Welcome to the
Online
Orientation
for
New Graduate
Assistants
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Congratulations!
Now that you have received a graduate assistantship and/or tuition
scholarship, there are several topics that must be reviewed. In this
orientation we will cover the following topics:
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The Graduate Assistant Handbook
Eligibility
Required forms
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Fee Remission
Parking
Plagiarism
And more!
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The Graduate Assistant
Handbook
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The Graduate Assistant Handbook is your primary
reference guide if you have questions regarding your
assistantship.
Some of the important topics available are:
• Types of Graduate Assistantships
• Terms and Benefits
• Rights and Responsibilities
• Sexual Harassment/Non-Discrimination
• Grievance Procedures
Please review the handbook and bookmark the following
link for your personal use:
Graduate Assistant Handbook
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Eligibility for Graduate
Assistantship
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To be eligible for graduate assistantship:
 You must be fully admitted to a graduate degree program.

You must be enrolled as a full-time student during each semester
you are working as a graduate assistant.
9 + credits in Fall/Spring semester
6 + credits in combined Summer sessions
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Maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA and progressing
towards degree completion.
Maximum works hours on campus may not exceed 20 per week.
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Eligibility Requirements, continued

You are required to perform your graduate assistantship duties
satisfactorily.
 Maintain the standards of academic conduct.
 Honor the terms of your contract agreement.
 Teaching Assistants must meet oral proficiency requirements:
International students must provide an acceptable TSE or equivalent
score, and Domestic students must be assessed by departmental
procedures.
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Required I-9 Form for the
Graduate School
The Polsky Building, Room 469
Akron, Ohio 44324-2101
330-972-5858
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Required I-9 Form for the Graduate School:
Graduate Assistants are required to complete the I-9 Form for the
Graduate School.
Graduate Fellowships are not required to complete the I-9 Form for the
Graduate School.
Please be advised that you will not be paid until the Graduate School has
received the I-9 form.
If you have worked for UA Student Employment, you are still required to
submit the I-9 form to the Graduate School.
Do not send the I-9 form to the Payroll Office.
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The I-9 Form
What it is
• The purpose of the I-9 form is to document that both citizens and non-citizens are
authorized to work in the United States. It is required by the Department of Homeland
Security and must be completed by ALL graduate assistants.
• Read the I-9 Fact Sheet.
Required Identification
• The most commonly accepted identification is a passport or driver’s license and social
security card.
• Review the List of Acceptable Documents on the I-9 form.
How to Complete the Form
• You must complete Section 1 of the I-9 form.
• Present your original identification documents to a university employee or a notary
public. He or she will examine and record the original documents in Section 2 and
provide a signature in the Certification section.
• When this is completed, it should be sent to: The Graduate School, Polsky 469,
Akron, Ohio 44325-2101
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Required Forms for the
Payroll Office
Location:
Administrative Services Building (ASB) Room 112
185 East Mill Street, Akron, Ohio 44325
Mailing address:
302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325-6210
330-972-7205
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The Payroll Office requires the following forms:
1.
2.
3.
4.
W-4 Form
Direct Deposit Form
Form SSA-1945
SERS Exemption Form or SERS Membership Record Form
 Please review the Student New Hire Instruction Sheet
 Please complete the Payroll Self-Service Tutorial
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Retirement Plan
• As a State of Ohio institution, we do not pay Social Security; instead, we
contribute to a state retirement system.
• As a student employee, you must choose whether or not you will participate in
the School Employees Retirement System (SERS).
• Your contribution is 10% of your earnings and the University will supplement
this with a contribution equal to 14%.
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SERS Membership or Exemption
• You must complete either the Exemption or the Membership Record
form and submit it to the Payroll Office.
• If you choose to complete the Membership Record, state law makes
parents possible beneficiaries; therefore, your parent’s birth dates are
required (note deceased if applicable).
Visit the SERS website for more information.
