Graduate Research Assistantships

Graduate Students' Application Form

            Graduate Research Assistantship Application

Faculty/Staff Forms

            Graduate Research Assistantship Proposal

            Graduate Research Assistantship Appointment

            Graduate Research Assistantship Student Evaluation

Faculty/Staff/Graduate Students

            Graduate Research Assistantship Guidelines

Graduate research assistantships (GRA's) are designed to link a graduate student together with a professor in a meaningful research project, which will be one academic year in duration.  During the assistantship period, a graduate research assistant will work directly with a professor on a joint project, which will lead to a presentation at a professional conference and/or a joint publication.  Graduate research assistantships are awarded to part and full-time students who are fully admitted with a clear-admit status to a graduate degree program and who maintain outstanding academic standing during the time of the award.  The total award equals over $7,000 a year which includes tuition and fees remission for up to 15 credits per academic year, a bi-weekly stipend, plus a complimentary parking pass.  Appointments are competitive and are determined on the basis of undergraduate and/or graduate grade point averages, test scores, letters of recommendation, pertinent experience, educational preparation, interviews, or a combination of these factors.  They are intended to encourage and assist superior students in pursuing graduate study and in completing the requirements for graduate degrees in the minimum possible time.  The following guidelines are to be used in employing GRAs within academic departments.  For further information contact Charlene Hoyt at 508.531.2809. 

 

Recruitment

  • Each graduate school admission application package includes information about the graduate research assistantship program and an application for employment as a graduate research assistant.

  • GRA applications are available in the School of Graduate Studies office or online

  • Each student's GRA application must include a copy of his/her resume.

  • For available assistantship positions, please contact Charlene Hoyt at 508.531.2809 or choyt@bridgew.edu.

 

Required Qualifications

  • A bachelor's degree in an appropriate field.

  • Must be admitted with a clear admit status into a graduate degree program before being hired as a GRA.  Undergraduate/graduate five-year program students are not eligible for GRA positions.

  • Must continue to make satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree.

  • Part and full time students are eligible to apply.

  • Must be enrolled part time in at least six credits of graduate-level courses during the fall and spring semesters during appointment.

  • Ability to establish effective working relationships and good communication skills.

  • Other specific qualifications relating to the particular assistantship.

  • Students are not eligible for an assistantship if they are employed as a state or hourly employee with Bridgewater State College.

Rates of Pay

  • 10 work hours each week required

  • $70.00 per week paid bi-weekly

 

Payroll Policies

  • In order to be legally employed and placed on the Bridgewater State College payroll, all selected GRA's must report to the Student Employment Office with their completed I-9 form, W-4 form, emergency notification card, and present an original social security card prior to the first day of appointment.

  • Paychecks are picked up in the Office of Student Employment, located in Boyden Hall, Room 101.

Financial Aid Policies

  • Students applying for financial aid should be advised the School of Graduate Studies will be communicating (with Student Accounts and the Financial Aid Office) the total course tuition and fees waivers being applied to their student accounts.  Students are also required to report all tuition and fees waivers to the Financial Aid Office.  If you have already been awarded or received financial aid (which includes student loans) for the same semester as the assistantship assignment, your financial aid may be subject to change.  Stipends are not considered when calculating financial aid funding.

 

Dates for GRA Appointments and Required Forms

  • All GRA supervisors must complete appointment forms on or before September 1st.  Likewise, GRAs must complete all required payroll forms on or before September 1st; otherwise stipend payment to GRAs will not begin promptly.

 

Tuition and Fees Waiver Guide for Fall 2009, Spring and Summer 2010 Semesters

  • Students are eligible to receive up to a total of 15 credit hours of course tuition and fees waivers during the academic year which includes the fall and spring semesters and both summer sessions.

  • Typically students register for a total of 6 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters during the academic year not exceeding the maximum total of 15 credit hours of tuition and fees waivers allowed per academic year.

  • All other costs must be paid by the graduate assistant in accordance with college policies on tuition and fees calculation and payment.

 

Performance Evaluation

  • Evaluation forms will be distributed to supervisors in April via email from the School of Graduate Studies.

  • Graduate research assistants will be evaluated in April by their supervisors who will submit the completed evaluation to Charlene Hoyt in the School of Graduate Studies.

 

Summer Session I June 2010 Course Tuition and Fees Waivers

  • If the GRA intends on enrolling in courses during summer session(s), supervisors will need to complete the course tuition and fees waiver request section on the student's evaluation form and submit to Charlene Hoyt in the School of Graduate Studies.

 

Professional Responsibilities

  • The direct supervisor of the GRA is responsible for monitoring attendance.

  • GRA's are treated with professional courtesy and expectations, and as a result, are held accountable for their performance.

  • GRA's are expected to be punctual in fulfilling professional duties and responsibilities, as their department or office relies on their professionalism.

 

Duties of Graduate Research Assistant

  • The research assistant will work directly with a faculty research supervisor for ten hours per week during the spring and fall semesters.  This work can take many forms including designing and conducting surveys, assessments, pure library research, laboratory work, interviews, field research, etc.

  • The research assistant will assist the faculty research supervisor in an original joint research project, participate in a professor's existing research project, or embark on an original research project closely related to the supervisor's research interests.

  • The research assistant will assist in the writing or presentation of the research project.

  • The research assistant will present this research project jointly with the faculty research supervisor or individually at a professional conference, one of which must include the annual Graduate Student Research Symposium, sponsored by the state college's which is held in April.

  • The research assistant, working closely with the faculty research supervisor, will write a scholarly article and attempt to publish the article in a scholarly journal; a joint publication of the research assistant and faculty research supervisor is also an option.

 

Attendance Policies and Holidays

  • Attendance for graduate research assistants must be reported on a weekly basis othe attendance report for the employing department, which is then submitted to the Office of Human Resources.

  •   GRAs are not eligible for paid or sick leave.  Time missed for illness or personal reasons must be made up by making arrangements with the supervisor.  This should occur within a reasonable amount of time.

  • GRAs are generally not required to work when the college closes over the Christmas and New Year holidays (that portion of semester break), or during spring break that occurs in March.  If a graduate assistant is required to work during this period due to special circumstances, an equivalent total reduction in work hours should be made during the remainder of the work year.

  • Supervisors are responsible for ensuring that the GRAs work the required ten (10) hours per week.

  • A twenty percent reduction in required work hours shall be made during the weeks in which the following holidays occur:  Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, President's Day, Patriot's Day, and Memorial Day.

 

Dismissal Policy

  • During the academic year, in rare and unusual circumstances, it may be necessary to dismiss a GRA from his/her employment.  Supervisors will determine if behavior and work performance require disciplinary action. 

  • A letter of dismissal must be submitted by the supervisor to the dean of the School of Graduate Studies, who will review the supervisor's evaluation and determine the outcome within 30 days. 

  • Prior written notice should be given to the graduate research assistant by the supervisor, who is considering dismissal.

  • Students placed on academic probation may be terminated from their graduate research assistantship position.

  • Students who are terminated or opt for dismissal from appointment will have a reduction in tuition and fees waivers based upon the number of completed weeks worked, which will be pro-rated.

For further information, email the School of Graduate Studies or call 508.531.1300.

Last Modified: September 18, 2009