Graduate Assistantship Information

General EKU Graduate Assistantship Information


Graduate assistantships (GA) are university employment positions for graduate students only. GAs work a set number of hours per week learning valuable skills relevant to their educational goals. In addition, GAs earn a salary and receive a scholarship of up to 6 hours. Duties may include laboratory supervision, teaching and research related tasks.

Important Considerations:

  • The Graduate School only funds assistantships during the fall & spring semesters.
  • Students working as a GA over the summer must be funded by their department or grants.
  • Students are eligible to hold assistantships for a maximum of four (4) semesters.

Full-time GAs work 20 hours per week and receive the following benefits:

  • Six-credit hour graduate tuition waiver
  • $5,600 stipend per semester

Part-time GAs work 10 hours per week and receive the following benefits:

  • Three-credit hour graduate tuition waiver
  • $2,800 stipend per semester

  • Must be enrolled in a Master’s, Specialist, or Doctoral program at EKU.
  • Must be enrolled in nine-graduate credit hours (or more) that are directly related to degree requirements.
  • Must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 at all times.

  • GAs may engage in teaching activities under the supervision of a faculty member.
  • GAs may work in a service capacity to grow their professional development and career opportunities.
  • GAs may work alongside faculty on research projects.

How To Apply for Graduate Assistantships

  • Go to careers.eku.edu
  • Select the “Student and GA tab”
  • Search for positions. Contact the Graduate Coordinator in the department you would like to work in for more information.
  • Apply online when you find an available position of interest.

How to Apply for Student Jobs

  • First, you need to determine your funding eligibility. It will be either Federal Work-Study and/or Institutional Work-Study, or Graduate Assistantship.
  • Work-Study, call Financial Aid at 622-2361 or Human Resources at 622-5094.
  • Graduate Assistantship, call the Graduate School 622-1744.
  • Go to the EKU Online Job Site to begin searching for open positions.
  • Select the desired “Employment Type” to narrow your search.
  • Click the Position Title to view more details.
  • Apply online. Enter your name and email address and click the “Apply” button at the bottom of the page when you find a position you are interested in. You will then be prompted to create a profile.
  • Ask questions. Any questions about specific jobs may be sent to the listed “Contact Person” on the job posting.

Upon being selected for a position, the first step is to complete a background check (if needed). If you have not worked for EKU in the last year (12 months), you will need to complete a background check.

If you do need a background check, you will receive an email from HireRight to complete your background information; and once the background check is completed, you will receive an email from HR on the next steps.

If you do not need a background check (have worked at EKU in the past 12 months), your supervisor will contact you once your position has been approved by HR to begin training for your new position.
After your background check has been completed, you will receive an email from HR that will include the new hire paperwork you will need to complete, as well as for instructions on how to complete it. Upon completing the paperwork, you will need to provide original documents for the I-9 form. These are required to verify identity and show work eligibility. A full list of acceptable documents to complete the I-9 will be included in the email.

Once you have your paperwork and original documents prepared, you will need to come to the HR Office, located in the Jones Building, Office 203. Please prepare for a 15 to 30-minute visit. Time will vary depending on new, partial, or completed paperwork and/or any corrections necessary.

Once your new hire paperwork has been processed, you and your supervisor will receive an e-mail clearance for your new job. DO NOT WORK until your supervisor has received this clearance and you have agreed on a work schedule.

You will need several original documents to complete new hire paperwork before you start working.

Photo ID such as: Passport, Driver’s License, School ID, or Military ID.
Social Security Card – For Tax Reporting.
Bank Information: Account and Routing Numbers. Direct deposit payments are required at EKU.

Information by College or Department

Graduate assistantships are available for outstanding applicants. Graduate assistants receive a stipend of $10,850 for the academic year (two semesters) plus six hours of tuition waver per semester. Most of our graduate assistants work in the university’s Noel Studio for Academic Creativity. Depending on the needs of the department, qualifying graduate assistants may be assigned to teach a developmental reading or writing course.

Additional application materials for graduate assistantships:

  • three letters of recommendation stating qualifications for work in the Noel Studio as a consultant (and perhaps to teach a developmental English course)
  • a writing sample (researched critical essay)
  • a completed application in the EKU Online Employment System (For information about completing this step, please contact the Program Coordinator.)

Send letters of recommendation and writing sample to:
Dr. Susan Kroeg
MA Program Coordinator
Department of English and Theatre
Eastern Kentucky University
Case Annex 467
521 Lancaster Avenue
Richmond, KY 40475

Decisions on graduate assistantships are made in late spring or early summer for the Fall Semester and late fall for the Spring Semester. An applicant must have a complete file to be considered for an assistantship. Students without adequate GRE scores (and/or TOEFL scores for International Students) are not considered for graduate assistantships.

Eastern Kentucky University also awards a number of minority fellowships and scholarships to qualifying applicants.

Role and Responsibilities
Graduate assistant (GA) Departmental workload will not exceed 20 hours per week while including a minimum of nine (9) credits of academic coursework.

GAs may be responsible to complete any and all of the following assignments (based on the needs of the Department, student abilities, and interests):

  • Assist in Departmental marketing activities (web page, community events, displays, internship files)
  • Represent the Department at recruiting events (on and off campus)
  • Assist Department faculty with classes
  • Assist with Department and faculty research efforts
  • Assist with annual James McChesney Memorial Golf Classic and other Service-Learning projects
  • Assist with other Department events (undergraduate breakfasts, Research Symposium, etc.)

Stipend Range
$10,850 plus 2/3 tuition waiver

Effective Dates of Appointment
Academic year (mid-August to early-May)

Contact Information
Dr. Jon C. McChesney, Department Chair and Graduate Director
Department of Recreation and Park Administration
521 Lancaster Avenue
405 Begley Building
Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY 40475
859-622-1835
jon.mcchesney@eku.edu

GA positions with agencies in the area have been established. Please inquire upon application to the degree program.