Graduate Assistant Orientation

Every Graduate Assistant (GA) must go through orientation each academic year. The UA Little Rock Graduate School’s GA orientation is completely online. To begin your orientation session, please complete the form below. The GA Orientation will take about 25 minutes to complete. This orientation is for graduate students that are currently working as GAs only, and does not take the place of any orientation or training that your program may require.

You will be required to enter your UA Little Rock NetID. If you do not know or have never used your NetID, please log in to boss.ualr.edu. Next, select the “Personal Information” tab. Click the first link, “Change Passwords or View Usernames and IDs”. At that link, you’ll be able to view your NetID and create your NetID password.

If you have any questions or issues with orientation, please contact Deletta Epperson at djbrowning@ualr.edu or 501-916-6212. If you require technical assistance, please contact Lucas Crosland at lscrosland@ualr.edu or 501-916-6217.

Graduate Assistantship Orientation

Thank you for being a part of UA Little Rock Graduate Studies. Please take a few moments to fill out the following Graduate Assistantship orientation and acknowledgement form. This form will take about 10-15 minutes to complete.

T-Number(Required)

Enter your T-Number

Name(Required)

First Last

Email(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Enter your UA Little Rock issued email address. (@ualr.edu)

International Graduate Assistants

Because of immigration status limitations, international students are generally allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during the fall and spring semesters. See International Student Services (ISS) before seeking ANY additional employment. International students should contact ISS with any questions about employment limits and requirements.

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand.(Required)

Finances and your Assistantship

Full-Time Appointment A full-time position requires working 20 hours a week and provides tuition for up to 9 graduate credit hours and a stipend (amount varies depending on source).

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand.(Required)

Part-Time Appointment A part-time position requires working 10 hours a week and provides tuition for up to 4.5 graduate credit hours and a stipend (amount varies depending on source).

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand.(Required)

Summer Appointment Summer assistantships are usually not offered and are rarely funded by the Graduate School. The stipend and the amount of tuition, if any, by a summer position depends on the source of the funding.

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand.(Required)

What fees aren't covered by your assistantship? The GA tuition stipend does NOT cover any university fees, books, or undergraduate or audited courses. You must arrange payment for these fees with Financial Services before their deadlines every semester.

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand.(Required)

Health Insurance

Only full-time, doctoral graduate assistants are eligible for health insurance reimbursement. * The reimbursement covers the assistant only. Health insurance will be reimbursed up to $400 a semester, after eligible assistants provide proof of payment for insurance to the Graduate School. Request for reimbursements must be submitted each semester. Prior semester will not be granted.

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand.(Required)

Confirming your assistantship in BOSS

Many students must confirm their assistantships in BOSS in order to receive their awards. Before each semester begins, be sure to check the Financial Aid section of your BOSS account and, if necessary, follow the steps below.

Step 1: Accept Your Award First, access the Financial Aid section of your BOSS account. Next, select “Financial Aid Checklist”. Then, select the link next to “Accept Financial Aid Offers”. Now, scroll down and find your GRAD award. From the drop-down menu under “Status”, select “Accept”.

Step 2: Complete Consent Form Access the Financial Aid section of your BOSS account. Next, select “My Award Information”, then “Award by Aid Year”, then “[current] academic year” from the drop-down menu. Next, select the “Resources/Additional Information” tab. Then, click on and read the State of Arkansas Consent Form. When finished, select either “yes” or “no”, depending on your decision, from the drop-down menu and select “Submit Information”.

Steps to Confirm Assistantship(Required)

I understand the steps stated above.(Required)

Keeping your Assistantship

As a minimum, be sure to follow the rules listed on the next four pages to stay in your position. Always check with your department for specific requirements.

Enroll in the Required Hours
Full-time GAs (20 hours a week) must be enrolled in 9 or more graduate credit hours. Part-time GAs (10 hours a week) must be enrolled in 5 or more graduate credit hours.

GPA Requirements
Maintain at least a 3.00 GPA *

Workplace and University Rules
Know and follow the rules * Comply with all work rules and standards defined by your assistantship supervisor and with all applicable university rules and policies.

Work Requirements
Come to work on time and work ONLY your assigned number of hours.

Assistantship Acknowledgment(Required)

I understand the above conditions of keeping my Assistantship.(Required)

Losing Your Assistantship

For more information about the process and penalties involved in losing an assistantship position, please see the Graduate Student Handbook. Funds * If you lose your assistantship, you may be required to reimburse the funding source for the share of your tuition that has already been paid. You will also typically be responsible for FICA tax payments to the federal government. The Possibility of Re-employment * When an assistantship is lost due to failure to maintain academic standards, it is possible that you can be reemployed as a graduate assistant in a subsequent semester after you regain good academic standing. If you lose your assistantship for any other reason, you may be ineligible for future employment as a graduate assistant.

Assistantship Acknowlegement(Required)

I understand the above conditions of losing my Assistantship.(Required)

Assistantship Term Limits

Students in master’s programs can hold an assistantship for up to 2 years (4 semesters total). Doctoral students can hold an assistantship for up to 5 years (10 semesters total). If you are in the last semester of your graduate program, only need to take one more class, and have not exceeded your semester limit, it may be possible for you to keep your assistantship. Your advisor will need to request an exception from the graduate dean. A summer assistantship does not count towards your semester limit in a GA position. Please note that summer assistantships are not guaranteed with any position. NOTE: If you complete your UA Little Rock master’s degree and immediately begin a doctoral program at UA Little Rock, the length of time you had a GA while in the Master's program will be counted against the 5-year time limit for a doctoral student if you were to continue to get funded. Position term limits are firm and universally upheld.

Acknowledgement(Required)

I understand the above terms of my Assistantship.(Required)

Additional Acknowledgements

Class Enrollment Requirements(Required)

If I withdraw/fall below 9 hours (full-time GA) or 5 hours (part-time GA) during the semester of my GA appointment, I may have to repay tuition.

I understand.

Payment Requirements(Required)

I will make sure my tuition and fees are paid in the correct semester, and I understand that benefits cannot be applied retroactively once a new semester has started.

I understand.

Employment Limits(Required)

I cannot be a graduate assistant on two UA System campuses or work as instructor.

I understand.

Coding Requirements(Required)

I am responsible for making sure I am coded correctly for in-state fees.

I understand.

GPA Requirements(Required)

If my GPA falls below a 3.00, I understand that I will lose my assistantship the following semester.

I understand.

Final Semester Requirements(Required)

If I am in my last semester, I may be allowed to register for one course and receive my assistantship.

I understand.

Work Hour Requirements(Required)

It is my responsibility to keep track of my hours, which should not exceed 20 hours (full-time GA) or 10 hours (part-time GA) a week.

I understand.

Additional Guidelines(Required)

Failing to follow the guidelines above and any additional rules set by the hiring unit may result in the loss of your assistantship. *

I understand.

Limits on Number of Assistantships(Required)

I understand taht I can have no more than one full assistantship or two half assistantships at a time.

I understand.

Acknowledgement of Assistantship(Required)

I hereby acknowledge receipt of the letter of appointment for graduate assistantships and tuition scholarships from the UALR Graduate School. By completing this page, I agree to abide by the rules set forth in this letter and in the UALR Student and Graduate Student Handbooks.

I agree.

Enter your Full Name(Required)

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Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantship Orientation

International Graduate Assistants

Finances and your Assistantship

Health Insurance

Confirming your assistantship in BOSS

Keeping your Assistantship

Losing Your Assistantship

Assistantship Term Limits

Additional Acknowledgements

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