Financial Assistance

A variety of financial assistance programs are available. These include:

• Assistantships in University agencies such as University Housing, Student Activities, Division of Student Affairs Assessment, and Career Services.
• Out-of-State fee waivers (awarded competitively University-wide).
• The Student Affairs Administration Research fund is available to students in the program to support projects related to college student affairs. Details about how to apply for these funds will be provided to candidates selected for admission in August.
• Students who have programs accepted for regional or national professional conferences may apply for travel funds to help defray costs. See the Department’s Graduate Records Specialist for application forms. (Early application increases the likelihood of receiving funds).

Loans and similar forms of financial aid are available from the Financial Aid Office, 220 Holmes / Hunter Academic Building, University of Georgia, Athens, GA  30602.

Assistantships

Limited assistantships are available through the department and the Graduate School. The department works to provide as many graduate assistantships as possible but it cannot support all students. Graduate assistantships are typically awarded on a yearly basis without guarantees for continued funding. Students who receive an initial assistantship should be prepared to fund a portion of their graduate education through other means if necessary.

Some assistantships require specific skills from a student such as research experience, library skills, or the ability to lead classroom instruction or physical education activities. Other assistantships provide general clerical support to faculty or the department staff. Students willing to live in a residence hall might wish to contact the Office of Housing about becoming a residential advisor. The Office of University Housing reviews applications in January so applications should be entered early. In addition, the department works with units across campus and with outside community agencies to attempt to find additional assistantships for students. Students are encouraged to pursue assistantships outside the department.

The Gradate School has an annual competition to award assistantships for students who excel academically and professionally; a recipient typically has GRE scores exceeding 1200. For outstanding students without an assistantship, the Graduate School can sometimes provide out-of-state tuition waivers. If you think you qualify for either of these speak with the department Graduate Coordinator.

Graduate Assistants are required to complete a bi-weekly time record recording their activities and hours of work. Since assistantships are competitive, we expect students to excel at tasks they are assigned. Assistants are evaluated at the end of the year and this evaluation plays a significant role in awarding assistantships for the ensuing year.

If you desire an assistantship keep the department Graduate Coordinator informed of your status and your interests. Students without an assistantship who wish to obtain experience in research or classroom activities are encouraged to talk to their major professor, the Department Head, or the department Graduate Coordinator. Opportunities can be made available to provide important teaching or research experience for all students. Occasionally, these opportunities carry academic credit.

Enrollment for Graduate Assistantship
UGA requires that any student on a 1/3 time assistantship or greater must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours during the school year. If an assistantship runs through the summer, students need to register for 9 hours during the summer session. This includes 3 credits of RLST / ECHD 9005 which is required for all students with assistantships. RLST / ECHD 9005 does not meet as a class; they are a mechanism to account for the teaching and learning associated with assistantship activities. They do not count toward completion of graduation requirements.

Teaching Assistants
Any graduate student who will have a significant role teaching a class is required to attend a teaching workshop held prior to the start of fall semester. Students whose native language is not English must pass an English proficiency test before being allowed to teach. The graduate assistant support services in the Center for Teaching and Learning sponsors these workshops. Contact them directly at (706) 542-1355 for information about these workshops or for other assistance in strengthening your teaching skills.

Students who plan to teach at some point in their program are encouraged to enroll in GRSC 7770. This course is specifically designed to help graduate students become more effective in their teaching strategies.

In general, doctoral students are expected to gain experience in teaching. Doctoral students who want to become involved with instruction should speak to the Department Head. It may be possible for a student to assist a faculty member with a class, to assume partial responsibility for a class, to help advise undergraduates or to supervise student interns. Students who teach without a paid assistantship may choose to enroll for appropriate credit.

Graduate students must always work with a faculty member when assuming responsibility for a class. The undergraduate curriculum is tightly controlled by accreditation standards, so every class must conform to prior syllabi and address a pre-established sequence of material.

Other Financial Aid

The Graduate Bulletin lists other sources of scholarships and financial aid. In addition, UGA participates in federal assistance programs including grants and work-study for qualified students. Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid in the Academic Building (706-542-8208) for further assistance. The Student Employment Office (706-542-3375) offers assistance for students who seek employment on campus or in the local community.