Responsibilities. Research assistants, teaching assistants, fellowship recipients, and other funded and non-funded graduate students are directly responsible to their major professor and are all expected to reach or surpass the same level of competence acceptable in their field to receive their advanced degree. Graduate students are given the opportunity, and are expected, to assist with research projects other than their own. Teaching assistants are responsible to the faculty member in charge of classes and are expected to help with lectures, laboratory sessions, grading papers, and preparing teaching aids. Attempts will be made to provide opportunities for all Ph.D. students and some M.S. students to gain teaching experience. Graduate students receiving an assistantship cannot be employed in any other position.
Length of assistantship. The usual term of an assistantship is two years for the M.S. degree and three years for the Ph.D. Extensions may be granted, given satisfactory progress in the student’s program.
Hours. The amount of time spent per week on a student’s research, working on other departmental research, attending classes and on other activities will vary considerably. Students employed in permanent departmental positions will have percentage equivalent of full-time appointments stated on their Personnel Action Form. A student receiving a regular assistantship has a 19.6-hour weekly time commitment (beyond class attendance) to the Department. All graduate students are encouraged to spend as much time as possible in the Animal Sciences building and in departmental activities.
Vacation and Leave. All vacations and leaves must be planned in advance and approval obtained from major professors. There are many times when a student’s presence is absolutely necessary for the proper conduct of research. Conflicts can be avoided by careful and advanced planning. School breaks such as Christmas, Thanksgiving and Spring Break are work periods, except for days declared as official University holidays. When going on vacation or leave, a telephone number and/or address should always be left with the advisor’s administrative assistant.
Information about Academic Leave of Absence is provided in the Graduate Catalog.
Health Programs. Graduate students who are certified by the Office of Graduate Studies as full-time students and who pay the health fee are eligible for student health services. Eligibility continues only as long as students are registered. However, if students are not enrolled during the summer but can show intent to be enrolled in the fall term, they may obtain health services by making application to the Health Center and paying a prorated share of the annual fee.
Employee health benefit insurance programs are not available through the University as a result of receiving an assistantship. However, graduate students are eligible for a group student health insurance program through a private company. Information on such programs will be available at the time of registration and/or through the University Health Center. If a student enrolls in the University health insurance program and is receiving assistantship support, 79% of the insurance premium will be covered (https://www.unl.edu/gradstudies/funding/assistantships).
Tax Information and FICA. Graduate assistantships are taxable income. Payment of FICA can be avoided by registration for at least four credit hours per semester (or one credit hour with an approved waiver, see Program Maintenance Requirements, page 10) and four credit hours spread over two summer sessions including at least one of these hours in each of two sessions (preferably the eight-week and second five-week sessions). The W-4 form is completed at the beginning of employment.
Tuition and Tuition Waiver for Students Receiving an Assistantship. A graduate student receiving a teaching or research assistantship will qualify for a waiver of up to 12 hours of resident tuition during each semester if the appointment is continuous and for four full months within the semester dates. Resident tuition rates would be charged to the student for credits in excess of 12 hours. If a student resigns or terminates the assistantship during the semester before four full months are served, all tuition benefits are lost, and the student will be responsible for that semester’s tuition payment. Graduate assistants will also receive tuition waiver for the first 12 hours during summer sessions. Students are responsible for paying all other fees including University Program and Facility Fees (UPFF) for academic semesters and summer sessions.