Payroll

Registration Requirements

• Students are required to register for at least six credits per Fall and Spring terms. Registration must be completed by the first day of employment and maintained for the entire semester. Registering for audit-only courses does not fulfill the registration requirements.

• Exceptions to the six-credit registration requirement are considered when a completed form, UM 1655 Special Graduate Assistant Registration Status (SGARS), is submitted. 

• Registration is not required to hold a GA appointment during May or Summer sessions/terms.

In order to be placed on payroll you need to have a valid I-9.

Foreign Nationals:  In order to be placed on payroll you need to have a valid I-9, which means you need to present documents in person, at ISSS and Central Payroll on or before the first day of your appointment. 

US citizens have to have your I-9 process on or before the first day of your appointment. 

You need to have this completed by date in your offer letter or you will not be in I-9 compliance and will not be paid until you are. This also affects your tuition benefit and insurance (costs to you).

Department Salary Progression

• For RA/TA appointments, salaries are determined by your tier level. There are 3 tier levels for ECE PhD students.  

  • You move to the 2nd tier when you pass your Preliminary Written Exam.  

  • You move to the 3rd tier when you pass your Preliminary Oral Exam. 

• Payroll will change your tier only after the milestone you completed is recorded in your academic record. Please check your academic record after you have passed a milestone to see that it has been recorded. If it is not recorded, please contact Ann Rausch.

• Each semester there is a date by which you must reach a tier in order for you to be eligible for a raise the next semester.  Raises occur only at the beginning of a semester.  Each semester there is a date by which you must reach a tier in order for you to be eligible for a raise the next semester.  Raises occur only at the beginning of a semester.  The dates listed are the deadlines to have your exam done and the Pass submission completed by the reviewers.  It is best to schedule your exam at least a week before the deadline to make sure everything is complete.

  • To be eligible for a raise in the Fall you need to reach the next tier level by July 15.  

  • To be eligible for a raise in the Spring you need to reach the next tier level by December 1.  

  • To be eligible for a raise in the Summer you need to reach the next tier level by April 15.

• Each tier adds between 1.5% and 2.5% to your salary.  In most years there is also an annual raise that increases all tier levels and occurs at the beginning of the Fall semester. Annual raises are determined by the University, not the department.

Graduating before the end of your appointment?

• Email Jeanine Maiden (maiden@umn.edu) the date of your last day of work. Jeanine will update your appointment and will notify the Graduate Assistantship office that your appointment is ending early due to graduation.