Pay Dates
Graduate assistants are paid on the last working day of the month during the assistantship. Pay periods are August through May for the fall and spring semesters. Pay periods are June and July for students who receive stipends or wage payroll funds during the summer session.
Limits on the Duration of Support
Graduate assistant support provided from budgeted departmental resources shall be limited to four semesters for the M.S. program, ten semesters for the Ph.D. program (with an M.S.), and 15 semesters for a Ph.D. program (with a B.S.). Extension beyond these limits is evaluated on an individual case basis and must be approved by the Head of the Department of Animal Science.
Requirement for Graduate Assistants
Students on an assistantship must maintain a GPA of 3.0 (4.0 basis). In addition, as assessed during their annual performance evaluation, students must make satisfactory progress toward their degree in order to retain their assistantship support.
Responsibilities of a Graduate Assistant
All graduate students receiving an assistantship within the program, regardless of funding source, are required to perform 20 hours (half-time assistants) or 10 hours (quarter-time assistants) of service per week, related to the functions of the department. In all cases, additional hours related to a student's degree requirements may be necessary, such as related to a graduate student's research, depending upon the student's thesis/dissertation project. GSAD-901
The duties of Graduate Assistants may include the following:
- General laboratory maintenance
- Support of farm operations
- Literature searches and other library work
- Field and laboratory assays from ongoing projects
- Data management and statistical analyses
- Assay development and preparation of laboratory protocols
- Assistance in preparation and grading of quizzes, examinations, and homework exercises
- Help in preparing and conducting teaching labs
- Assistance in other classroom activities
- Assistance in conducting extension field activities
- Help in preparation of documents for other departmental activities
- Help set up presentation materials for demonstration activities, such as Ag Progress Days
- Other professional activities requested by supervisor or department head.
