Appointment Information - Graduate Student Researcher/Graduate Student Assistant/Teaching Assistant
Eligibility
Only students enrolled in a degree or certificate program at GSPH are eligible for a GSR/TA/GSA.
Effort
Full-time GSRs are expected to devote twenty hours per week to the research project from which they receive remuneration. GSRs may be required to work more hours if the research pertains to their thesis or dissertation. Time expenditure of part-time GSRs is proportional to this standard of twenty hours (eg, half-time GSRs must devote ten hours per week to their research project, and more if the research pertains to their thesis).
TAs and GSAs have the same work obligation of twenty hours a week. However, their assignments will differ from a GSR and will not likely relate directly to their research interests.
Appointments
GSR/TA/GSA appointments may be made annually for one to no more than three terms at a time (one academic year). Renewals are subject to satisfactory job performance and availability of funding.
Evaluation
At least once each year, the faculty supervisor must provide a written evaluation of a GSR/TA/GSA’s performance to the student and to the department. A suggested evaluation form is available from the department administrator, who should request a copy of the evaluation in the Spring Term. A copy of the evaluation should be provided to the department administrator.
Stipend
The monthly stipend amount is set by the department within a range established by the University. Monthly stipend payments for a part-time GSR will be proportional to this standard. (See http://www.pitt.edu/~graduate/stipends.html )
The university does set a different stipend level for TA and GSA positions.
Tuition Scholarships
Full-time GSR/TA/GSAs are eligible to receive full tuition scholarships to cover up to and including 15 credits per term. Part-time positions are eligible for partial tuition scholarships in accord with their appointments, e.g., a ½ appointment receives a scholarship for 6 credits, and a ¼ appointment covers 3 credits per term.
Health Insurance
GSR/TA/GSAs are provided individual coverage under the UPMC Health Plan for graduate students. Family coverage is available at an additional cost to the student.
Note: Whenever available, student assistantships are awarded by the student’s department. There are no assistantships available through the Office of Student Affairs or the Office of the Dean. Students may receive an assistantship from any department in the University, but there is no central listing of assistantships available. For more information on assistantships, see Policies/Regulations and Financial Information at: http://www.pitt.edu/~graduate/