Assistantships

Currently, the School of Art offers the equivalent of ten 50% appointments during the regular academic year and one summer appointment.  The assignment of assistantships should be suitable to both the abilities and career goals of the student, yet will be primarily based on programmatic needs as determined by the Director of the School of Art (normally in consultation with the Graduate Advisor and/or the Executive Committee).  School of Art Area Heads may request Teaching, Graduate, and/or Student Assistants by demonstrating need through a written proposal outlining special requirements for teaching, lab or research assistance.  Members of the Graduate Art Faculty may nominate students for assistantships by a form letter (available in the School of Art Office).  The Director of the School of Art may also recommend Graduate students for positions across campus.  All applicants must meet University eligibility requirements as indicated in the Graduate Bulletin. 

The Award of a Graduate, Teaching or Student Assistantship is a privilege not an entitlement.  It may or may not be renewed depending on various factors, including: continued availability of funds; programmatic need; demonstration of reasonable progress through the program, time limits imposed by the University (normally a maximum of four semesters of 50% assignment for the MA and an additional four semesters for the MFA); and the level of professionalism demonstrated by the assistantship holder as assessed by the Area Head.  

Students who are awarded Graduate or Teaching Assistantships are required to attend the University Graduate Student Orientation meeting if offered and all new appointments are required to complete new employee training through Human Resources within the specified time (currently, within three days of signing an acceptance letter).  Holders of 50% assistantships must be enrolled in full-time study.  (See the SFA Graduate Bulletin for further details.)  Duties will be assigned at the beginning of the term; however, modifications of assignments may prove necessary and can be made at the discretion of the Director of the School of Art ((normally in consultation with the Graduate Advisor and/or Graduate Faculty).  Assistantship holders must keep track of and document their work time.  Currently, only students with a 50% appointment are eligible to apply for University health insurance coverage, and they must maintain full time student status to keep this benefit.  Assistantship holders must be enrolled full time (9 hours) during regular semesters, and half-time (3 hours) for summer appointments.  Those failing to maintain these requirements will not be eligible for renewal of assistantships in the subsequent term of enrollment.

TA (Teaching Assistant)

A 50% (20 hours per week) TA appointment consist of:

• 33% (13 hours) classroom instruction/preparation and
• 17% (7 hrs) office hours and additional duties as assigned. 

Note: to be eligible for this appointment, the applicant must have completed 18 hours of graduate study, with a minimum 3.50 GPA. 

GA (Graduate Assistant)

GA appointments may be assigned at 50%, 33%, 25%, or 17% and may be paired with matching funding from TA positions or other funding sources at the discretion of the Director of the School of Art.  Partial assistantships currently entitle the holder to receive University health insurance benefits. 

Renewal of the assistantship requires a minimum 3.00 GPA. 

SA (Student Assistant)

The School of Art may be able to assist graduate students through student employment as funding and programmatic needs allow.  Typically, these Student Assistant assignments are funded through the areas (for example, art history, ceramics, digital media, drawing), other School of Art funds or, where the student meets eligibility requirements, the work-study program. The renewal of such appointments is contingent upon continued availability of funds programmatic need, reasonable progress through the program, and the level of professionalism demonstrated by the SA holder.  

Other Financial Assistance

The School of Art provides a limited number of recruitment and competitive scholarships. As funding for these may vary significantly from year to year, the exact number of scholarships cannot be predetermined, nor is renewal guaranteed.