Academic Regulations

Student Responsibility

Each student should thoroughly study this Graduate Bulletin and become completely familiar with the organization, policies, and regulations of the university. Failure to do this may result in serious mistakes for which the student must be held fully responsible.

Through a system of academic advising, Arkansas State University assists each student in planning academic programs, developing course schedules, anticipating graduation requirements, and making decisions affecting educational growth and development. The student is required to consult an academic advisor each registration period to review procedures and degree requirements. Academic advisors endeavor to provide such assistance in a timely and accurate manner, but meeting requirements for graduation is the responsibility of the student.

State Licensures and Authorizations

Arkansas State University is a National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements Approved Institution. A full list of operating approvals can be found online at: http://www.astate.edu/a/academic-partnerships/documents/State+Approvals.pdf

As licensure requirements may change without notice, it is the responsibility of the student to confirm the requirements for licensure in his/her state as it applies to the participation in an out-of-state degree program. To determine which programs are allowed in states and to find relevant state agency contact information please refer to the Program Approval Map found online here: https://degree.astate.edu/map/

Academic Records Privacy Rights

Arkansas State University intends to comply fully with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 which was designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the correc­tion of inaccurate or misleading data through informal and formal hearings. Students also have the right to file complaints with FERPA office concerning alleged failures by the institution to comply with the Act.

Questions concerning the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act should be referred to the Of­fice of the Registrar. For additional information regarding FERPA, please visit the A-State website.

Graduate Courses and Credit

Graduate credit will be given only for courses described in the Graduate Bulletin under the heading Course Descriptions. A master’s degree program traditionally consists of courses numbered 5000 and 6000. Courses numbered 7000 and above are normally reserved for specialist and doctoral programs. Check the particular degree program section for program specific restrictions or deviations.

Master’s degree candidates must complete a minimum of 18 semester hours in courses num­bered at the 6000 level. For master’s degrees requiring more than 30 hours, at least 50 percent of the credit hours must be completed at the 6000 level. A course completed at the 4000 level for undergradu­ate credit cannot be taken again at the 5000 level for graduate credit. No more than six semester hours of credit earned through independent study may be applied toward a graduate degree.

Graduate students enrolled in courses numbered 5000 through 5999 must do special work in addition to that required of undergraduates in the courses numbered 4000 through 4999.

Special Studies Courses

Special courses of study may, upon request, be organized in any college at any level of study to meet the needs of interested groups. The second digit of the course numbers for such courses, which must be approved through normal university curriculum channels, will always be 9. The letter prefix will show the department offering the course, the first digit will indicate the level of study, and the last digit will show the hours of credit. Credit earned in some special studies courses may not be applicable toward a degree.

Assessment Requirements

A-State is dedicated to providing quality academic programs and committed to transparency of student learning outcomes; therefore, assessment for improvement of academic programs and learn­ing is of primary importance to the University. Students are responsible for participating in state and in­stitutional assessment examinations or related activities. Failure to participate in required assessments can prevent registration and delay degree completion and graduation.

Transfer Credit

Subject to the approval of the student’s advisor and program director, a student who has a “B” grade average or above in graduate work from another approved institution may be permitted to trans­fer a maximum of nine semester hours of credit. Only work with “B” or better grades earned at an ac­credited graduate school and acceptable toward a graduate degree at that institution will be considered for transfer. No correspondence courses may be transferred.

Graduate Student Academic Load

The load of full-time graduate students may not exceed 15 semester hours, including any un­dergraduate courses, per regular semester or the full summer term (which includes May and August interim) without special overload permission. The total academic load resulting from concurrent enroll­ments at A-State and other institutions shall not exceed the maximum loads stated above. Nine gradu­ate hours or more for Fall and Spring terms are considered full-time; six hours or more cumulative over all summer terms are considered full-time. Graduate students enrolled in an accelerated part-of-term on-line degree program are considered full time when enrolled in six graduate hours and half-time when enrolled in at least three graduate hours. Graduate student academic load may vary by program. Please consult official program handbooks or guidelines to determine approved course loads per se­mester or part of term.

