Graduate Student Assistant Information
This document describes the different types of graduate student assistant positions.
Audience
- Entomology, Plant Pathology, and Forest & Wildlife faculty and academic staff; Hub staff
Overview
This document contains reference information for the different types of graduate assistant positions.
Assistant Categories and Definitions1
| Category | Definition |
|---|---|
| Teaching Assistant (TA) | A graduate student enrolled in a UW System institution who has been assigned teaching responsibilities in an instructional department under the supervision of an academic staff or faculty member. |
| Research Assistant (RA) | A UW-Madison graduate student whose work is performed primarily to further their own education and training. |
| Program or Project Assistant (PA) | A graduate student enrolled in a UW System institution who is employed to assist with research, training, or other academic programs or projects at the UW-Madison. Departments are required to recruit for new PA positions on the student job center website as well as on a department bulletin board. |
| Program Assistant - Reader/Grader (PA-Reader/Grader) | Graduate students enrolled at UW-Madison who are employed to assist with grading at the UW-Madison. |
| Fellow | A graduate student holding a fellowship which provides freedom to devote full-time to obtaining an advanced degree. |
1 Adapted from CALS info on student assistantships.
See also: Graduate Assistantship Policy and Procedures in the UW-Madison Policy Library
Applies to All
Tuition Remission
- Eligibility - must hold a 33.3% or greater appointment for a fall or spring term to receive remission of full tuition. More info: Bursar's Office page on Tuition Remission.
- Segregated Fees are not included with tuition remission. This must paid by the student.
- The department handles submitting the tuition remission. Students do not need to take any action in the process of submitting tuition remission.
- During the summer semester, tuition is remitted to graduate students.
Maximum Appointment Levels
See Grad School's maximum appointment levels policy.
| Position Type | % Maximum | Spring/Fall Semester | Breaks - Spring, Summer, Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Assistant | 50%3 | 75% with no more than 50% being the RA appt | 75% with no more than 50% being the RA appt |
| Teaching Assistant | 75-100%3 | 75% | 100% |
| Project Assistant | 75-100%3 | 75% | 100% |
| Lecturer SA | 75-100% | 75% | 100% |
| Fellowship | See Fellowship Policy | See Fellowship Policy | See Fellowship Policy |
3 Only able to go above 75% during semester breaks.
| Position Type | % Maximum | Spring/Fall Semester | Breaks - Spring, Summer, Winter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Assistant | 50% | 50% | 75% |
| Teaching Assistant | 50% | 50% | 75% |
| Project Assistant | 50% | 50% | 75% |
| Lecturer SA | 50% | 50% | 75% |
| Fellowship | See Fellowship Policy | See Fellowship Policy | See Fellowship Policy |
- F1 and J1 students can't exceed the 20 hour limit.
- Fellowship policy
- Maximum appointment level including SH.
Stipend Levels and Fringe Rates
- Minimum Stipend Levels
- Locate “Assistantship Stipends by Program” and click the link for the current year rates.
- Fringe Rates:
- Simplified: Search the Russell KB for Fringe Rates, then click the most recent one.
- Full version: view the Fringes page on the Research and Sponsored Programs website. The page also includes links to prior year rates.
Questions
- Please contact the Hub Administrative Specialist.