Graduate assistantships are funded by Warnell or the Langdale Center for Forest Business and are highly competitive and are awarded based on merit and institutional needs. An assistantship will provide a stipend based on a certain percent of time of expected work contribution in addition to a tuition waiver. Please note, student fees are not included in tuition. The recipient’s duties will include assisting faculty members in teaching and research.
To be considered for a Warnell or Center for Forest Business graduate assistantship for fall semester, all credentials for admission must be received by February 14th. For spring semester, all credentials must be received by October 15th.
Retention of the Assistantship
Subject to the current availability of funds, the assistantship is retained as long as the student:
- is not on probation with the Graduate School
- is satisfactorily performing the requirements of his/her position as determined by his/her supervisor and the Graduate Coordinator
If a student loses a Graduate Assistantship because of probation, reinstatement will be automatic if the probationary status is removed in one semester. Otherwise, the student must be re-evaluated by the Graduate Affairs Committee, or in the case of a Graduate Research Assistantship, by the Principal Investigator.
Students holding an assistantship must be evaluated by the appropriate supervisor at least annually. Annual evaluations are normally done in the Spring Semester.
Assistantship Offer Letters
Graduate assistants and their major professors must give careful attention to the duties listed and dates covered by the original offer letter, which serves as the assistantship contract. Once funds are budgeted, it is difficult to alter dates to fit contingencies and individual plans. Forest Business Graduate Assistantships and Warnell Graduate Research Assistantship offer letters are typically provided for one year and must be renewed annually by the major professor assuming available funds and satisfactory student performance.
During the assistantship contract period, there is no provision for annual leave or vacation. The graduate assistant’s major professor should be notified as soon as possible of an absence caused by illness. Absence for other reasons must receive approval from the graduate assistant’s major professor.
