Graduate Studies - Assistantship FAQ

Graduate assistants may enroll in six to twelve (6-12) hours during each semester that coincides with the graduate assistant appointment. This applies to all terms except for the summer term and term of graduation (i.e., the final semester of their degree program). During these terms, graduate assistants may enroll in one hour. 

You will need to report to your college dean's office to submit the necessary paper work prior to your first day of work. 

Regardless of when the first check is issued, you will receive the amount awarded to you in the appointment letter for your assistantship. In the event of a delay in the processing of the payroll information, the total amount will be divided among the remaining dates for checks to be issued during the term of appointment. 

All continuations are contingent upon funding available in each college dean's office and successful completion of assistantship duties as assigned in the initial appointment period. Please contact your academic department for more information regarding continuation of an assistantship. 

No. If you are reapplying for a continuation of your assistantship in the same area, you will not need to submit additional letters of recommendation. The original letters remain on file. 

Because assistantships are offered on a competitive basis, the earlier the better.

To receive maximum consideration for a graduate assistantship, students should consult with their academic department as soon as possible to inquire about the deadline and process established by the department or college.

If you must resign your assistantship appointment, a letter of resignation should be submitted to the graduate advisor or supervisor of the assistantship, the department head, college dean, and the Executive Director for Graduate Studies. 

You need to notify your college dean's office and the office of Human Resources. You should also notify the Registrar's Office and/or Graduate School if your permanent mailing address changes. Address changes may be made on TopNet.

Checks are delivered to your home department the morning of each payday. You will need to contact the Administrative Assistant for your department to find out when and where you can pick up your check. 

Yes. Graduate Assistants can get their pay direct deposited by completing a Direct Deposit Authorization and bringing it, along with a voided check, to the Payroll Department in Wetherby Administration Building, Ground Floor, Office G10. If you have had direct deposit previously and have changed your account over the summer, please contact our office immediately to set up your new direct deposit.

Graduate assistants receive a stipend that is distributed in the form of a pay check issued once a month on the last working day. The date of the first pay period is contingent upon when the student signs the necessary tax forms and the paper work gets processed through all the campus offices. 

Your check will be for the gross amount you earned less any applicable taxes and deductions. For most of you this will include federal tax, state tax, and local taxes. There may be more than one local tax depending on where you live or work as a GA. Most of you will not have Social Security or Medicare taxes taken from your check. Since you are full time students, tax law exempts these earnings from FICA taxes. 

In order to be paid, you must file the following 4 forms with Human Resources and Payroll.

• W-4: Federal tax form that dictates how much federal tax is withheld.
• K-4: Kentucky withholding tax form that dictates how much state tax is withheld.
• I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification
• Warren County Tax Verification: This form requires your living address to determine whether Warren County taxes need to be withheld.

Anyone in the Payroll Department will be happy to assist you. They can be reached at 270-745-5365.