terms before graduation. Tuition & Fee Remission will be reduced to reflect the total number of registered credits. To continue to receive remission, at least one month before the next term, GAs must:

1. Apply for graduation per the instructions from the Graduate School.

2. Email the office staff to let them know how many credits you will be taking in the last two terms. Staff will have to process changes and have the reduced amount approved before it can be applied to the GA's SFS account.