Assignment of Course Credit

Course credit is assigned based on ADHE Criteria and Procedures for Preparing Academic Proposals. Appendix A, Section 6 and 7, and the Federal definition of credit hour as provided in 34 CFR 600.2. These provisions can be found below:

Section 6. Traditional Instruction (In-Class)

College and university terms vary in length, with the most typical being semester, quarter or trimester. Some institutions use a pattern of two 8-week terms per semester instead of a 15-17 week semester. Whatever the term length, time spent in the appropriate mixture of lecture, laboratory, self-paced learning, team activities, and field work must bring enrolled students to the same required levels of competence, knowledge and performance. Typically, classes have met for 750 minutes or 12.5 clock hours in a term for each semester credit hour awarded in lecture classes with proportionately more time for laboratory classes.

The minimum semester length is 15 weeks of actual class time and examinations. A minimum of fifteen (15) fifty-minute class sessions, excluding laboratories, is required to award one semester hour of credit. Institutions may have terms of other than semester length, but the amounts of credit awarded must be adjusted in proportion to the length of term. There may be exceptions regarding length of terms and amount of credit awarded for specific circumstances such as workshops, seminars, and summer terms in instances where the instructional content and activities are selected appropriately.

The amount of credit awarded for a course is based on the amount of time in class, the amount of outside preparation required, and the intensity of the educational experience.

• A formal lecture course with extensive assigned reading or other out-of-class preparation is awarded one semester credit for a minimum of 750 minutes or 12.5 hours of classroom instruction;
• A laboratory class with moderate out-of-class preparation is awarded one semester credit for a minimum of 1500 minutes or 25 hours of laboratory instruction; and
• Clinical, practicum, internship, shop instruction or other self-paced learning activities involving work-related experience with little or no out-of-class preparation is awarded one semester credit for a minimum of 2250 minutes or 37.5 hours of work-related instruction.

Section 7. Non-Traditional Instruction (Self-Paced, Distance Technology)

An exception to the standard length of terms and student semester credit hour guidelines can occur if an institution offers instruction through self-paced methods that allow students to achieve predetermined goals and objectives while working independently or in a group without an instructor. When proposing new programs with self-directed components outside of traditional semester and credit hour designations, institutions must indicate the minimum and maximum length allowed for completion of the components as well as intended student learning outcomes. Time-in-class is not a factor in self-paced learning.

Instruction delivered through distance technology is an approach to learning in which the majority of instruction occurs with a separation of place or time between the instructor and the students and with interaction occurring through electronic media. At least 50 percent of the course content in a distance technology course must be delivered electronically. Internet courses are conducted via web-based instruction and collaboration. Courses may require proctored examinations, and may include opportunities for face-to-face orientations, but there are no class attendance requirements.

Mixed-Mode courses include both required classroom attendance and online or 2-way interactive instruction. These classes have substantial content delivered over the Internet which will substitute for some classroom meetings. A correspondence course does not have any significant site attendance, but less than 50 percent of the course is delivered electronically. Standards for academic quality, admission, retention and assessment must be same in all courses and degree programs regardless of the mode of delivery.

When proposing new programs delivered through distance technology, the institution must demonstrate its commitment to distance technology instruction and the adequacy of technical support for faculty and students. Courses and degree programs offered through distance technology must be developed in accordance with the Best Practices for Electronically Offered Degree and Certificate Programs endorsed by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Institutions proposing to offer 50 percent of an existing certificate or degree program through distance technology must submit a Letter of Notification with supporting documentation to ADHE by the established deadlines. All requests to offer existing programs through distance technology must be listed on the Coordinating Board meeting agenda and listed on the AHECB Approved Program Inventory. ADHE staff review of programs offered through distance technology will be conducted on a 5-year cycle.

A Letter of Intent must be submitted to ADHE before a proposal for a new program offered through distance technology can be submitted to ADHE. If the institution is offering its first certificate or degree program via distance technology, ADHE staff will conduct an on-campus visit before making a recommendation on program approval to the Coordinating Board.

