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GRADUATE ASSISTANTS

Emporia State University offers graduate assistantship positions each academic year, as funding is available. Graduate Assistantships are a great way to supplement educational concepts while working part-time for the University and earning a tuition waiver & stipend. These positions exemplify Emporia State University’s commitment to help students continue their studies, all while minimizing debt incurred in that pursuit.


James Willingham administers the graduate assistants at Emporia State University and will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

Overview:


  • Prior to applying for a graduate assistantship, a student must have applied for entry into a degree seeking graduate program at Emporia State University and be issued a student ID # (ex. E########).  If you have not applied for admission please do so here: Graduate School Admissions Application.


  • Complete a Graduate Assistant Application and attach a current resume (*Some areas require a cover letter and references (see list of Opportunities and contacts). The major area is automatically notified of your GA application, please select as many non-academic areas as you would like on the GA application.


  • Graduate Assistantship positions include a tuition waiver of up to 12 credit hours and a stipend of $6000 per semester (as of Fall 2024). Tuition waivers do not pay fees and other Graduate School associated costs.


  • Hiring areas review applications and schedule interviews directly with applicants. Please make sure to check your student email address (@g.emporia.edu) regularly for campus communications. (Approx. application review and interviews: Full Year/Fall GAs April/May, Limited Spring Only opportunities Oct./Nov.)


  • Once a GA has been selected, hiring paperwork will be done, a criminal background check completed, and they will receive a contract including start date, supervisor, and job responsibilities for the position. All documents, approvals, and student acceptance of the contract must be completed prior to starting any work.


    Frequently Asked Questions
  • Q: Can I apply for a GA position before I have applied to the Graduate School?
    A: No, you will need to apply to a degree seeking graduate program and have a student id # (E########) prior to filing the GA application. To apply for Graduate School admissions: Apply. If you have already applied to a graduate degree seeking program please file a Graduate Assistantship Application.

  • Q: Am I eligible for a GA opportunity?
    A: Students must be graduate degree seeking, must have a minimum undergraduate (four-year) grade point average of 2.5, 2.75 for the last two years of undergraduate study, based on a 4.0 system, or 3.0 for at least 6 credit hours of graduate level course work. (GPA requirement cannot be waived) Graduate Assistants must be available to work on campus in Emporia, KS, must supply all documentation required by HR, and pass a criminal background check.

  • Q: What type of work will I do as a graduate assistant?
    A: Types of GA positions vary between: Teaching (GTA), Research (GRA), and Administrative (GAA).

  • Q: How much do I get paid & what does the tuition waiver cover?
    A: Depending on the term(s) of your appointment: as of Fall 2023 the graduate assistant stipend is $6000 a semester, and a tuition waiver of up to 12 credit hours per semester. The tuition waiver covers tuition ONLY up to 12 credit hours during the semester you are employed, fees and other graduate school related expenses are the student’s financial responsibility.

  • Q: How often should I file a GA application and how many positions may I apply for?
    A: Only apply 1 time a semester for all the non-academic areas you are interested in working for, additional applications will not be accepted. Your GA application will automatically be sent to representatives from your major of study. Students can apply for as many non-academic areas they are interested in working for.

  • Q: How do I know what positions are available?
    A: Go to the list of departments info , once all Graduate School funded positions have been filled we will document this page, but that will happen near the start date of classes for the term in question. IE Fall 2023 was listed as closed on or around Aug 21, 2023. Additional department or grant funded positions may also be available, depending on funding. Also, don’t hesitate to ask!! jwillingham@emporia.edu. Most Graduate assistantship positions are hired in the Fall for the full academic year (Fall and Spring). Spring only GA positions might be available, but they are subject to funding, limited, and extremely competitive.

  • Q: When will I know if I earned a GA position?
    A: After interviewing, your hiring employer will contact you (make sure to check your g.emporia.edu email address regularly). Approximate time frame for contract completion for Fall (Late June-Early August.) and Spring (Early December-Early January) but, may vary.

  • Q: What happens after you have been offered a position?
    A: This offer will be contingent upon a successful criminal background check and paperwork acceptance from Emporia State University’s Human Resources department. Required documents: oath, direct deposit, tax forms such as W4 and K4, social security card, and an I-9. To know more about the list of documents valid for the I-9 please visit www.uscis.gov.
    For International Students, the Department of Human Resources will require a physical copy of the Passport, I-20, I-94, and complete the work permit form electronically, which will be initiated by the hiring division.
    In addition to the English Proficiency requirement of a 550 TOEFL score, international graduate teaching assistants must present a score of at least 50 on the TSE (Test of Spoken English) Exam, or a score of 250 on the SPEAK (Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit) exam, or a minimum score of 22 on the speaking section of the TOEFL IBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language Internet Based Test), and must pass an interview of spoken English competency by 3 institutional personnel prior to starting teaching responsibilities.

  • Q: Who do I contact about a position?
    A: If you have questions about the GA application process, general questions about GA positions, or want help connecting with other campus resources you can contact James Willingham, the Assistant Director of Graduate Assistantships via email at jwillingham@emporia.edu. He is here to help connect you to the correct person/department the first time. If you have already applied for GA position and you are trying to reach out to a specific area, you can find a contact in that area via the Department information page.

  • Q: I am an international student; is there a different process?
    A: No: you will apply for an academic program of your choice and your credentials for admittance will be verified for review/acceptance by your prospective academic program. If admitted, you can then apply for a GA position. Hiring areas can then review your application and invite you to interview for a position. If hired, the only extra step will be for you to work with the Office of International Education to make sure you have the proper work authorization. Non-native English-speaking international students who are selected for teaching positions must participate in and pass an interview for spoken English competency by 3 institutional personnel prior to starting teaching responsibilities.

    Work Hour Questions
  • Q: How many hours do I work & when will I get paid?
    A: Graduate Assistants work 20 hours a week. Pay is Biweekly and is outlined from our payroll department: Graduate Assistant Payrolls.

  • Q: How many semesters can I have a GA position?
    A: A graduate student may hold an assistantship funded via university allocations for one (1) master’s degree or dual degree program. Master’s students may hold an assistantship for up to six semesters (excluding summers). Students re-appointed for an additional academic year must be done yearly. Continued participation in the Graduate Assistantship program is contingent upon satisfactory performance in the position and fulfillment of all obligations.
    Ph.D. students may hold an assistantship for up to eight academic semesters (excluding summers).
    Departments may grant extended funding beyond these limits up to 8 semesters respectively for research assistantships if such funds are provided via external (non-university allocated) sources.

  • Any additional questions please reach out to James Willingham, jwillingham@emporia.edu

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