STUDENT FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GRA/GTA/GA HIRING PROCESS
Table of Contents
1.
2.
What are Assistantships? ............................................................................................................2
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Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) ....................................................................................... 2
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Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) ...................................................................................... 2
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Graduate Assistantships (GA) ....................................................................................................... 2
What are the requirements to apply for an Assistantship? ...........................................................2
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3.
4.
GRA/GA Requirements ................................................................................................................. 2
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GTA Requirements ........................................................................................................................ 2
What are the responsibilities of an Assistantship appointment? ..................................................2
What are the benefits of an Assistantship? .................................................................................3
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Tuition Rates ................................................................................................................................. 3
5.
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Stipends ........................................................................................................................................ 3
How do I apply for an Assistantship? ...........................................................................................3
6.
If I am selected for an Assistantship, what do I need to do? .........................................................4
7.
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Hiring Packet Due Dates ............................................................................................................... 4
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Hiring Packet ................................................................................................................................. 4
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New Hire Orientation ................................................................................................................... 4
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International Student Requirements ............................................................................................ 4
What are the requirements to continue in the Assistantship program? ........................................4
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GPA Requirements........................................................................................................................ 4
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Resignation ................................................................................................................................... 5
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Failure to Meet Job Requirements ............................................................................................... 5
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Compensation Upon Termination ................................................................................................ 5
http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/GRA.html
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1. What are Assistantships?
There are 3 types of assistantships.
 Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) – GRAs are a research or project assignment that is
relevant and adds value to the student's major field of study, area of interest or expertise.
 Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA) – GTAs are teaching assignments where the graduate
student will be the Teacher of Record and must be qualified to teach in that field.
 Graduate Assistantships (GA) – GAs are assignments where the primary function is neither
research nor teaching. Graduate students in this category work on a variety of projects.
2. What are the requirements to apply for an Assistantship?

GRA/GA Requirements
o Completed the requirements for an undergraduate degree
o Applied for and been fully accepted to a graduate degree program of study
o Maintained a 3.0 grade point average in any previous/current graduate course work
o Maintained a 3.0 grade point average in any previous undergraduate course work if a
first semester graduate program student
In addition, the GRA cannot exceed 24 waived course credits in an academic year, or reach or
exceed the number of hours required for the registered program in waived course credits.
Returning GRAs must have satisfactory performance on previous assignments.
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GTA Requirements
o All of the requirements for a GRA
o Have a Master’s in the teaching discipline or 18 graduate semesters hours in their
graduate program
o Submit both a CV and transcript to the Graduate College prior to beginning the teaching
assignment
o Attend a seven-week, non-credit Graduate Teaching Workshop offered by CETL
(dates/times to be determined) or approved alternative.
o Complete the Teacher of Record Appointment Form
o Complete the Buckley Form and submit it to the Registrar separately
3. What are the responsibilities of an Assistantship appointment?
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Appointments are for one semester (Fall, Spring, Summer) and will be awarded to qualified
students. Some departments have 2 semester appointments (Fall and Spring).
Graduate Students will work with the assigned Graduate Faculty Project Supervisor for 6-20
hours per week for 17 weeks per semester based on assignment (Fall and Spring).
Graduate Students will work with the assigned Graduate Faculty Project Supervisor for 10-40
hours per week for 10 weeks per semester based on assignment (Summer).
Graduate Students must be assigned to work with a faculty member holding provisional or full
graduate faculty status.
Graduate Assistants must register for and maintain a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12
semester hours for Fall and Spring semesters, and a maximum of 6 hours of class credit during
the summer semester.
http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/GRA.html
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Coursework overloads (over 9 hours) must receive special approval. See the Tuition
Rates section of this document for more information.
A GRA/GTA may not be employed in any another position on the KSU campus nor can they hold
two GRA/GTA positions in one semester.
International students will have additional steps to complete to be hired.
4. What are the benefits of an Assistantship?

