Assistantship Responsibilities

• Complete the Online Orientation for New Employees
• Attend the Teaching Assistants Orientation
• Take the TOEFL

General Information

PhD assistantships are awarded competitively each year. Selections are made by the student’s department.

Students that are accepted into a PhD assistantship perform duties on a .40 basis (i.e. 16 hours per week) by teaching three classes per academic year or performing equivalent research duties. In order to hold an assistantship, students must register for a minimum of twelve (12) hours each semester during the period of the appointment.

University regulations restrict the amount of money that a graduate assistant may earn in addition to the stipend for the assistantship. Moreover, accreditation and other factors govern the percentage of time which a full-time student may be employed. Therefore, any graduate assistant planning to earn money from other sources must obtain prior clearance from the director of graduate programs of the Terry College of Business.

To-Do List

1. Teaching Assistants Orientation (mandatory)

   All new graduate teaching and laboratory assistants who will have instructional responsibilities during 2011-2012 are required to attend orientation for graduate teaching and laboratory assistants, which will be held in room 101 of the Miller Learning Center on Thursday, August 11, 2011, 8:45 am to 12:30 pm. The orientation provides new GTAs and GLAs with information for teaching undergraduates and introduces instructional support systems available at the University.

2. Complete the Online Orientation for New Employees

   All new graduate students who have awarded a graduate assistantship must complete the appropriate paperwork and document eligibility for employment by the University of Georgia. To meet these requirements, they must complete the online orientation for new employees. During the orientation, the required employment forms, policies, and information about applicable benefits will be available to print. Please be sure to print the following forms:

   • I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification (Complete immediately!)
   • Board of Regents Security Questionnaire and Loyalty Oath (Requires notary)
   • UGA Intellectual Property Agreement (Requires witness)
   • Form W-4 Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate
   • Direct Deposit Request Form

   Complete these forms as quickly as possible and return them to the appropriate department. Departmental secretaries are authorized to notarize forms that require such.

   Paychecks will not be disbursed until all of the above forms are completed and turned in.

   Employees holding temporary positions with the university, such as these assistantships, are not eligible for university benefits. When the orientation asks about benefits eligibility, select the orientation for non-eligible participants.

   For comprehensive details regarding the employment policies and guidelines of the university, view the Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual and follow the human resources links.

3. Enroll in GRSC 7770

   All graduate students who have no prior teaching experience at the college level must enroll before they are allowed to begin their assigned teaching responsibility.

4. Take the TOEFL

   International students whose native language is not English are required to take and score at least 26 on the speaking section, TAST, of the TOEFL iBT before being considered for a teaching assignment. Language consultation and recommendations for language development are available from the department of language and literacy education. For further information about TOEFL administration contact Educational Testing Services.

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