Section 8. Experiential/Prior Learning Credits

Institutions may award a maximum of 30 semester credit hours in a certificate or degree program for documented learning or work experiences.

At a minimum, credits awarded for prior learning must be assessed and documented by faculty with appropriate subject-area knowledge to determine if the student’s prior learning experiences relate to the content of a particular course listed in the college catalog and if college credit should be awarded for a specific course. Institutions must have written policies, procedures, and criteria for assessing prior learning that are aligned with recognized assessment service organizations such as the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL).

Amount of Student Work Expected Per Credit Hour

In terms of amount of student work expected, a credit hour:

“(1) Reasonably approximates not less than-

(i) One hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work each week for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester or trimester hour of credit, or ten to twelve weeks for one quarter hour of credit, or the equivalent amount of work over a different period of time; or

(ii) At least an equivalent amount of work as required in paragraph (1)(i) of this definition for other academic activities as established by the institution, including laboratory work, internships, practica, studio work, and other academic work leading to the award of credit hours; and

(2) Permits an institution, in determining the amount of work associated with a credit hour, to take into account a variety of delivery methods, measurements of student work, academic calendars, disciplines, and degree levels.” 34 C.F.R. § 600.2.

Registration

All students are expected to register for classes on the days designated on the Office of the Reg­istrar web page (http://registrar.astate.edu) for a given term. Students may enroll through the first week of classes during a semester, or the first day of a five-week term.

Students must register for classes using Banner Self-Service, the university’s web system. Registration is scheduled on a priority basis according to student classification, which is determined by the number of semester credit hours students have completed plus the number of hours in which students are currently enrolled. For additional registration information, please see the Registrar’s website.

ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONSULT AN ACADEMIC ADVISOR BEFORE REGIS­TERING FOR CLASSES.

Also, students should be aware that, once they have registered for classes, tuition and fee charges will be generated for those courses for which they have registered. Students who register and later decide not to attend should withdraw from their classes prior to the start of the semester to avoid tuition and fee assessment. For charges applicable for withdrawals after classes begin, refer to the index for the REFUND OF FEES SCHEDULE. Instructions for withdrawing are available on the A-State website or from the Wilson Advising Center at 972-3001.

Changes in Class Schedule

Changes in class schedules may be made via the web during the scheduled registration periods. Students will not be permitted to add new courses after the first week of classes of a semester or the first class day of a five-week summer term. STUDENTS SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR ACADEMIC ADVISOR BEFORE CHANGING CLASS SCHEDULES. STUDENTS RECEIVING FINANCIAL AID OR SCHOLARSHIP SHOULD ALSO CONSULT THEIR FINANCIAL AID COUNSELOR.

Dropping Individual Courses (Other Than Only Enrolled Course)

The final date for dropping individual courses is two weeks prior to the first day of final examina­tions during Fall and Spring semesters. Academic Affairs will identify appropriate deadlines for other semesters (interims, summer, half sessions). (Refer to the Academic Calendar).

The Academic Calendar is also published on the Office of the Registrar web page (http://regis­trar.astate.edu) for each semester.

Students who drop individual courses will receive a grade of W in the courses. Students enrolled in only one course cannot drop that course, instead they must withdraw from the university.

Grading System

Students have access to view official grades at the end of each semester and each summer term in which they are enrolled. Arkansas State University is on a four-point grading system. The grading system includes permanent letter grades and grade point values as follows:

In addition to the grades listed above, the grading system utilizes the following grades that are not used to compute GPA:

Students’ grade point averages are computed by multiplying the number of credit hours of each grade by the grade points assigned to that grade and dividing the sum of these several products by the total number of hours in which the students were enrolled. Grades of P, CR, and NC are not assigned grade points, and hours associated with these grades are not used in computing grade point averages.

No grade below “C” will be accepted for graduate credit. Any Grade Change Report form will be accepted only if submitted prior to the close of the semester immediately following the one in which the original grade was recorded. However, the “WN” grade may not be appealed.

