Thank you for supporting our graduate students.
By funding a graduate student through an assistantship or fellowship, you are making graduate education more accessible for your students. You are also taking on additional responsibilities as the hiring supervisor. The resources below will assist you in this role.
Some essentials:
- Only graduate students who have been admitted in regular admission status as a degree-seeking student are eligible. Conditionally-admitted graduate students and grad students pursuing a graduate certificate or other non-degree program (e.g., Master’s +30 or Entrée) are not eligible for assistantship appointment.
- Assistantship offer letters are required and you must use the (although customizable) Offer Letter Generator below to make that offer.
- Once a graduate student has accepted the assistantship offer, you must follow up by submitting the Graduate Assistantship Personnel Action Summary Form below each academic year and/or other appointment term.
- Contact the Graduate School when you have questions.
Graduate Assistantship Catalog Policies
Graduate assistantships are categorized as Graduate Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Research Assistantships, and Graduate Assistantships. Definitions of each appointment type and policies governing all assistantships are outlined in the University Catalog.
Graduate Assistantship Offer Letter Generator
Graduate assistantship offers must be made using the standardized (although customizable) Offer Letter Generator. This resource is for faculty and other University staff directly authorized to make graduate assistantship offers.
Graduate Assistantship Personnel Action Summary Form
After an assistantship offer is accepted, the hiring faculty member or department uses the Graduate Assistantship Personnel Action Summary Webform to initiate the formal appointment of a graduate student as a GTA, GRA, or GA. (It is used also to make a fellowship appointments.) PAFs are required every academic year and, if hiring for a different appointment term, each individual semester, summer session, and/or break period.
Graduate Research Assistantship Screening
As part of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of research integrity and security, UL Lafayette adheres to Louisiana Revised Statute 17:1826.3, which mandates additional screening for individuals being considered for GRA positions funded by a grant, gift, or contract. This screening is initiated when the hiring supervisor uses the Offer Letter Generator to indicate that they have identified a candidate for the GRA position. Upon submission, the GRA offer letter is placed on hold and the candidate receives an email congratulating them on being recommended for a GRA position and providing next steps. When HR provides approval of the screening, the GRA offer letter is sent to the candidate. Learn more about this screening from the Office of Human Resources at https://humanresources.louisiana.edu/employment-opportunities.