Tuition Rates – Each Assistantship position pays a special tuition rate of $25 per semester, as
well as all student fees, and the cost of mandatory health insurance if the Graduate Student is
not eligible for a waiver. Tuition waivers are the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
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All Graduate Assistants are required to have health insurance. Students will be billed for
the mandatory health insurance fee at the time of registration. A waiver of the health
insurance fee may be applied for directly with the insurer. Please see United Healthcare
for information and rates.
Tuition costs above 12 hours in the fall or spring and 6 hours in the summer will be the
responsibility of the Graduate Student.
Graduate Assistants who take more than 9 credit hours must have approval in writing
from:
 The Graduate Faculty Project Supervisor (i.e. Graduate Program Director) to
insure that the Graduate Student is in sound academic standing;
 The Dean of the Graduate College.
Graduate Assistants that are enrolled in one of KSU's premium-priced or
executive/premier programs will be required to pay all tuition/other costs of these
programs in excess of standard graduate program tuition.
Additional charges for on-line courses are covered in the tuition waiver.
Tuition will only be waived for graduate courses. No tuition waivers will apply to any
undergraduate courses.
Stipends – Some departments will pay a stipend in addition to the special tuition rate as defined
in the contract. Stipends will be paid monthly on the last business day of the month.
5. How do I apply for an Assistantship?

There are two paths to being hired for an Assistantship position.
1. Your graduate program may have already identified you to fill an Assistantship position
through the recruitment process or through knowledge of your expertise while in the
program.
2. Graduate Students that have not been indentified may:
a. Submit a Graduate Student Assistantship Interest Form found at:
http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/grajobboard.html
http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/GRA.html
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b. Once submitted the form will be posted on the GRA Job Board for potential
hiring faculty to review.
6. If I am selected for an Assistantship, what do I need to do?
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Hiring Packet Due Dates – Due dates for the hiring packet are available on the Graduate
College Assistantship website (http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/GRA.html).
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Students who do not submit the hiring packet prior to the deadline for priority registration
will have two options: Pay all fees by the deadline for priority registration and be
reimbursed after the hiring packet is processed –OR- Have their classes dropped if the
tuition and fees are not paid and re-register for classes during the next phase of registration.
Hiring Packet – The Hiring packet consists of several forms.
o Graduate Assistantship Contract & Approval Form – Filled out online by the Graduate
Faculty Project Supervisor or Program Director. The Graduate Student must indicate a
preference for waiver; legibly print their name, sign and date.
o TOR Appointment Form and Authorization to Release Transcripts (for GTA’s only). The
TOR appointment form must be completed by the Graduate Faculty Supervisor or
Program Director. The form is signed by the department chair. The GTA must complete
the authorization to release transcripts, sign and date.
o Student Employment Personnel Action Form (SEPAF) – The SEPAF form needs to be
filled out by the Graduate Faculty Supervisor or Program Director.
New Hire Orientation – All GRA/GTA/GAs are required to attend a new hire orientation. It is the
student’s responsibility to attend the set orientation time.
o New Hire Orientation must be completed no later than 3 days after the beginning date
on the contract.
o Students will contact Human Resources (HR) at 470-578-6030 or hr@kennesaw.edu for
New Hire Orientation dates after the hiring packet is completed.
o Students who cannot attend the New Hire Orientation program must notify Human
Resources (HR) at 470-578-6030 or hr@kennesaw.edu to schedule a separate
orientation time.
International Student Requirements
o International students with an F-1 visa are required to provide a copy of their current
visa documentation as well as their current I-20 form, complete with a work
authorization stamp from the Office of International Services and Programs.
o International students must have a social security number prior to being hired.
o Contact HR at 470-578-6030 or hr@kennesaw.edu with any questions.
Students will not be paid until all of these steps are complete.
7. What are the requirements to continue in the Assistantship program?

GPA Requirements – If a student's grade point average falls below 3.0 (academic probation),
they will no longer be eligible to hold an Assistanship.
http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/GRA.html
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Resignation – A GRA/GTA wishing to resign must submit a letter of resignation to their faculty
supervisor and the Dean of the Graduate College.
Failure to Meet Job Requirements – Students who do not meet the academic requirements or
the requirements of the job may be terminated.
Compensation Upon Termination – Compensation will cease upon termination of the contract,
and the student may be required to reimburse the University for tuition.
http://www.kennesaw.edu/graduate/GRA.html
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