Auditing Courses

All students auditing a course will pay the regular course audit fee as shown under the heading Fees and Expenses. No credit will be awarded for courses audited. Audited courses will be counted as part of the stated maximum load for a semester or term. Only those persons who have been admit­ted to a graduate program are eligible to audit a graduate course. Auditors are expected to meet all requirements for a course with the exceptions of taking examinations and completing formal written papers. The names of those persons registered to audit a course will appear on the class roster.

Incomplete Grades

A grade of “I” will be converted to “F” if all required course materials are not submitted before the last class day of the following semester, as noted on the corresponding academic calendar.

WN - Withdrawal for Non-attendance

Faculty assign a grade of WN (withdrawal for non-attendance) to students who have never at­tended a single class during the first eleven class days of the semester. Although faculty assign WN’s, students are responsible for dropping/withdrawing from all classes they are not attending. Logging into an on-line course is considered the same as attendance for “WN” purposes.

Students should review their schedule of classes using Banner Self Service to make sure their enrollment is accurate. Students who find a mistake need to contact the Office of the Registrar for proper procedures immediately upon discovery. The WN grade may not be appealed after the close of the semester in which the WN grade was issued.

Withdrawal From the University (Including Dropping Only Enrolled Course)

Students withdrawing from the University after Sunday of the first full week of classes in a semester or Friday of the first week of classes in a five-week summer term must obtain an Application for Withdrawal at the office of Wilson Advising Center. The Wilson Advising Center advisors will assist students in the process to obtain withdrawal approval from the offices of Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Residence Life and the Library. The completed application must be returned to the Wilson Advising Center by the application nullification date. This process must be completed two weeks prior to the first day of final examinations during Fall and Spring semesters. Academic Affairs will identify appropriate deadlines for other semesters (interims, summer, half sessions). Grades earned in courses completed prior to official withdrawal from the university (i.e., short courses) will not be affected by that withdrawal. Classes that have been withdrawn will remain on the student’s transcript with a “W” grade for withdrawal. Once the withdrawal process is complete, the classes withdrawn will not affect the student’s GPA.

Students who cease to attend classes without processing an official withdrawal, or who do not com­plete the withdrawal process will automatically receive an FN in all courses in which they were enrolled.

Probation

Any graduate student whose cumulative GPA on all courses taken for graduate credit falls below 3.00 at the end of a semester will be placed on probation. Students may be removed from probation by raising their cumulative GPA to 3.00 or better at the end of a semester. Failure to make a grade of “B” or better in each course taken while on probation will result in suspension from further graduate work. A graduate student on probation may not hold an assistantship and is not eligible for graduation. Some departments have more restrictive rules for probation and suspension which supersede the University regulations.

Suspension

Any graduate student who receives a grade of “F” in any graduate-level course will be sus­pended from the University and their program.

Readmission of Suspended Students

Upon recommendation of their advisor and department chair with the approval of the Office of the Provost, a student may apply for readmission to the University on probation, after a minimum of one regular semester or full summer.

Readmission to the University does not imply readmission to a particular degree program. A student must reapply to the program and will only be readmitted upon recommendation of their advisor and department chair. A student suspended a second time is ineligible for readmission to the same program. If a student is suspended from more than one program they are ineligible for readmission to the University.

Attendance Policy

Class attendance is a critical component of learning and students are expected to attend and participate fully in all scheduled class meetings and activities. Attendance policy is established by the faculty of record for a given class.

Students who do not attend traditional classes or participate in online courses during the first eleven class days of a fall or spring semester, or the first five class days of a five week term, will be assigned a grade of WN (withdrawal for non-attendance) and are administratively withdrawn from the class. The WN grade does not impact GPA calculation. Students who initially attend, but discontinue attendance or completion of assignments without officially dropping a class are assigned a grade of FN (failure for non-attendance.) The FN grade is equivalent to a grade of F for calculating GPA and aca­demic standing. Academic standing, not attendance, determines whether or not the student is eligible for continued enrollment. (See probation, suspension and readmission of suspended students.)

