Graduate Assistantship Handbook - Faculty
To create a graduate teaching assistantship connected with a program of study, a department chairperson must prepare a proposal describing the number and types of assistantships. Proposals should be submitted to the dean of the College or school for approval, and should include a description of the graduate assistant's responsibilities, proposed stipend, source of funding and length of appointment. For reference and periodic review, copies of proposals will be kept in the Office of the Dean.
After approval by the dean, assistantship costs (stipends and tuition) should be proposed as part of the department budget. Following approval of the budget, departments are authorized to recruit candidates for appointment to graduate assistantships.
The department chairperson or program director will select appointees for the graduate assistantship. They will be responsible for the graduate assistant’s program of study toward an advanced degree and assignment of responsibilities. Ultimately, the department chairperson or program director are responsible for the accomplishment of these duties by the appointee, whether they occur within or outside the department.
The same procedure applies for research and administrative assistantships. The department chairperson or program director will work closely with the office sponsoring the assistantship. Generally, the office where the graduate assistant works is responsible for assisting with the student’s program of study.
The selection and supervision of graduate assistants should comply with the applicable policies established by the department and approved by the dean of the College or school. Periodically, the department’s program for graduate assistants should be reviewed. Reports prepared at appropriate intervals will be reviewed by the dean of the College or school and the dean of the Graduate School. Records of these reports will also be kept in the Office of the Dean. The original contract, signed by the dean of the College or School, should be sent to the Graduate School, who will keep the original and forward a copy to Human Resources, Financial Aid, and the Bursar's Office.
The University of Dayton Research Institute annually provides information about graduate research assistantships available on its sponsored research programs during the upcoming academic year.
Funds for payment of stipends and tuition for graduate assistantships will normally be provided in the annual budget of the department or office in which the graduate assistantship has been established. If the graduate assistant is assigned to duties in another department, office or sponsored research project, the stipend and tuition of the appointee will be an expense of the department to which the student is assigned.