Graduate Assistant
A Graduate Assistant working as a casual employee is paid on an hourly basis or flat rate basis for work performed. Graduate, research, and teaching assistantships are available to highly qualified graduate students in many academic departments. Graduate assistants normally carry a 6 to 9 credit hour course load and perform duties in laboratories, lecture halls, and classrooms.
Applying for a Graduate Assistant Position
Graduate assistantships are available only to students admitted to, or enrolled in a graduate program. To view open positions, please visit Fredonia's HR Website.
Receiving a Graduate Assistantship
If you have been awarded a graduate assistant position, you will receive a contract letter, tuition waiver form, and new hire paperwork in the mail. If you need assistance completing your new hire paperwork please contact the Human Resources department at 716-673-3434 to set up an individual appointment. Sign and return the contract letter to the Graduate Admissions Office immediately. The tuition waiver form must be approved and signed by the department chairperson before it can be signed by the Associate Vice President for Graduate Studies & Research.
Salary and Hours
A newly hired GA will receive a stipend of $6700 plus any negotiated increases working 20 hours per week.(Speech Pathology GAs will receive a stipend of $3350 working 10 hours per week).
Returning GAs will receive an increased stipend of $7200 plus any negotiated increases.
Tuition Waiver Form
This form should be completed for every semester of your appointment during the academic year.
The form is available for download here.
No more than nine (9) credit hours of a tuition waiver per semester can be awarded to a graduate assistant.
Dropping a Course
If you choose to drop a course covered by a tuition waiver you will be responsible for a portion of the tuition amount incurred.
Health Insurance
The SUNY Student Employee Health Plan (SEHP) is available to eligible graduate assistants represented by GSEU (Graduate Student Employees Union). Bi-weekly health insurance payments are automatically deducted from your pre-tax paychecks. Current health insurance benefits are available here.
Other Graduate Assistant Positions
There are other work opportunities, different from department assistantships, that exist on campus.
Graduate students interested in other positions should contact the following offices directly as well as visit Fredonia's HR website:
- Student Affairs: Admissions, Athletics, Campus Life, Career Development, and Intercultural Center.
- Sponsored Programs: Research Assistants for Project ELA, Project Bridge, Upward Bound, etc. (must be enrolled in the TESOL program)
- Residence Life: Graduate Assistant Resident Directors.
- Music: The School of Music offers assistantships funded through the department which carry varying workloads and compensation.