Graduate Assistant Terms and Policies
Effective December 6, 2011, Revised June 2014 and June 2015
To better serve both the needs of Greenville University (GU) and the Graduate Assistants (GAs) while keeping both consistency and quality in the GU graduate programs, the following terms and policies supplement the basic Graduate Assistant Appointment:
1. Any individual wishing to receive a graduate assistant appointment must:
a. Apply for an open graduate assistant appointment;
b. Agree with the University Standards, including the Mission, Philosophy of Education, GU Student Learning Outcomes, Theological Assumptions, and the Lifestyle Statement;
c. Receive at least provisional acceptance;
d. Enroll in an approved University graduate program before being eligible for a parttime GA student appointment; and
e. Authorize GU to order a background check (a GA appointment and continuation is contingent upon the screening results).
2. GAs must enroll in no fewer than 3 credit hours in a Greenville University graduate degree program each semester. GAs must enroll in no fewer than 12 credit hours of graduate level work in an academic year. Exceptions may be made with the approval of the Chief Academic Officer.
3. GAs attending a GU graduate program receive full tuition waiver and meal plan. Tuition and meal plans are subject to applicable taxes. To remain eligible for the appropriate waivers stipulated by the GA policy, each GA is responsible for submitting a GA/Tuition Waiver form within 15 days of the start of each new semester.
a. Insurance is not provided as part of the GA appointment; GAs may purchase health insurance at a competitive rate through the Office of Residence Life.
4. Students may maintain graduate assistant appointments only as long as they are graduate students in good standing in an approved graduate program and are making satisfactory progress in those programs.
5. GAs are classified as graduate students and are not considered employees of Greenville University. As such, GAs are not eligible for full- or part-time employee benefits at Greenville University, with the exception of free access to the Fitness Center.
6. GAs should not ordinarily have other paid employment at Greenville University during their assistantship. They are not eligible to work at any other job on-campus while performing their assistantship duties (usually ten or eleven months). These dates are outlined in the letter received from payroll. Any requests regarding situations deviating from this policy should be made in writing to the Head Coach and Athletic Director for approval PRIOR to any work being done.
7. GAs who seek outside employment require Head Coach and Athletic Director approval prior to starting work off campus.
8. GAs are responsible for maintaining the minimum GPA required in the respective program and for meeting all program requirements in order to be admitted to or to remain in good standing in their chosen graduate program.
a. GAs must maintain satisfactory progress in their respective programs. GAs can be dismissed from a graduate program and/or assistantship in which they are candidates if they do not meet the standards of the program as described in the respective graduate school handbook. GAs dismissed from graduate programs forfeit their assistantships (i.e., their graduate student assistant appointment with GU will be terminated).
b. A student placed on academic probation or given an academic warning may forfeit an assistantship. GAs have the right to appeal decisions affecting their academic status in the graduate program. GAs should consult the appeals procedure outlined in their respective graduate school handbook.
c. GAs who default on their assignment in the Athletic Department will NOT be eligible for tuition remission. GAs who perform poorly in their assignment responsibilities and are subsequently dismissed from a GA assignment with Greenville University will NOT be eligible for tuition remission.
d. GAs who fail a course are required to pay the tuition and fees associated with retaking the course.
9. GAs who have successfully completed all coursework in good academic standing may complete their master’s thesis, capstone project, practicum or student teaching under the benefit of tuition waiver within one term, even if they leave this appointment. GAs seeking this consideration must have completed at least two years of the graduate assistant appointment at GU and must successfully petition their respective supervisor, Provost/Vice President, Head Coach, and/or Athletic Director (AD) for approval. Individuals who successfully petition for this consideration will not receive any GA stipend from GU and will still be financially responsible for any fees associated with the thesis, capstone project, practicum, or student teaching component.
10. GAs who need additional coursework at the undergraduate level to meet requirements for a master’s degree program will be allowed to take up to two undergraduate courses in both the fall and spring terms with tuition waiver benefit while they are assigned as a GA. Total course load for a term will not exceed 12 credits for both undergraduate and graduate level courses. Enrollment in any undergraduate course can occur if the GA’s supervisor and graduate advisor approve and the total course load for a term does not exceed 12 credits. GAs will be charged regular tuition for undergraduate independent study, interterm, practica or internships, or summer term courses that are NOT part of their regular program.
a. Admission into the master’s degree program may be dependent upon successful completion of the required undergraduate coursework as defined by the graduate program requirements.
11. GAs may apply for tuition waiver for coursework required for their chosen master’s degree program based upon eight (8) paying students being enrolled in the class. In the event of a course(s) cancellation, the school will work individually with GAs to create an alternative course plan (e.g. independent study, delaying the course start date).
12. GAs who find themselves in extenuating circumstances that require re-evaluation of the above stated policies may apply in writing for a policy waiver to the supervisor, Chief Academic Officer Head Coach, and/or Athletic Director and the program director or to the Chief Academic Officer. Grievance of any policy waiver refusals may be made to the Chief Academic Officer.
14. Academically, GAs will be supervised directly by a faculty member of the program that offers the appointment. The assistantship supervisor (Coach, Athletic Director, and/or Associate Dean for Residence Life) recommends candidates for appointment, determines the specific assistantship appointment, supervises and evaluates the work.
15. GA appointments are part-time graduate student assignments (29 hours per week) and are typically for two calendar years (24 months). The time allocated to fulfilling the appointment responsibilities and expectations should not exceed an average of 29 hours per week, with a total annual allocation not to exceed 1,508 hours. The student along with the supervisor will plan in advance the weeks when overload hours will occur and accordingly schedule lighter weeks to bring the balance back to an average of 29 hours per week.
16. GA appointments in athletics will assist the athletic department with duties assigned by the Athletic Director. These typically include game management, special events (Hall of Fame banquet) and fundraising events (Golf Scramble).