Policies

Effective Date March 15, 2021

10.2    Graduate Student Assistant Employment

Policy

The intent of this policy is to provide a concise source of information concerning the employment procedures related to the employment of Graduate Student Assistants (GSA) at Florida Tech.

This policy covers employees assigned to the following employee classes: GSA (22)

Procedure

1. It is the responsibility of both supervision and management to ensure that the policies and procedures detailed in this document are followed. Individuals responsible for violation of these policies are subject to appropriate disciplinary sanctions up to and including discharge.
2. The university deems a student’s primary role while attending Florida Tech as the pursuit of an education and, ultimately, a degree. As such, the university limits full-time students who are also employees as defined by this policy to a maximum of twenty (20) hours of work per week during the academic year defined as fall and spring semesters.
   
   The only exceptions to this general limitation are indicated below. Please note, that sections (a) and (b) do not apply to International Students.
   1. During break periods (winter break, spring break and summer semester), student employees may exceed the twenty (20) hour per week limitation whether enrolled as a full-time student or not (at the discretion of the student’s supervisor and academic department). In accordance with federal law, when a student employee works but is not enrolled as a full-time student, his/her earnings are subject to FICA taxes.
   2. Graduate Student Assistants in the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts performing counseling as part of a degree program may hold other student employment that, when combined, may result in more than twenty (20) hours of work per week even during the academic year.
3. Active, full-time graduate students in good academic standing are eligible for Graduate Student Assistant (GSA) contracts (Teaching, Research, and Other). For GSA-Research contracts, use the Grant-funded GSA and DGRATS students: Maximum Stipend Amounts (AY 2013/2014)* table for minimum and maximum hourly stipend rates.
   
   To be eligible for GSA contracts (Teaching, Research, and Other) the following conditions apply:
   1. A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 for Master’s or 3.2 for doctoral students is required.
   2. If the student’s home language is not English, evidence of proficiency for both written and spoken English must be provided.  Conditions are as follows:

      1. For Teaching Assistants, an official Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 600, an equivalent score of at least 100 on the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT), a score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English Academic Score of at least 70, Cambridge English Advanced of at least 193 (Grade of B), Embassy English Level C1, or a score of at least 120 on the Duolingo English Test is required.

      2. For Research Assistants, an official Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 550, an equivalent score of at least 79 on the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT), a score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Pearson Test of English Academic Score of at least 58, Cambridge English Advanced of at least 180 (Grade of C), Embassy English Level B2, or a score of  at least 100 on the Duolingo English Test is required.

      3. For all newly admitted international graduate students, an official TOEFL, iBT, or IELTS must be taken no more than two years before attendance at Florida Tech.

      4. The International Teaching Assistant Speaking Assessment (ITASA) with a passing score is required for all Teaching Assistants whose home language is NOT English.

   3. All new Teaching Assistants are required to attend and successfully complete the Teaching Assistant Seminar offered either at the beginning of fall or spring semesters before they are able to teach.

   4. Any GSA seeking to teach an online course within the 8-week format must complete the required training provided by Online Learning to be considered eligible to teach. This requirement is consistent with the requirements for all faculty levels teaching in the online 8-week programs.

   5. A copy of the most recent evaluation form for all returning Teaching Assistants is required.

   6. Contracts can be awarded by semester, by academic year, or by summer term.

4. . DGRATS Contract Requirements

   Doctoral Graduate Research Assistant Tuition Scholarships (DGRATS) are full tuition scholarships awarded to full-time Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) doctoral students who are supported by stipends charged to a research grant or contract for a complete semester or supported by a full national fellowship.

   1. Full-time doctoral-level students who have a conferred Master’s degree in identical or related disciplines or who have completed a minimum of 18 credits toward their doctoral degree program are eligible.

   2. A minimum Grade Point Average of 3.2 is required.

   3. If the student’s home language is not English, evidence of proficiency for both written and spoken English must be provided. 

      Conditions are as follows:

      1. An official Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) score of at least 550, an equivalent score of at least 79 on the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT), a score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or a score of at least 100 on the Duolingo English Test is required.

      2. For all newly admitted international graduate students, an official TOEFL, iBT, or IELTS must be taken no more than two years before attendance at Florida Tech.

   4. At least 15 hours, but no more than 20 hours, per week of eligible grant-funded graduate student stipend must accompany the DGRATS award.  See the Grant-funded GSA and DGRATS students: Maximum Stipend Amounts (AY 2013/2014)^* for minimum and maximum hourly stipend rates.

   5. The total tuition scholarship is capped at 45 credit hours for those students who have a conferred Master’s degree in identical or related disciplines or 57 credit hours for those students who have a conferred Bachelor’s degree and have completed a minimum of 18 credits towards their doctoral degree program.

5. Student employees are considered employees of Florida Tech and must be paid through the Human Resources/Payroll system. The use of check requisitions as a method of payment for student employees is expressly prohibited. For the purposes of payroll processing, GSA’s are classified as non-faculty contract employees, thus, under normal circumstances, would not be eligible for supplemental compensation over and above the terms of their contracts. It is recognized, however, that there may be instances when a GSA could provide specific expertise for which additional compensation might be warranted. Division Directors, Department Heads or Program Chairs wishing to provide such additional compensation to a GSA must request approval, in advance and in writing, from the office overseeing the GSA contract process. All approvals must be granted in advance of the activity for which the GSA is proposed to be paid supplemental compensation.

6. Before an international student may start to work, his/her proposed appointment must be reviewed by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services to clear the international student for employment dependent upon the limitations that might exist with his/her visa.

7. The use of the employee classes of Temporary Full-time (18) and Temporary Part-time (19) may not be used for the employment of students, as use of these employee classes bypasses all system checks in place that limit student employment to twenty (20) hours of work per week during the academic year.

8. Before any employee may start to work for the university, the documents indicated below must be completed and submitted to the Office of Human Resources. Permitting an individual to work prior to completion of these documents subjects the university to serious and costly penalties and fines from the Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Labor.

   1. Approved authorization to hire signed by the appropriate hiring official.

   2. Completed W-4 signed by the employee.

   3. Completed I-9 with original documents submitted as proof of identity and eligibility to work.

9. A category of Graduate College Roll is available for use when the technical skills required for the appointment are of the type that would be available at the graduate student level.

Pay Rates

Grant-funded GSA and DGRATS students: Maximum Stipend Amounts (AY 2013/2014)^*

*Maximum Stipend amounts will be effective for at least three consecutive academic years.

Master’s Maximum Hourly Rate:   $25.64

Doctoral Maximum Hourly Rate:   $32.05

Minimum Hourly Rate for GSA: Florida minimum wage

Minimum Hourly Rate for DGRATS: $15.00

 Graduate College Roll

 Work Expectation for Tuition Remission only

Internal Revenue Service, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Department of Labor