Graduate Assistant/Project Assistant (Student Assistant)

• If a position description is written with duties that are more professional including program development, research, and writing, requiring the expertise of a graduate student the position would likely be more suited as a Graduate Assistant. 
• Graduate Assistant positions at 33% FTE or above (depending on appointment duration) qualify for Tuition Remission. This benefit helps to alleviate the cost of tuition of the student and would be covered by the unit.
• Depending on the FTE and appointment duration, leave will be given to the employee.
• Leave is tracked manually by the employee and supervisor and not entered in HRS or tracked there.
• Needs to meet an FTE every week.

Student Hourly (SH)

• If the duties do align with those mentioned under Graduate Assistant/Project Assistant and do not require the expertise of a graduate student, we should look toward hiring as a Student Hourly.
• Student Hourly appointments cannot require degrees (although they can prefer them) and they can be paid between $10 and $25 per hour and that rate choice is set by the employing department.
• Pay can be $10 – $25 per hour.
• Hours can vary and the employee can work up to 25 hours per week during the semester (or 20 hours/week for students on certain visas). Students can work up to 40 hours/week during the summer as long as the average of hours does not exceed 30/week. 
• Degree requirement must be removed from job description or marked as preferred.
•  SH jobs do not come with leave.

Questions?

Contact hr@extension.wisc.edu.