Graduate Assistants

Types

SPP offers three primary types of Graduate Assistantships. Assignments vary according to School needs, available funding, the student’s qualifications, and the responsibilities of the approved position. 

Learn more about University assistant types.

Hours

Any of these can be a full-GA appointment (approximately 20 hours per week) or a half-GA appointment (approximately 10 hours per week). Most students are appointed as half-GAs.

Duration

Each appointment type may be offered for:

1. A full academic year (9.5 months): August 17–May 31
2. A single semester (4.75 months):

• Fall 2026 semester: August 17–January 7
• Spring 2027 semester: January 8–May 31

The School does not provide GA appointments during the Summer. Hourly appointments are available during the Summer. Reach out to the Director of Graduate Studies and the HR/Payroll Manager for more information.

School of Public Policy students must meet the following requirements to start or continue as a GA for the 2026–2027 academic year.

1. Be a full-time, registered SPP graduate student for the relevant academic semesters.
   1. Visit the Office of the University Registrar’s website to calculate enrollment status.
2. Demonstrate satisfactory progress toward your degree.
   1. Maintain a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0. This does not apply to incoming graduate students.
   2. MPP and MPM students with a funding offer that includes a GA must complete at least 24 credits toward the degree by the end of the second consecutive semester of academic study.
3. Demonstrate prior satisfactory performance as a GA. This does not apply to incoming graduate students or first-time GAs.

A GA award provides students with the following benefits:

Stipend

A stipend is paid biweekly, Fall through Spring.

Three categories, called Steps, are currently used for the classification of graduate assistantships. These steps, based on a student’s experience and progress toward the degree, determine compensation levels.

Tuition Assistance

Tuition assistance is provided for a set number of credits.

• Tuition assistance awarded as part of the assistantship is paid at the established standard campus tuition rate; any tuition differential is paid by the student. Tuition assistance can be used for courses in the DC Consortium. Tuition in excess of the assistance provided will be billed and paid by the student at the in-state resident rate.
• All mandatory and other fees are paid by the student.
• Stipend, tuition assistance benefit, and other fellowships or grants may affect your eligibility for federal loans. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid if you have questions.
• When you were admitted to the University, your residency classification for tuition purposes was established and indicated on your acceptance letter. If your assistantship ends, the tuition assistance benefit will be terminated, and you will be charged the tuition rate based on your original residency classification for the current and future semesters.
• Tuition remission is credited at the prevailing standard in-state credit-hour rate at the time the class is taken. Some programs, including the MPP, have higher credit-hour rates. The tuition remission benefit does not cover this differential.
• Graduate Assistants with an active PHR appointment who enroll in College Park classes will automatically receive Tuition Assistance, also referred to as Tuition Remission for GAs, provided they are registered for courses
• Tuition Assistance is automatically applied to the Graduate Assistant student account and does not require the GA to submit an application. 
• GAs should wait up to four weeks for tuition remission to apply to the account before inquiring.

Visit the Graduate Assistant Tuition Assistance website for more information.

GAs should closely review the updated Tuition Assistance FAQs and General Information for Graduate Assistants.

Health Insurance

Students holding a graduate assistantship have a choice to retain current health insurance or to enroll in either a State of Maryland health insurance plan or the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP). More information is available on the Graduate School Health Insurance Information Page.

The matching process occurs in three stages and is managed by the GA Committee.

Any student interested in a GA, RA, or TA position must complete a School of Public Policy GA/RA/TA Student Application, which will be reviewed by the GA Committee. The form will be shared with relevant groups based on Stage. It will not be posted on the SPP website or ejobs@umd.edu. 

Appointment Letter

To create an official appointment in the University’s payroll system, the School must have on file a GA appointment letter signed by the student and the associate dean. The letter specifies the length of the assignment, job duties, and benefits. It specifies the official employment dates, but the actual work dates may be negotiated between the GA and the supervisor. A template of the letter can be found on the Graduate School’s website.

Mandatory Orientation

All new SPP GAs must attend the SPP GA/RA/TA mandatory orientation usually held in August for the Fall semester and January for the Spring semester. The orientation covers appointment expectations, payroll procedures, reporting obligations, workplace responsibilities, and the systems required to perform their assignments.