Student Identity Authentication Information

Online classes are assessed a Student Identity Authentication fee to meet accreditation standards. The Federal Compliance Fee is applied to cover costs to meet Higher Learning Commission (HLC) federal compliance standards through authentication processes that include a variety of verification methods that best meet program needs. HLC guidelines require verification of the identity of students participating in online programs and classes institution-wide.

Proctoring services may include live proctoring that allows students to take exams from a secure environment using a personal computer. Instructors will provide specific information as to the methods and services used to authenticate student identity.

Specific information regarding cost per credit hour for the Student Identity Compliance fee may be viewed at http://www.astate.edu/info/costs/graduate/ or in the Fees and Expenses section of the bulletin.

The fee is assessed at the time that tuition and other fees are charged. Students may pay for the fee with their tuition payment.

Final Examinations

A final examination is a requirement of all courses except those in which written examinations are not used for evaluating student achievement. Courses that might not have final examinations may include, for example, laboratory courses, clinical experience courses, student-teaching courses, fine arts perfor­mance and studio courses, readings courses, special problems, independent studies, and internships.

Final examination schedules are published on the Office of the Registrar web page (http://registrar. astate.edu) for each semester. Examinations must be given on the dates scheduled. Exceptions may be granted only for individual students in cases of emergency or other compelling circumstances over which the student has no control. Exceptions must be approved by the dean of the college in which the course is offered.

Graduate Programs Appeals and Grievance Processes

Graduate student appeals and grievance processes are outlined in the A-State Student Hand­book available in the Office of Student Affairs. All grievances should first be taken to the student’s graduate advisor, who will inform the student of the correct procedures to follow. Following proper chan­nels for appeals and grievances is essential to obtain a timely and efficient resolution.

Theses and Dissertations

Some graduate programs require a thesis or dissertation. Students who are writing theses or dis­sertations must form a committee and have their thesis or dissertation proposals approved at least one semester before the thesis or dissertation is defended. A student will be permitted to register for thesis or dissertation hours only after the Registrar has received the Request to Form Thesis or Dissertation Committee form from the student’s department.

Requests to change thesis or dissertation committee members must be made in writing via the Request to Change Thesis or Dissertation Committee form. Changes to a thesis or dissertation commit­tee require approval by the program director (or equivalent), department chair, academic dean, and the graduate dean. In cases where a committee member is being removed, and that person is in the approval chain, that person’s approval will not be required, and the form will instead move on to the next approver. If the graduate dean is the member being removed, the Request will go to the provost for approval.

If the Request is approved, any committee member being removed will be notified of the change by the program director (or equivalent). In cases where the program director (or equivalent) is the member being removed, notification will come from the department chair.

Approval of Thesis or Dissertation Research by the IRB and Other Research Compliance Committees

Under federal regulation, all institutions receiving funds from any of 16 federal agencies, including USDA, NASA, NSF, EPA, Department of Education, and NIH, are required to establish institutional review boards to monitor all funded research involving humans. Human research is defined as any systematic activity involving the collection and/or analysis of data on human subjects for the purpose of advancing generalizable knowledge, unless this activity is specifically exempted by current federal regulations. It is the policy of A-State to apply the regulations to all research and research related activities, funded or not, which involve humans. Thesis or dissertation research involving human subjects is included. Cop­ies of the A-State Institutional Review Board Information Packet are available in the Office of Research and Technology Transfer.

Research involving live animals, hazardous materials, recombinant DNA, or radioactive materials may also require approval by the appropriate compliance committee. Contact the Research Compliance Officer in the Office of Research and Technology Transfer for additional information (https://www.astate.edu/a/ortt/research-compliance/).

Eligibility for Degree

A cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on all coursework used toward the graduate degree or any graduate certifications is required, and a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on all coursework taken from the academic college of the graduate degree or certifications sought is required before a graduate degree or certification can be awarded. Some programs have higher graduation requirements.

