Graduate Assistantships

Central Connecticut State University’s graduate assistantship program provides some financial support for students who wish to participate in an academically relevant work experience while pursuing graduate study. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available for full-time and part-time graduate students. Graduate assistants may assist in teaching, supervise laboratories, participate in leadership roles for service and partnership activities, and work with faculty who are conducting research. Faculty provide careful guidance so that graduate assistants develop new skills while carrying out their assigned responsibilities. At the same time, graduate assistants help faculty to meet their obligations as teachers and scholars. Thus, the program provides real benefits both to the graduate student and to the University community.

Applying for a Graduate Assistantship. Prospective graduate assistants must be admitted for graduate study toward the doctoral or a master’s degree, sixth-year certificate, post-master’s planned program, post-baccalaureate teacher certification, or official certificate program.

Applications for graduate assistantships may be provided at the time of admission and may also be obtained in the School of Graduate Studies or on the web: www.ccsu.edu/grad.

Students are encouraged to contact their academic department chair or administrative offices concerning the availability of assistantships. The Career Services Office also assists students in finding graduate assistantships and has a telephone job line (832-1647).

Graduate assistants are appointed by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies, upon the recommendation of a department chair or director, academic dean, or the principal investigator of a grant.

Eligibility. Graduate assistants must be fully admitted students pursuing course work leading to completion of the programs designated previously.

Assistantship recipients are expected to be enrolled in courses required within the planned program of graduate study and/or prerequisites necessary to offset any undergraduate deficiencies prior to taking such requirements.

To receive or to maintain an assistantship placement, a minimum GPA of 3.00 for all post-baccalaureate course work completed at Central Connecticut State University is required.

Types and Work Commitments. Assistantships are available on a full-time or half-time basis. Students appointed as full-time GA’s provide approximately 20 hours of service per week during the semester or 300 hours per semester; students appointed as half-time GA’s provide 10 hours of service per week or 150 hours per semester. Graduate Assistants may not be employed under any other employment category by the University. They also are expected to make a full-time commitment to graduate study.

Course Loads for Graduate Assistants. To be awarded a full-time assistantship, a graduate student must be classified as a full-time student. Nine credits comprise the required course load minimum for full-time graduate students. Half-time appointed GA’s who are full-time students must also enroll for nine or more credits of course work. A part-time student who receives a graduate assistantship must take from three to eight credits of course work.

Stipends. Full-time (20 hours per week) graduate assistants may receive a maximum stipend of $4,800 each semester (depending on the number of years in service as a G.A.), in addition to a waiver of the State University Fee and most of the General Fee. They pay resident or non-resident tuition as appropriate, a portion of the General Fee attributable to student accident insurance, and other insurance coverage costs as needed. Some insurance charges may be waived on the basis of alternate coverage.

Half-time graduate assistants receive a maximum stipend of $2,400 each semester (depending on the number of years in service as a G.A.). If half-time assistants enroll full-time in the general fund (nine or more credits), they pay full-time tuition but receive a waiver of the State University Fee and most of the General Fee as specified for full-time assistants. Other provisions described above also apply to half-time graduate assistants who are full-time graduate students. If a graduate assistant enrolls for less than nine course credits within a semester, the student pays appropriate costs for part-time extension fund graduate students.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Graduate Academic Scholarships are annual awards provided each fall semester to highly qualified students as recommended by their departments. Each graduate program may nominate one student who has completed, among other requirements, a minimum of 15 credits of academic credit toward a graduate degree program and who has a grade point average of 3.50 or higher. The award recipients are selected in the fall, and the awards are distributed the following spring semester. Students should contact the academic departments or the School of Graduate Studies for information about the Academic Awards and Outstanding Scholars Program for graduate students.

A Graduate Student Association (GSA) Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence and exemplary involvement in University and/or community service activities. Competition for this scholarship is open to all matriculated graduate students who have completed a minimum of 15 credits of graduate academic credit in residence at Central Connecticut State University and who have a grade point average of 3.50 or higher. The scholarship recipient is selected in the spring; the award is distributed the following summer or fall semester. Application forms are available in the School of Graduate Studies Office.

The Anna Bubser Judd Minority Graduate Educational Administration Fellowship is awarded to a minority student who resides in the cities of Hartford or West Hartford and is enrolled in the Educational Leadership program. The Department of Educational Leadership can provide additional information.
  

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