{"id":9790,"date":"2023-01-30T16:19:13","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T23:19:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nau.edu\/graduate-college\/?page_id=9790"},"modified":"2026-04-11T14:31:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T14:31:07","slug":"faqs","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/office-graduate-professional-studies\/graduate-assistantships-tuition-waivers\/faqs\/","title":{"rendered":"Graduate Assistantship and Tuition Waiver FAQs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Graduate Assistantship and Tuition Waiver FAQs<\/h1>\n
The NAU Office of the Provost and Office of Graduate & Professional Studies (OGPS) aim to provide in-depth and supportive information for students seeking a graduate assistantships or tuition waivers. Please review these frequently asked questions from graduate students and current graduate assistants.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n

Students seeking Graduate Assistantships<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n
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What are graduate assistantships? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Graduate assistantships are an outstanding way to fund graduate education while simultaneously developing professional skills. Graduate assistants perform vital teaching, research, and service duties to their program and earn a stipend for their work.<\/span><\/p>\n
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What benefits are included with graduate assistantships? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Full-time (20 hours\/week) graduate assistantships offer:<\/span>\n
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100% tuition remission (excluding any university and program fees)<\/span>\n
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*For online students, tuition payment is capped at 9 credits per semester. Talk to your GA coordinator to learn if further tuition coverage can be offered departmentally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
a waiver of the student health insurance premium<\/span><\/li>\n
stipend<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
Part-time (10 hours\/week) offer:<\/span>\n
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50% tuition remission (excluding any university and program fees)<\/span><\/li>\n
Stipend<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
All graduate assistants with an appointment of 10 or more hours per week are considered residents for tuition purposes during the term of appointment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What categories of assistantships are there? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Graduate Teaching Assistants<\/strong> (GTA)<\/span> have primary responsibility in an instructional capacity. Services provided by a graduate teaching assistant may include lecturing, serving as an assistant faculty in classes, proctoring examinations, grading assignments, tests, papers, and helping and providing general assistance in the instructional process.<\/span><\/li>\n
Graduate Research Assistants<\/strong> (GRA)<\/span> undertake part-time research as a portion of their training under direct supervision of faculty members and support the research initiatives of the institution. GRAs are selected for excellence in scholarship and promise as researchers.<\/span><\/li>\n
Graduate Service Assistants<\/strong> (GSA) assist in a service unit whose mission is closely related to the student’s area of academic study and interest. GSAs report to a full-time employee who supervises and trains the student.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What are the requirements for graduate assistantship consideration? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must be<\/span> graduate degree-seeking students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Semesterly enrollment in nine (9) units of credit is typically required by each appointing department. The minimum enrollment for graduate assistantship consideration is six (6) units of credit per ABOR policy. Students who are conditionally admitted to a graduate program due to a GPA below 3.0 upon admission are not eligible to receive a graduate assistantship.<\/span><\/p>\n
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How do I find a graduate assistantship opportunity within my academic department? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Contact the graduate coordinator or department chair in your program area for information on open opportunities and qualifications. Use the NAU Directory<\/a> to find your program’s graduate coordinator.<\/li>\n
Each unit fills its assistantship positions, so requirements and application processes vary.<\/li>\n
Assistantship opportunities are determined by staffing needs and internal budgets.<\/li>\n
Check the Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Waivers webpage<\/a> for “at-large” assistantships.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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What is an \u201cat-large\u201d graduate assistantship? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Non-academic graduate assistantships available through university-wide offices. serving the university community.<\/span><\/li>\n
Available “at-large” positions are often posted at the bottom of the Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Waivers webpage<\/a> or on Handshake<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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When is the best time to apply for a graduate assistant position? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Start looking for academic year assistantships at the beginning of the previous spring semester. Peak hiring season is March and April, but it is recommended to start checking resources as early as January.<\/li>\n
Opportunities for spring semester assistantships may become available each fall. Begin looking for these positions in September.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Can I apply for a graduate assistantship position before I am admitted into an NAU program? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Yes, if you have applied to an NAU degree-seeking graduate program, you are eligible to apply for an assistantship.<\/li>\n
However, you must be fully admitted into the program to receive an official Graduate Assistantship Letter of Appointment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Students with questions about tuition waivers<\/h3>\n
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What are tuition waivers? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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NAU tuition waivers are scholarships which pay for all or part of a student’s tuition. There is no work requirement for tuition waivers as there is for graduate assistantship tuition remission. For online students, tuition waivers may cover up to 9 credits per semester. See SDAS online tuition rates<\/a> for more information.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What is the difference between a resident and non-resident tuition waiver? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Resident tuition waivers: Cover a portion or the full, in-state tuition (excluding university and program fees).<\/li>\n
Non-resident tuition waivers: Cover a portion or the full out-of-state tuition (excluding university and program fees).<\/li>\n