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STRS Information for Teaching Assistants
•
If you are an active member in State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) and
you are not on a leave of absence from a teaching position covered by STRS Ohio,
you may apply for exemption from contributions to STRS Ohio.
STRS Ohio Exemption form for Student Employees
•
If you are an active member in State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) and
on a leave of absence from a teaching position covered by STRS Ohio, or wish to
contribute to STRS Ohio, you must complete a New Hire Notification for College and
University Employees form.
STRS Ohio New Hire Notification
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All Payroll forms must be submitted to the
Payroll Office:
Location
Administrative Services Building (ASB) Room 112
185 East Mill Street, Akron, Ohio 44325
Mailing address
302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325-6210
330-972-7205
• Any questions involving payroll forms or the bi-weekly payroll schedule
can be found on the Payroll Office website.
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Sexual Harassment & Other
Forms of Discrimination
Prevention Training
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Sexual Harassment & Other Forms of
Discrimination Prevention Training
• "Sexual Harassment & Other Forms of Discrimination Prevention
Training" is mandatory requirement for all UA employees and Graduate
Assistants, to be completed in the first semester of appointment.
• This training discusses topics relating to sexual harassment and other
forms of discrimination. Discussion will include relevant federal and state
laws, as well as UA rules and policies. Important contact information is
also provided.
• Email eeocompliance@uakron.edu and provide your UANet ID to
be enrolled in the online course.
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Fee Remission
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The University of Akron Fee Remission
Policy for Graduate Assistants
The University of Akron shall provide a scholarship during each
semester or summer session of award period for:
 graduate instructional fees
 non-resident surcharge general fee and
 partial payment of parking permit for student campus lots
Scholarships are not provided for:
• audit or undergraduate courses
• administrative fees
• facilities fees
• technology fees
• drop/add fees
• library fees
• additional cost of professional fess for
joint graduate/law students
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•
professional fees for any student that is
not admitted to a joint/law program
miscellaneous fees
late registration fees
tuition/fees at any other institution.
Graduate Scholarships will not be awarded, nor will any fee remission
be applied, after the 14th day of any semester or session.
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Plagiarism
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The University of Akron’s Policy on
Plagiarism
• Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of any
university. All members of an academic community must be confident
that each person's work has been responsible and honorably acquired,
developed and presented. The assumption that your work is a fair
representation of your actual ability, knowledge and skills form the basis
of institutional quality and the quality of its graduates.
• For more information please view The University of Akron's policy on
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity.
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The UA Institutional Review
Board
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Institutional Review Board
All students and faculty engaged in research are subject to the oversight and
guidelines of the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• The IRB is a part of the Office of Research Services & Sponsored Programs.
• All individuals conducting research involving human subjects must be
certified. All researchers must take and pass the core modules in the
Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) curriculum.
• A CITI Tutorial is available for Researchers Submitting a Protocol to the IRB
and for Students taking the CITI Training to satisfy course requirements.
After completing the tutorials, researches must complete the CITI course
online.
• Guidelines and samples for obtaining informed consent, as well as ethical
principles and Federal laws are also available online.
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Parking
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Parking Reimbursement
Your graduate assistantship entitles you to partial payment of a parking
permit. You must request your Graduate Assistant Parking Permit online:
1. Log into MyAkron
2. Access “Parking”
3. Select “Graduate Assistant” and request permit.
Your department will be sent an approval notice. Once they have approved
the payment, your student account will be credited.
Questions regarding parking should be directed to the Parking Office: 330972-7213 or parking@uakron.edu.
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General University Information
and Services
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Useful Links for General University
Information and Services:
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Campus Map
Campus Shuttle
Career Center
Counseling Center
Clinic for Individual & Family
Counseling
• Library Services
• Parking Services
• Off-Campus Services
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Schedule of Classes
Registrar
Student Health Services
UA Athletics
UA Bookstore
UANet Support Wiki
Zip Card Information
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Thank you for completing the
Online Orientation for
New Graduate Assistants!
If you have additional questions regarding
your assistantship, please contact Graduate
School Financial Aid:
330-972-5858
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