Course Sharing Between Degrees

Students cannot be admitted to or pursue multiple graduate degrees simultaneously at Arkansas State University. Any exceptions must be approved by the respective academic deans and the Graduate School Dean. 

If a student completes a graduate degree and pursues an additional graduate degree, a maximum of nine (9) credits earned from any prior graduate work can be applied to an additional graduate degree. Any hours applied to a graduate degree must be approved by the program chair.

Special exceptions to credit hour limits apply to en route master’s degrees, embedded graduate degrees, and dual graduate degrees.

Application for the Degree

All candidates are required to submit an intent to graduate notification and pay the graduation fee at the time they enroll for the final registration period before completing all requirements for the certificate or degree. Students who expect to complete requirements during the second summer term must submit an intent to graduate no later than the registration date for the first summer term. If the student is unable to graduate at the end of the semester for which application has been made, a new intent to graduate notification and fee must be submitted. Acceptance of the candidate’s intent will be determined by the student’s advisors and the Registrar.

Transcript Policies

Fee Information

1. Unofficial Transcripts are Free of Charge and can be printed online for coursework taken during Fall 1990 and beyond.
2. Official Transcripts are Free of Charge if ordered online through Self-Service and mailed.
3. Requests made via mail, or in person will be processed for a $10.00 flat fee.
4. For Federal Express delivery, there is an additional fee of $25.00.
5. There is a $2.00 charge each for immunization records and test scores.

General Information

1. Official transcripts of the student’s A-State permanent record are issued on “security” paper with the seal of the university and the Registrar’s signature.
2. Transcripts or other evidence of attendance will not be issued to or for a student who is in debt to the university.
3. Transcripts requested for currently enrolled students during the final exam period may have incomplete information from that term.
4. Transcripts are issued only at the online request of the student or the written request of the student or appropriate institutions and officials. NOTE: Telephone and email requests are not accepted. To request a transcript, please visit the Transcript page at http://www.astate.edu/a/registrar/students/transcripts/.
5. For transcripts before Fall 1990 alumni must request the first hardcopy from the Transcripts office or contact the office to be set up in our system. Transcripts cannot be viewed or requested online for course work prior to Fall 1990. Once the initial request is received, alumni will be able to view course work totals - not course by course detail - and request future transcripts on the web.
6. All transcripts are mailed out in a single business envelope to the designated address.
7. Immunization records and test scores may be requested in person or by mail. Some former student’s immunization records and/or test scores may not be available from the Registrar’s office.
8. All duplicate transcripts mailed to home addresses are mailed in individual envelopes.

Students Activated for Military Service

Arkansas code § 6-61-112 provides the following for students called into full-time military duty during an academic semester.

1. When any person is activated for full-time military service during a time of national crisis and therefore is required to cease attending a state-supported postsecondary educational institution without completing and receiving a grade in one or more courses, the following assistance shall be required with regard to courses not completed.
   1. Such student shall receive a complete refund of tuition and such general fees as are assessed against all students at the institution or (see ‘(c)’ below).
      1. Proportionate refunds of room, board, and other fees which were paid to the institution shall be provided to the student, based on the date of withdrawal.
      2. If an institution contracts for services covered by fees which have been paid by and refunded to the student, the contractor shall provide a like refund to the institution.
   2. If the institution has a policy of repurchasing textbooks, students shall be offered the maximum price, based on condition, for the textbooks associated with such courses.
2. When a student is required to cease attendance because of such military activation without completing and receiving a grade in one or more courses, the institution shall provide a reasonable op­portunity for completion of the courses after deactivation.
3. A student activated during the course of a semester shall be entitled, within a period of two years following deactivation, to free tuition for one semester at the institution where attendance had been inter­rupted unless federal aid is made available for the same purpose.

To prevent students who are receiving veteran’s benefits from being penalized and having to repay such benefits, students activated during an academic semester who have not completed sufficient course requirements for the awarding of a grade must withdraw from the university. Students should contact the VA representative in the Office of the Registrar immediately upon notification of activation to initiate the withdrawal process.

