Graduate Assistant Policy ChangesJune 6, 2013

UBR/Prep Meeting

Proposed Changes Rationale• Ease of administration through decrease in the

number of Graduate School approvals needed.• Bring UWM definitions up to date with current

practice.

RA New DefinitionProposed Policy

• RA definition: RAs will be able to conduct research that is for the benefit of the student's own learning and research or for the benefit of the university, faculty or academic staff supervisor or granting agency.

Current Policy• Current definition does NOT

include the provision for conducting research for the benefit of the university, faculty or academic staff supervisor or granting agency.

Rationale: Bring definitions in line with practice and peer institutions.

PA New DefinitionProposed Policy

• PAs CANNOT be assigned to primarily conduct research.

• PA Appointments are for Admin activities.

• Removal of language regarding the exclusion of work that is for the benefit of the student’s own learning and research.

Current Policy• Current definition includes

research responsibilities and the stipulation that students’ work should NOT be for their own learning/research benefit.

Rationale: Clarity of appointments and brings definition in line with similar institutions.

Academic Year Appointments Proposed Policy

• Allow academic year GA appointments to 75% WITHOUT Grad School approval.

• Exception: Students with F1/J1 Visas with appts. >50% not allowed. Curricular Practical Training – approval needed.

Current Policy• 51%-75% GA Appointments

need approval.

Rationale: Nearly 100% of all requests are approved. New policy will reduce time spent processing and approving forms.

Summer/UWinteriM AppointmentsProposed Policy

• Allow GA summer & Uwinterim Appointments up to 100% WITHOUT Grad School Approval.

Current Policy• TA/PA cannot exceed 2/9th

summer compensation.• RA summer appointment

>50% need GS approval.• Summer appointments

>75% not permitted.

Rationale: GAs rarely enroll in summer/UWinteriM courses. 100% appointments provide additional student support.

RA/PA/TA Concurrent ApptsProposed Policy

• Allow RA/PA/TA concurrent appointments up to 75% during the academic year and 100% during summer/UWinteriM.

Current Policy• RA with PA/TA concurrent

appointments are not allowed.

Rationale: Redefinition of RA/PA positions allows for concurrent appointments.

GA appointments of <33%Proposed Policy

• Allow ALL GAs to hold appointments of less than 33%.– Not recommended except in

combination with other appointments because <33% appt. does not include tuition remission or benefits.

Current Policy• RA appointments less than

33% are not permitted.

Rationale: Appointments of less than 33% do exist in practice. More opportunities for student support.

Minimum credit requirements <33% Appt.Proposed Policy

• Decrease minimum credit requirement from 8 credits to 3 credits for GAs with less than 33% appointments.

Current Policy• Currently 8-credit minimum

required.

Rationale: Allows more opportunities for all students to work with faculty/programs.

Minimum AY RA Credit-LoadProposed Policy

• Change minimum academic year RA credit-load to 6 credits for appointments of 33% or greater.

Current Policy• Current minimum is 8

credits.

Rationale: 6 credit load is = to PA/TA policy. RA no longer considered scholarship.

Reduced Credit Load for PrelimsProposed Policy

• Grad School approval no longer required for reduced credit load requests for GAs preparing for Preliminary Exams.

Current Policy• Grad School approval

needed prior to the start of the semester for all GA 1-credit load requests for Prelim preparation.

Rationale: The one-credit, one-semester preliminary exam preparation policy is standard policy. GAs should not be treated differently than other grad students.

Appointment of Undergraduate AssistantsProposed Policy

• Allow undergraduate assistantships WITHOUT Grad School approval in cases where qualified grad students cannot be found.

Current Policy• Grad School approval is

required.

Rationale: Requests are rarely denied. Reduce paperwork.

UWinteriM RevisionProposed Policy

• Enrollment requirements for ALL GAships/Fellowships CANNOT be satisfied with UWinteriM credits.

Current Policy• Enrollment requirements

for TA/PAships/Fellowships cannot be satisfied with UWinteriM credits.

Rationale: Clarification of eligible credit requirements for Grad assistants and fellows.

Exception Forms Requirements• Domestic GA appointments of greater than

75% during the academic year.• International student GA appointment is

greater than 50% during the academic year.• Reduced credit load requests for reasons

other than preliminary examination preparation.

QUESTIONS