Students are responsible for paying any remaining tuition balance and university and program fees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What are the requirements to be considered for a tuition waiver? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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To be eligible for a tuition waiver, students must:<\/p>\n
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Be a graduate degree-seeking student in good academic standing.<\/li>\n
Meet the academic unit requirements.<\/li>\n
Important notes:\n
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Tuition waivers may be awarded to both resident and non-resident graduate students.<\/li>\n
Eligibility requirements and application processes are managed by individual academic units, so they may vary.<\/li>\n
Awards may be based on academic merit and\/or financial need, as determined by each academic unit.<\/li>\n
A student should not have a tuition waiver and hold a graduate assistantship appointment in the same semester.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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How do I apply for a tuition waiver? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The application process is available through individual academic units.<\/li>\n
Not all academic units offer tuition waivers.<\/li>\n
Students should contact their program’s graduate coordinator or department chair for information on waiver requirements and the application process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
Current or incoming graduate assistants<\/h3>\n
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What do I need to do before the semester begins? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Read your contract. Once you have accepted your assistantship appointment, you will receive a contract (Letter of Appointment) to your NAU email. Review it and reach out to your graduate coordinator or supervisor with any questions. <\/span><\/li>\n
Read the Graduate Assistantship Handbook<\/a><\/span>. Understand the policies that relate to your assistantship appointment and reach out to your graduate coordinator or supervisor with any questions or concerns. <\/span><\/li>\n
Check your NAU email regularly. The Graduate Assistantships and Tuition Waiver (GATW) team sends out communications to GAs from GATW@nau.edu prior to the semester starting with detailed instructions on course enrollment, health insurance enrollment, university and program fees, and your stipend. <\/span><\/li>\n
Review the Important Dates for GA’s<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n
Enroll in a minimum of 6 units of credit or more based on your program enrollment requirements. <\/span>Your award will not disburse unless you have met the minimum enrollment requirements. <\/span><\/li>\n
Enroll in the semester only Student Health Care Plan (SHIP)<\/a> if you are a 20-hour GA who accepted the health insurance benefit by the SHIP enrollment deadline (14 days after the semester start date). Don’t know if you accepted the health insurance benefit? Please check your contract!<\/span><\/li>\n
Pay your university and program fees. See the <\/span>SDAS Tutorials<\/span><\/a> for resources on understanding your eBill. <\/span><\/li>\n
Check in with your supervisor about your start day, orientation, and what you should know before your first day. <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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What resources should I know about? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Know who your graduate coordinator is and get to know your supervisor!<\/span><\/li>\n
The Graduate Assistantship Handbook<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n
The Office of Graduate & Professional Studies Newsletter<\/a> has resources for professional growth, funding, events, and a section for GA updates. Always review the Newsletter!<\/span><\/li>\n
SDAS<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
Career Development <\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
The Teaching and Learning Center<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
The University Writing Commons<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
Louie’s Cupboard<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
Health Promotions<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n
NAU Counseling Cent<\/span>er<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Where can I find policies related to my graduate assistantship? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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The Graduate Assistantship Handbook.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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How do I troubleshoot stipend issues? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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All stipend and pay issues should be communicated with your supervisor and <\/span>Human Resources.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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How do I troubleshoot disbursement issues related to my tuition remission or health insurance benefit? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Tuition remission<\/p>\n
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Check that you are enrolled per your tuition waiver requirements.<\/li>\n
Make sure there are no holds on your account.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)<\/p>\n
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If eligible, please ensure that you have enrolled in SHIP<\/a> by the deadline, which is typically 14 days after the start of each semester. Electing “Enrolling” on the Letter of Appointment does not automatically enroll you in SHIP.<\/li>\n
Confirm with Campus Health Services<\/a> that you are enrolled in the semester only<\/strong> SHIP.<\/li>\n
Reach out to your supervisor or graduate coordinator.<\/li>\n
Contact Campus Health Services<\/a> (928-523-6343) for student health insurance-related questions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Do I have to make up hours on university holidays or for snow closures? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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If you are scheduled to work on a day that falls on a university holiday, you are not required to make up those hours.<\/span><\/li>\n
If the university closes due to inclement weather and you are scheduled to work on campus, you do not need to make up those hours.<\/span><\/li>\n
Please check with your supervisor regarding your work requirements during university closures as some GAs are required to work during these times.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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Can I extend my assistantship for another year or semester? Accordion Closed<\/span><\/h4>\n <\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n
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Graduate assistantships are for one semester, one academic year, or one fiscal year only. The policy related to this question can be found in the <\/span> Graduate Assistantship Handbook<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n
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Contact the graduate assistant office<\/h3>\n <\/div>\n
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