Statement of Mutual Expectations

All GAs will complete the Statement of Mutual Expectations (SME) process using the Workday HR platform. Either the student or GA supervisor may begin the process, which starts with selecting the appropriate SME form from the website. After the SME meeting has been completed and the expectations agreed to, the student or GA supervisor may upload the completed form as a PDF into Workday. Detailed instructions will be provided within the Workday system as an Onboarding Activity.

Statement of Mutual Expectations forms

Teaching Assistants

To be eligible and apply for a TA position, you must be able to attend all relevant scheduled class meetings and course sections.

All TAs are required to complete the self-paced digital course Welcome to Teaching.

International Teaching Assistants

All International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) are referred to the Maryland English Institute (MEI) by SPP. MEI reviews each ITA’s profile to determine whether the student is exempt from English-language support.

ITAs can be exempted from spoken English support in one of two ways:

1. A score of 24 or higher on the Speaking subsection of the TOEFL (5 or higher as of January 26, 2026), a score of 7.5 or higher on the Speaking subsection of the IELTS, or a score of 80 or higher on the Speaking subsection of the PTE.

2. Exemption from submitting English-proficiency exams for admission based on Graduate School guidelines.

If an ITA is appointed for teaching duties and is not exempt from English-language support, the ITA must be concurrently enrolled in UMEI506 while serving as a TA. Full teaching clearance comes through successful completion of UMEI506.

Full details are available on the Maryland English Institute website.

If a GA at SPP has concerns about workload or working conditions, the GA should attempt to resolve the matter informally with the supervisor. If the concern cannot be resolved this way, the GA should report it to the Chair of the GA Committee, who will identify the appropriate procedures to follow depending on the nature of the issue. These procedures may include the grievance procedures stated in the Graduate School’s assistantship policy.

Review the University’s Policies for Graduate Assistantships.

As required by the Graduate School, the supervisor must meet with the GA to identify mutual expectations prior to the start of the assistantship. SPP requires this discussion to be held before the end of the second week of the semester and the results documented using the Statement of Mutual Expectations template for TAs, AAs, and RAs and uploaded to Workday. The supervisor and GA are required to give feedback on whether the mutual expectations have been met.

In addition to the Statement of Mutual Expectations, the supervisor may develop other tools for timekeeping and performance management, such as a timesheet or performance-review form. These tools and any performance-evaluation metrics, if used, must be identified in the Statement of Mutual Expectations at the start of the semester.

Performance Issues

If a GA performs poorly, the supervisor should provide clear and timely feedback and discuss ways to improve. The supervisor should issue a warning and give the GA an opportunity to demonstrate improvement before initiating the process of terminating the GA.

Termination or Loss of Support

Under the Graduate School’s assistantship policy, a GA appointment may be terminated before the expiration of its designated term for loss of funding, for cause, for academic delinquency, by written notice, or by voluntary mutual agreement.

Except under justifiable circumstances, as outlined in USM policy, graduate assistants whose appointments are for more than one term will be notified of decisions not to renew appointments at least 60 days before the date upon which the appointment is to begin.

Loss of Funding

A graduate assistantship may be terminated because of a loss, reduction, or reallocation in appropriation, grant, contract, gift, or other funds supporting the appointment. Subject to the unit’s fiscal priorities, programs will make a good-faith effort to find alternative funding for the full term of the appointment for a GA who is in good standing and making satisfactory progress toward the degree.

Cause

An appointment may be terminated immediately for cause. Examples of sufficient cause include incompetence, inefficiency, wanton carelessness or neglect of duty, insubordination, repeated or extended absence, and misconduct related to the GA’s suitability or capacity to continue performing assignments. GAs charged with a violation of the Code of Academic Integrity, the Code of Student Conduct, another University policy, or a criminal offense may be suspended from their positions with pay while charges are pending. GAs found responsible for a violation or offense related to their duties will be terminated, and any commitment to provide future GA appointments will be invalid.

If the supervisor of a centrally funded GA, RA, or TA believes the appointment should be terminated for cause, the supervisor should send the recommendation to the School’s GA Committee. The supervisor should present documentation of the GA’s performance and failure to improve after a warning was issued. Before approving the recommendation, the GA Committee will consider the evidence, seek additional documentation from the supervisor or GA if needed, and explore options other than termination. If the appointment is terminated, the GA will be notified in writing.

