Assistantships (TAs, RAs and GAs)

Graduate Student Teaching Assistants (TAs) devote an average of 20 hours per week to help meet the instructional needs of the university. Appointments and reappointments for TAs are subject to: the availability of financial support, satisfactory academic progress, and performance review by their academic program, school, or department on a semester-by-semester basis. In consultation with, and under the direction of, an assigned supervisor, the Teaching Assistant will aid in the teaching of one or more courses or may serve as the instructor of record.

Graduate Student Research Assistants (RAs) devote an average of 20 hours per week to assist the research efforts of the faculty in a capacity related to the student’s educational goals. RA appointments and reappointments are subject to: the availability of financial support, satisfactory performance in and progress toward specified research assignments, and performance review on a semester-by-semester basis. The Principal Investigator or Project Director of the award will designate and supervise the research activities of the Research Assistant. Duties may include library searches, field work, laboratory experiments, and preparation of reports. The duties should provide an opportunity to acquire professional skills complementing the graduate program and must not be for services unrelated to the student’s educational program, school, or department or be clerical in nature.

Graduate Student Assistants (GAs) devote an average of 20 hours per week to assist with administrative support functions. GA appointments and reappointments are subject to the availability of financial support and satisfactory performance. GA duties should not be clerical in nature. The administrative supervisor will ensure that the assistantship contributes to the graduate student’s professional growth, complementing their graduate interests and/or discipline.

Graduate Student Teaching Associates (TASCs) are appointed, with written approval of the Office of the Provost, as the primary instructor of record for a course; TASCs work closely with an assigned faculty supervisor. Teaching Associates must be in the last phase of either their doctoral program or Master of Fine Arts; must have completed 18 semester credit hours in the teaching discipline; and should participate in professional development initiatives. Appointments and reappointments are subject to the availability of financial support, satisfactory academic progress, and performance review by their academic unit.

Every semester, all Teaching Assistants (TA), Research Assistants (RA), Graduate Assistants (GA), or Teaching Associates (TAS) undergo a comprehensive review by their supervisors. These reviews assess students’ performance and professional development throughout the semester; the reviews play a crucial role in the decision-making process for reappointing students to their assistantship positions.

Supervisors provide detailed feedback on aspects of the student’s work, including effectiveness, reliability, and contributions to their role. After the feedback is submitted, students review it and either approve or dispute it. This transparent process ensures open lines of communication between supervisors and students, allowing for constructive dialogue and continuous improvement. The review process helps graduate students advance in their educational and professional paths, ensuring they meet the high standards expected in their roles.

The Office of Graduate Education does not hire TAs, RAs, or GAs. All hiring for these roles begins in a student’s academic department. If you have questions about available assistantships, you must reach out to your academic department.

Committing to a graduate program, particularly at the doctoral level, is equivalent to at least a full-time job. Your duties as a TA or RA are in addition to your responsibilities as a student. You should expect to devote 20 hours per week to your assistantship. As a TA, this may be grading, holding study sessions, or reviewing eLearning materials. As an RA, you may be in the lab for 20 hours per week in addition to research hours in which you are enrolled. 

No. Teaching Assistants and Teaching Associates must perform their duties on the UTD campus. Research Assistants must perform their duties on the UTD campus, unless there is a justifiable reason for an exception (e.g., traveling to another lab to use equipment that UTD does not have). 

If you receive a tuition waiver, it is contingent upon your appointment as a TA or RA. If you leave your position before the end of the semester, you risk losing this scholarship, at which point you will be responsible for paying the full tuition for that semester. 

Eligible student employees hired in a RA/TA/GA position at 20 hours/ week are automatically enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) and the student’s premium is paid by the university for the months the student is actively working. You can find more information from the Bursar’s Office. 

You can also find information about your options to enroll in employee benefits from the Office of Human Resources. 

Teaching assistants, teaching associates, research assistants and graduate assistants are not eligible for vacation or sick leave. Positions that require student status as a condition of appointment do not accrue paid leave.