Policies for Graduate Student Appointments (6/8/98)
University fellowships and assistants are awarded on the basis of nominations by the graduate departments and
programs. All fall and spring semester awards (other than tuition-only awards) carry a stipend and tuition.
As of September 1, 1998, the policies for full-time graduate students supported by the University of Delaware
as a fellow, teaching assistant, graduate assistant, research assistant, tuition scholar or tuition assistant
is as follows:
- Must be classified as a full-time student* registered in graduate level courses during each semester
of the award.
- Must be in good academic standing (3.00 cumulative GPA).
- Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.000 each semester to continue to be eligible to hold the appointment
in the next semester.
- Must be classified with regular standing in the program.
- U.S. citizens who are students may work no more than 40 hours per week within the University. According
to INS regulations, non-U.S. citizens are limited to 20 hours per week within the university and may not
work outside the university. (Note: Some fellowships may have restrictions which disallow the recipient
to work while holding the fellowship.)
- Federal and state income taxes are withheld from the pay of students who are assistants. According to
IRS regulations, federal and state income taxes are not withheld from the stipends of U.S. citizens who
are fellows. Non U.S. citizens are required to have federal taxes withheld from the non-exempt portion
of the fellowship stipend unless exempt under a foreign country treaty.
- An individual who is at least a half-time** graduate student and who is not a career employee***
qualifies for the Student FICA exemption with respect to services performed at or for institutions of
higher education in which they are enrolled. This applies to students on PAF appointment or on Graduate
Student Non-contract Pay.
- Payments in summer to students as teaching, graduate, or research assistants or on non-contract payments
do not qualify the student for FICA tax exemption unless the student is registered for at least 3 credits
(or sustaining, if eligible). Note: Appointments in winter do not provide tuition awards. Appointments in
summer session do provide tuition awards if the work is related to the student's degree program. There are
specific summer registration policy and work hour limitations for funded graduate students.
*During fall and spring semesters, full-time status is a minimum of six graduate-level credits for
students holding an assistantship or a tuition scholarship and a minimum of nine graduate level-credits
for students holding a fellowship. These courses must be for credit and must be maintained throughout
the semester. Students with sustaining credit registration are considered as full-time by the University
in any semester.
**Half-time status is a minimum of 5 graduate credits for students on non-contract graduate pay during
the fall and spring semesters.
***A "career employee" is defined as an individual who is: 1) eligible to participate in the institution's
retirement plans (or would be eligible if he or she had met the plan's age and service requirements); 2)
eligible for reduced tuition (other than for tuition waivers provided to graduate teaching and research
assistants); or 3) classified by the institution as a "career employee."
|
