Teaching & Research Assistantships

A limited number of research and teaching assistantships are available each year. These assistantships, which are available only to MS students on thesis track (see below), are awarded based on academic merit and are very competitive. All Teaching Assistantships (TAs) are recommended by the CEN department’s graduate committee, are approved by CEN chair or the graduate program director and are awarded by the Dean of the College of Engineering. Research Assistantships (RAs) are awarded by a faculty sponsor, signed by graduate program director and approved by the Dean of College of Engineering. A graduate assistantship may include a full or partial waiver of tuition depending on the type of assistantship and the funding source.

If you receive any form of assistantships, you need to contact the CEN Department secretary as soon as you arrive on campus to sign the necessary paperwork to initiate payments. If you receive an RA, contact your faculty sponsor to learn the scope of your assistantship. Renewal of assistantships beyond the initial contract period is determined by the department or the faculty sponsor and the college. Assistantship renewal is contingent upon maintain an acceptable academic record (e.g., a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for TAs) and satisfactory progress towards the degree (see above).  Performance in performing the duties associated with the assistantship and availability of funds are also criteria for continuation.

A full-time graduate assistant is expected to work 20 hours per week “for the assistantship” she or he is receiving during the academic year.  Note, this is not necessarily equal to the number of hours the student needs to commit to research in order to maintain satisfactory progress towards degree completion. Full time support in the summer assumes 40 hours per week commitment.