Graduate Tuition and Financial Aid

A graduate Teaching Assistant provides academic instruction under the supervision of a faculty member. Key responsibilities involve supporting the instructional activities of one or more courses and may include: assisting in-class (including online) instruction; grading and evaluation; holding office hours; preparing course materials; and/or providing student support.

Some graduate students will do both teaching and research. Within the field of teaching and instruction, these students might be referred to as TA(s).

A graduate Research Assistantship provides graduate students hired to support one or more ongoing research initiatives related to the Assistantship holder’s degree or program of study and led by a faculty member or other University researcher. Key responsibilities of a graduate Research Assistant may include: design and execution of research studies; literature reviews; data collection, analysis, and interpretation; writing research papers and reports; and/or contributing to grant proposals.

Some graduate students will do both teaching and research. Within the field of research, these students might be referred to as RA(s).

An Administrative Graduate Assistant helps support the smooth and efficient operation of a department, academic unit, or staff office. Key responsibilities may include: managing communications; office organization; data entry and record-keeping; coordinating travel arrangements; planning and coordination of events; providing customer service; and/or performing other clerical or administrative support tasks. Administrative GA's also include students performing research that is not related to the students degree or program of study. Within higher education administration, these students might be referred to as GA(s).

Administrative Graduate Assistant can include a Graduate Assistant who lives in residence halls or neighborhood homes and contributes to the educational and co-curricular experience of students living there. Key responsibilities may include: supervising undergraduate Resident Assistants; documenting and reporting student conduct violations; providing ministerial support; assisting with campus opening/closing activities; providing crisis response support; and/or providing informal advising and counseling. Within the field of higher education, these students might be referred to as GA(s), Campus Ministry GAs and/or Residence Coordinators.

The Campus Ministry graduate assistant program prepares graduate theological students for professional lay ecclesial ministry. Animated by our Catholic, Marianist charism, formation takes place in a collaborative community of learners and practitioners. It includes ministerial skills training, hands-on ministry, theological reflection and prayerful discernment.

Program Goals

• Form a ministerial identity that is rooted in the minister's faith journey, sense of call, understanding of gifts and graces, relationship to Christ, to the Church and to God's people. This identity will include a growing understanding and lived experience of navigating ministerial boundaries, as well as spiritual self-care and living a healthy and whole life.
• Develop ministers who actively practice theological reflection that is rooted in the Catholic Christian tradition, intellectually honest, attentive to listening to the Holy Spirit in life and ministry, and responds out of this reflection.
• Provide ministers with basic ministerial skills that facilitate others' growth in personal relationship with God as well as their growth in communal practice of faith. These include basic ministry skills that enable campus ministers to provide pastoral care to young adults and to implement the six aspects of campus ministry outlined in Empowered by the Spirit, the USCCB's Pastoral Letter on Campus Ministry: forming the faith community, appropriating the faith, forming the Christian conscience, educating for justice, facilitating personal development, and developing leaders for the future.
• Develop confident and humble ministers who appreciate the value of and have the basic skills for peer collaboration with other ministers and colleagues outside the immediate ministry department, for empowering others in ministry and for ecumenical and interfaith sensitivity.

Application Process

Assistantships in Campus Ministry are awarded by and are under the direction of the Office of Campus Ministry. Awards are made following the applicant's acceptance into the graduate religious studies program.

Applications for campus ministry graduate assistantships are due by February 1 each year. Early applications are welcome. The most qualified applicants will be contacted for telephone and on-campus interviews during the month of February. Offers are typically made by mid-April.

There are two main parts of the application process:

• Application to the graduate academic program in theology or pastoral ministry.
• Application to Campus Ministry for a graduate assistantship.

Be sure to submit all of the following by February 1.

Submit to the Director of Campus Ministry Graduate Assistant Program

• Current resume.
• Completed graduate assistantship application.

Submit to Graduate Admission Processing

• Three letters of reference: These can be the same three letters that you submit for the application to the master's program (submit only once).
  • At least two letters should address your potential for graduate theological studies.
  • At least one should address your potential as a minister to undergraduate students, as well as your ability to succeed in a master's level course of study.
• Completed application to the master's program with supporting materials.

Note: The Department of Religious Studies separately administers a number of research and teaching assistantships.

In order to be considered for an assistantship, students must be a full-time graduate students in good standing. Only students who meet the requirements of the assistantship position will receive an offer. Because each program/department has specific needs, only the programs to which you are applying to will review your application for an assistantship.

Graduate assistantships are considered part-time employment. Students will work up to 20 hours per week. The department or program in which a student is hired will determine the work schedule. Graduate assistant positions working less than 20 hours per week are not benefits eligible.

Compensation is in the form of a stipend and possible tuition remission. A stipend is a set amount that is paid over a specific time. Graduate assistants are paid twice per month on the 10th and 25th.

Tuition remission is how the university refers to paying for your tuition. As part of your contract, the university may pay for all or part of your tuition as part of your assistantship. The amount of tuition remission is determined by the department or program.

Some assistantships have additional benefits such as room and board depending on the type of assistantship and where the student will work. Room and board costs are generally only covered for assistantships in which students live in university housing through Student Development.

At the time of the offer, the department or program representative who is authorized to hire graduate assistants will issue a contract outlining duties and responsibilities, the amount of the stipend, and how much tuition remission will be paid.

Yes. At this time the university provides health benefits to graduate assistants who work 20 hours per week. The health insurance program that is offered is for single coverage only, meaning that only the graduate assistant is covered. At this time there is not coverage available for dependents.

Depending on the needs of your program or department, a graduate assistant contract can be written for up to one year. There are instances where contracts are for one semester, two semesters, summer semester only or for a full calendar year.

In general, background checks and drug tests are offered to those who work with children, government or some type of community program. There could be instances where applicants are asked to provide a background check depending on the type of work they will be doing, such as working with state or federal contractors.