Terminating a GA appointment after the semester has started will have several financial effects. The student will stop receiving the GA stipend. Tuition remission applied to the student’s account for the semester will be retracted. The health benefits will end. An out-of-state student will lose in-state tuition status.

Academic Delinquency

An appointment may be terminated if the GA is not making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or is otherwise not in good academic standing. The termination shall be in writing and may be immediate or with such notice as the University believes compatible with the GA’s academic situation, not to exceed 30 calendar days.

Written Notice

An appointment may be terminated by delivery of 60 days’ written notice to the GA.

Voluntary Agreement

With the agreement of the University, an appointment may be terminated by the voluntary written resignation of the GA.

Yes. Students with a GA in their admissions or award offer still need to complete the SPP GA application form when it is distributed. The application helps confirm eligibility, availability, and position preferences.

No. Students with a GA offer are given first priority in placement, but they are not guaranteed a particular assignment. Placement depends on available positions, student qualifications, and School needs.

Students with a GA included in their offer are contacted first, typically in June–July for Fall placements. Open positions and the application form are shared by email.

The most important items to have ready are your resume, evidence of registration, and, if available, your class schedule.

The most likely issues are failing to maintain full-time registration, falling below a 3.0 cumulative graduate GPA, or not making satisfactory academic progress. For some MPP and MPM students, completing the required number of credits on time also affects continued eligibility. 

MPP and MPM students with a funding offer that includes a GA must complete at least 24 credits toward the degree by the end of the second consecutive semester of academic study.

No. Being a former GA does not guarantee the same position, or any specific position, in a future term. A supervisor may request a GA to continue, subject to Committee approval.

That depends on your program. MPP students whose admission letter guarantees a GA for their second year are eligible for a GA for only four consecutive academic semesters. MPM students whose admission letter guarantees a GA for their third semester are eligible for a GA for only three consecutive academic semesters.

Yes. Students seeking a second GA are included in the same later-stage pool as students who do not already have a GA in their offer.

Yes. SPP students without a GA in their admissions or award offer may apply for remaining SPP GA positions during Stage 3 - open-competition. Some may also be considered earlier if specifically requested by a faculty or staff supervisor.

For students seeking open positions, the main application window is later in the process, typically late July to August for Fall and December for Spring, if positions remain available.

They are shared through the SPP graduate student listservs, not posted publicly as university-wide GA listings.

Yes. Even when a student is requested by a supervisor, the student must complete the application so SPP can confirm eligibility and availability.

No. A prior request or prior placement does not guarantee a future GA appointment.

Yes. Students who are not successfully placed will be notified by email.

Students in the dual Bachelor’s/Master of Public Policy program are eligible for a graduate assistantship only after completing the undergraduate degree and beginning the graduate MPP portion of the program.

Graduate assistants holding regular appointments of 20 hours per week have full-time status if registered for at least 24 units in addition to the assistantship. Holders of half-time assistantships of 10 hours per week are considered full-time if registered for 36 units. Note the difference between units and credits. Visit the Office of the University Registrar’s website to calculate your current enrollment status.

No. A faculty or staff member may express interest in working with you or request you for an approved position, but they cannot guarantee you a Graduate Assistantship.

All appointments are subject to position approval, available funding, student eligibility and availability, applicable matching priorities, and final approval through SPP’s GA process. A GA appointment is official only after you receive and sign an appointment letter.

A center, institute, or faculty member may offer to sponsor a GA using its own funding. However, the appointment remains contingent on confirmed funding, student eligibility, required University approvals, and completion of the appointment process. 

The main benefits are a biweekly stipend, tuition assistance, and access to health insurance options.

No. Tuition assistance is paid at the standard campus tuition rate, and students remain responsible for tuition differentials and mandatory fees.

Academic-year appointments generally run from mid-August through early January for Fall and from early January through the end of May for Spring.

Yes. All new SPP graduate assistants must attend the mandatory orientation.

Yes. TAs must be able to attend all assigned class meetings, and international TAs may have additional English-language requirements.

Yes. Students are encouraged to explore GA, RA, and TA opportunities across the broader University. While SPP does not maintain centralized information about assistantships or employment outside the School, some students independently secure positions by reaching out directly to other academic departments, research centers, or administrative offices. See the Student Job Board in Workday.