Graduate Assistantships & Internships

Graduate assistants must be fully admitted to the Graduate School and pursuing work leading to a Master 's degree, Ed.D, sixth-year certificate, post-master's planned program, or post-baccalaureate teacher certification. Graduate assistants are appointed by the dean of the school in which the graduate assistant (GA) is to be employed upon recommendation of the department chair where the GA is to be employed. GA's are expected to be enrolled in required courses within their planned program of graduate study and/or prerequisites necessary to offset any undergraduate deficiencies prior to undertaking the graduate program of study. To receive or maintain a GA position, a minimum GPA of 3.00 for all post-baccalaureate course work completed at SCSU is required. GA's may be required to meet other specific criteria within the department.

Academic department graduate assistantship appointments are annual but may be renewed on a semester-to-semester basis. Graduate assistantships may be renewed for additional semesters at the discretion of the employing department or unit provided the student meets all eligibility criteria for that GA position, i.e., enrollment status, GPA, and any other departmental criteria.

Students cannot hold other University supported positions (such as graduate student worker; graduate teaching assistant; research administrative assistant; resident advisor; graduate intern, or adjunct faculty) while holding the GA position.

There are two levels of academic department graduate assistanships. For both full-time and part-time graduate students, all credit hours for which the student is registered must be part of the approved program plan on file with the department and the Registrar 's office.

Full-Time Graduate Assistants

Full-time graduate assistants appointed to provide 20 hours of service per week or 300 total hours of service per semester. Full-time graduate assistants must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student (9 or more credit hours per semester).

Half-Time Graduate Assistants

Half-time graduate assistants appointed to provide 10 hours of service per week or 150 total hours of service per semester. Half-time graduate assistants may be either a full-time graduate student, as defined above, or a part-time graduate student for this policy is defined as a graduate student enrolled for 1.0 or greater credit hours but fewer than 9 credit hours per semester.

Compensation

Full-time graduate assistants will be compensated at the rate of $5,280 per semester. Graduate Assistants enrolled at Southern as full-time graduate students shall pay full-time tuition. However, the following fees shall be waived for graduate assistants: University Fee, University General Fee (except for that portion attributable to student accident insurance), and the Student Activity Fee. Per Connecticut Board of Regents 12/19/2019. For more information, please visit https://grad.southernct.edu/financing-your-education/.

Half-time graduate assistants will be compensated at the rate of $2,640 per semester. Effective Spring 2024, Graduate Assistants enrolled at Southern for less than nine hours shall pay appropriate registration and course fees for part-time students. However, the following fees shall be waived for graduate assistants: 90% of the General University Fee. Per Connecticut Board of Regents 12/19/2019. For more information, please visit https://grad.southernct.edu/financing-your-education/.

Annual Review

Annual review of full-time equivalent (FTE) graduate assistantships will take place between the dean of the school, the department chairperson, and the graduate coordinator as appropriate. One full-time equivalent graduate assistantship is defined as a full-time graduate assistant employed for both the fall and spring terms of an academic year (300 hours of service for two semesters receiving compensation of $10,560 for the two semesters.) During the annual review, the decision of the dean after consultation with the department may be made to hold the number of FTE graduate assistantships steady for the department, decrease the number of FTE graduate assistantships as dictated by the needs and size of the graduate program in the department, or request an increase in the number of FTE graduate assistantships as dictated by the needs and size of the graduate program for the department. The ability to maintain or increase FTE graduate assistantships will be dependent on the overall university budget allocation assigned to support graduate education for any academic year.

The Graduate School Graduate Assistantship (GSGA) is a non-need based award administered through the School of Graduate and Professional Studies and is contingent upon: (1) acceptance to a graduate degree, sixth-year certificate, or doctoral degree; (2) the achievement of a minimum 3.50 grade point average for all undergraduate coursework; and (3) a 3.75  grade point average for all graduate coursework. GSGA’s may be full or part-time, experiential learning opportunities.  Faculty apply for GSGAs based on project proposals. If selected by SGPS, faculty select a student to serve as a teaching or research assistant.

Graduate School Graduate Assistants will be required to complete 10 contact hours (half-time) or 20 contact hours (full-time) of work each week during the academic year.  Specific activities will depend upon the nature of the assistantship as outlined in the faculty's application and must be approved by the Dean’s Office in the School of Graduate and Professional Studies (SGPS). At the end of each semester, faculty and students must submit an evaluation and final report to the School of Graduate and Professional Studies.

Students cannot hold other University supported positions (such as graduate student worker; graduate teaching assistant; research administrative assistant; resident advisor; graduate intern, or adjunct faculty) while holding the GSGA award. Students awarded a GSGA must maintain a 3.5 GPA in the fall semester in order to be eligible for an award in the spring semester. 

Compensation

Full-time graduate students awarded a GSGA will receive $6,000 each semester. Graduate Assistants enrolled at Southern as full-time graduate students shall pay full-time tuition. However, the following fees shall be waived for graduate assistants: University Fee, University General Fee (except for that portion attributable to student accident insurance), and the Student Activity Fee. Per Connecticut Board of Regents 12/19/2019. For more information, please visit https://grad.southernct.edu/financing-your-education/.

Half-time graduate students will receive $3,000 each semester. Effective Spring 2024, Graduate Assistants enrolled at Southern for less than nine hours shall pay appropriate registration and course fees for part-time students. However, the following fees shall be waived for graduate assistants: 90% of the General University Fee. Per Connecticut Board of Regents 12/19/2019. For more information, please visit https://grad.southernct.edu/financing-your-education/.

The graduate internship prepares students for a wide range of career opportunities in student services and co-curricular learning at the postsecondary level. This program provides students with an opportunity to develop first-hand knowledge of student affairs' professions and gain hands-on experience in many areas with the Division of Student Affairs. The internships are designed to integrate with the student's program of study to create a strong theory to practice application.  These experiences will afford students the opportunity to analyze the functions of various administrative departments, to examine the relation of departments to each other and to the institution, and to understand contemporary societal issues and their impact from an institutional perspective.  Working with experienced student affairs administrators, the interns will work to improve the quality of campus life, foster a safe, healthy and respectful environment, support academic achievement and success, and promote leadership and civic engagement. The interns also participate in university wide projects and professional development opportunities to begin developing a professional network.

Graduate Internships are 10-month positions (early August through May), 35 hours per week. Interns work with various offices within the Division of Student Affairs. In some instances, summer work may be available. It is anticipated that internships will be offered for two consecutive academic years, however, due to funding and performance considerations positions are offered as a single year appointment--subject to renewal--and are contingent on an applicant being accepted and maintaining good standing in an appropriate graduate program at SCSU.

Compensation

Remuneration of $15,000. Part-time graduate students shall receive a waiver of part-time tuition and fees, including summer and winter session extension fees up to a total maximum of 18 credit hours, provided interns are enrolled in courses required for their degree program. Full-time graduate students shall be required to pay full-time tuition; however, the full-time fees will be waived, less the cost of accident/sickness insurance. Summer employment opportunities may be available.