TA/RA Information
Graduate Assistant Employment Office
The Graduate Assistant Employment office is a resource for students to find employment. Visit the Employment System to search and apply for openings.
Teaching Assistants
Current students who wish to be considered for a teaching assistantship for the following Summer and academic year should apply online by March 15th. Appointments typically are made in May. Hiring decisions are based on satisfactory performance and progress towards the degree. Priority for funding is given to PhD students. To apply for a Teaching Assistantship position, please complete the Graduate TA Application.
All nonnative English speaking graduate Teaching Assistants (TAs) must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English appropriate to the demands of their teaching assistantship. Proficiency is assessed in one of the following ways:
English Language Proficiency (ELP) rating earned through coursework with the Center for Educational Innovation (CEI);
Speaking section of TOEFL iBT (internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language).
SETTA (Spoken English Test for Teaching Assistants) test (TC campus) or alternative test chosen by system campuses.
Research Assistants
Research Assistantship positions are determined by individual professors. We are looking for diligent researchers capable of working hard and a consistent individual able to stick to a difficult task for a long time. The positions are funded from research grants awarded to faculty members to support their research. A project carried out by a research assistant may be used to satisfy dissertation requirements, subject to adviser approval.
Conditions
Continuation of research assistantships through the period indicated in offer letters is subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory research progress, and satisfactory academic progress. Satisfactory progress in research activities, which will be monitored by your research adviser, includes (but is not limited to) timely progress towards publication and laboratory work, timely completion of other specific research activities or requirements, regular physical presence at your lab/office, etc., as determined by your research adviser.
As requirements for research vary considerably between research groups, please consult with your research adviser for a detailed description and timeline of the research tasks you are expected to accomplish as a condition of this offer. Satisfactory academic progress is measured in terms of your grade point average and your timely completion of requirements and meeting of milestones, both academic and administrative, as listed in the Electrical Engineering Graduate Student Handbook.
Graduate Assistant Employee Benefits
Graduate Assistant Tuition Benefits
Graduate assistant tuition benefits cover tuition and all or a portion of the University fee, according to the appointment percentage and the number of registered credits. Eligibility requirements and detailed provisions for graduate tuition benefits are found in Appendix: Graduate Assistant Tuition Benefits. Graduate assistants are responsible for payment of charges not covered by the GA tuition benefit, such as lab, installment, late charge, or late registration fees that are assessed and charged to the students' account.
Resident Tuition Rate
In addition to tuition benefits, both current and former graduate assistants may be eligible to receive a non-resident tuition waiver. Retroactive requests for resident tuition rate reductions will not be considered beyond one academic year from the date of the semester in which the request is made. Graduate assistants whose appointment equals a minimum of 195 hours each semester are eligible to receive a non-resident tuition waiver (if applicable). Please note: Residency is determined at the time of admission. Refer to Appendix: Resident Tuition Rate for detailed information.
Medical and Dental Coverage
The Graduate Assistant Health Insurance Plan, through Boynton Health Service, provides medical and dental coverage to eligible GAs working 195 hours during the official semester payroll dates. For information about eligibility or coverage, contact the Graduate Assistant Insurance Office at Boynton Health Service, 612-624-0627 or umgahbo@umn.edu.
University Office for Conflict Resolution
The University’s Office for Conflict Resolution provides various services for faculty, TAs, RAs, and staff including anonymous consultation and mediation by a neutral third-party. Some aspects that they deal with include employment concerns such as expectations and workload in TA and RA relationships. For more information, please see their web site.