Veterans Administration Benefits

Veterans of recent military service, and the dependents of certain other servicemen, may be entitled to educational assistance payments from the Veterans Administration. Montgomery GI Bill® Education Ben­efits pay by the dates of the term. Clock hours do not apply at A-State (main campus in Jonesboro).

Reservists and members of the National Guard may also be eligible for monthly educational benefits.

Arkansas State University is an approved institution for veterans and veterans’ beneficiaries training.

For information regarding VA Benefits, contact the VA University Official in the Office of the Registrar at (870) 972-2031 or (870) 972-2478.

The Beck PRIDE Center for America’s Wounded Veterans is housed in the College of Nursing and

Health Professions. For assistance in coordinating educational and rehabilitation services, please contact the Dean’s Office at (870) 972-3112 or visit our website at http://www.astate.edu/a/beck-pride-center/.

Note: Tuition and fees for students using Post 9/11 educational benefits will not be submitted until after the 11th class day.

Graduate Assistantships

Students admitted to Graduate Programs may be eligible to receive financial support in the form of an assistantship. The primary purpose of a graduate assistantship is to promote the student’s successful completion of an academic program while giving them experience working in an academic environment. Graduate assistantships support the University’s teaching, research and service missions for the benefit of students in areas closely related to their chosen field of study. There are three types of graduate assistantships at A-State: Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA); Graduate Research As­sistants (GRA); and Graduate Administrative Support Assistants (GSA).

Graduate Teaching Assistant: A graduate teaching assistant (GTA) works with a supervising faculty member to gain instructional skills and an increased understanding of the discipline. The GTA’s primary responsibilities are to support the University’s instructional mission. Services provided by a GTA may include some or all of the following: classroom or laboratory teaching; advising and mentor­ing of students; proctoring examinations; grading papers, homework, and/or projects; accompanying/ coaching musical or vocal performances; providing artistic instruction or assisting with preparation and management of materials and programs that are utilized in imparting knowledge; or providing other general assistance in the instruction process.

Graduate Research Assistant: A graduate research assistant (GRA) works with a supervising faculty member to provide general support to the University’s research mission. These responsibilities may or may not relate directly to the student’s thesis or dissertation. Duties of the GRA primarily involve applying and mastering research concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship. Services provided by a GRA may include some or all of the following: assisting faculty members in a research or creative activity; performing degree-related professional or administrative services that support research, in­struction, professional development, or outreach missions of the university; developing and evaluating instructional materials or curricula; or assuming responsibility for designated scholarly endeavors.

Graduate Administrative Support Assistant: A graduate administrative support assistant (GSA) works with University administrators to gain leadership and administrative/program manage­ment skills and an increased understanding of the administrative aspects of the discipline. The GSA’s primary responsibilities are to provide general services to administrators in support of the University’s mission. These responsibilities may or may not be directly related to the student’s chosen field of study. Services provided by a GSA may include some or all of the following: assisting with the development of program materials, planning and co-hosting special events, gathering information and generating reports, office correspondence, program promotion, general public administration duties, and other es­sential functions of the discipline or program.

Student Workers: A student worker is different from a graduate assistant. A student worker is an employed student who may not meet some or all of the above criteria pertaining to graduate assistants. Student workers must be paid based on actual time worked as assigned. Documentation of hours worked via a time sheet and an hourly wage of at least the minimum wage are required.

Graduate Assistant Load

Master’s and Specialist level graduate assistants must complete a minimum of 6 hours of gradu­ate credit during a regular semester and will not be permitted to enroll for more than 12 hours of credit including both graduate and undergraduate courses. Students enrolling for fewer than six hours of graduate credit in a regular semester are not eligible to hold a graduate assistantship. Graduate as­sistants will be permitted to enroll in a maximum of seven semester hours at the graduate level in a five-week summer term and must complete at least three semester hours at the graduate level in the combined summer terms if they hold an assistantship during any summer term. All Doctoral level gradu­ate assistants are required to take a minimum of nine credit hours during the regular semester and three credit hours during each summer term an assistantship is held.

Graduate Assistantship Workload and Appointments

The University limits the workload of graduate assistantships in order to ensure that students make adequate satisfactory academic progress and complete their degrees within appropriate time limits. A full graduate assistantship is estimated to be the equivalent of 20 hours of work per week. These guidelines are applicable to all academic terms.

Graduate Assistantship Tuition Waivers

All graduate students employed in a full graduate assistantship (20 hours/week) for the entire se­mester will receive a waiver of the out-of-state/international portion of the tuition and will be responsible for paying the in-state portion of the tuition for that semester. All graduate students employed in a Doc­toral graduate assistantship position will have the in-state portion of the tuition paid by the University (if employed on University funds) or arranged by the student’s graduate program (if employed on external or departmental funds). All Graduate Research Assistants at the master’s and specialist level will have the in-state portion of the tuition paid as arranged by the student’s graduate program.

Time Limit on the Use of Graduate Programs Assistantship Funds

Students in Master’s programs may not receive assistantship support from the University funds after their sixth semester of enrollment (excluding summer sessions). Students in doctoral programs may not receive assistantship support after their tenth semester of enrollment (excluding summer ses­sions). Students seeking to exceed the maximum length of term must request permission from their department for an extension. If a student is employed outside of their academic department, they must request permission from the sponsoring unit.

Graduate Assistant Tuition Fellowships

All Graduate Assistant positions carry a tuition fellowship which includes the following benefits:

• tuition charged at the in-state rate
• tuition fellowships totaling 100% for all courses taken by doctoral Graduate Assistants

These tuition fellowships apply only to A-State courses.

Policies Concerning Graduate Assistantships

1. The Master and Specialist level appointee must complete at least six semester hours of graduate work and no more than 12 hours of both graduate and undergraduate work each semester during the academic year and at least three hours of graduate work cumulative during the summer terms. All Doctoral level graduate assistants are required to take a minimum of nine graduate credit hours during the regular semester and three during each summer term on assistantship.
2. A graduate assistant must have a definite schedule of duties and responsibilities assigned by the dean of the college and the chair of the department in which the assistantship is held.
3. Graduate assistants are not considered to be a part of the faculty of the University, are not entitled to faculty privileges, and will not be included in the Group Life and Hospital Insur­ance Program sponsored by the University.
4. The appointee should attend regular staff meetings of the college and department as well as the general staff meetings of the University if requested to do so. The appointee should also attend the faculty workshop at the beginning of the academic year if requested to do so.
5. If a student is unable to complete a semester’s course work and assistantship responsibili­ties due to circumstances beyond their control, that semester may not be counted as one of the semesters included in the maximum amount of time for which they may hold the assistantship. In those instances, Graduate Programs must be notified immediately of any such situations warranting consideration of this policy by the department and the student. Final authority for granting an exemption from counting the semester as part of time for holding the assistantship rests with Graduate Programs.
6. The assistantship will be awarded on an academic year or summer term(s) basis. Terms of assignment may differ for some externally-funded assistantships. Reapplication is neces­sary for the student to be considered for reappointment each contract period. There is no automatic renewal.
7. The appointee must maintain a grade point average of 3.00 or better on all graduate work completed in order to remain eligible for the assistantship.
8. Graduate assistantship renewals are set by the academic department and/or sponsoring unit subject to the maximum length set for the degree level. The master and specialist level assistantship will have a maximum time limit of six semesters, excluding summers. An ex­ception is made for students admitted based on a bachelor’s degree rather than a master’s degree to the Ed.S. in Psychology and Counseling; these students will have a maximum time limit of eight semesters. Ed.D. and Ph.D. assistantships will have a maximum time limit of ten semesters, excluding summers. Students seeking to exceed the maximum length of term must petition their department for an extension. If a student is employed outside of their academic department, they must petition the sponsoring unit.