Conditions for Student Employment

Source: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/funding/student-employment/academic/conditions Parent: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/funding/student-employment

Questions

If you have questions, email \ the Graduate School.

As a graduate student at the University of Texas, you must adhere to certain requirements if you choose to be employed in any of the following positions:

• Teaching assistant
• Assistant instructor
• Graduate research assistant
• Tutor
• Academic assistant
• Assistant

Conditions for Student Employment

Making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree without existing conditional admission requirements;

Remaining registered for at least nine semester hours of coursework in long semesters;

Enrollment in three semester hours of coursework is required for students holding summer appointments

Maintaining at least a 3.0 grade-point average; and

Not having more than two grades of X, I, NC, D, or F in any combination.

Good Academic Standing Form

When a graduate student is employed in an academic job title by a unit outside their academic program the student must provide to the employing unit certification showing they are in good academic standing and making satisfactory progress towards their degree; the graduate adviser for the program makes this determination, and approval can be indicated using this form.

Special Requirements for Assistant Instructors

Students seeking an appointment as an assistant instructor must also meet the following requirements:

• Possess a master’s degree or an equivalent level of achievement in professional accomplishment and graduate study (30 hours, including 18 hours of credit in the subject to be taught); and
• Have satisfactorily completed one semester of a course in teaching methods (398T); and
• Have completed at least one semester of service as a teaching assistant, or completed at least one year of teaching experience in an accredited college or school. (A letter of verification from the former employer must be submitted to the Graduate School.)

Assistant instructors are employed to meet instructional needs at the undergraduate level, primarily in lower-division areas. Approval for an assistant to teach an upper-division course may be requested by petition to the Associate Dean of the Graduate School and must be approved before the assistant is assigned to the upper-division course.

Guidelines for Summer Employment

Graduate students who are employed in the summer should review the guidelines for summer employment.

Read more

Exceptions

Contact your department if you do not meet all of the requirements. Exceptions may be granted in extenuating circumstances, but only if employment does not endanger your good academic standing or adequate progress towards your degree, as determined by your program. If supported by your program, exception requests should be submitted in writing to the Graduate School by your program’s graduate adviser. Final approval rests with the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies (Graduate Student Services).

20/30 Hour Limit

Assignments in a student job title at the university, including academic as well as non-academic positions, may not exceed 20 hours per week during the first two long semesters (fall/spring) of graduate study at UT Austin, and no more than 30 hours per week during the subsequent semesters, including summer.

The following exceptions apply up to 40 hours per week during:

• Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after);
• Winter Break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start); and
• Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start) but no more than an average of 30 hours per week between 5/16 and 8/15.

Exceptions to allow up to 40 hours per week may requested, but only if the additional employment does not endanger your good academic standing or adequate progress towards your degree, as determined by your program. If supported by your program, exception requests should be submitted in writing to the Graduate School by your program’s graduate adviser. Final approval rests with the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies (Graduate Student Services).

Limits for International Students

F-1/J-1 students can work as many as 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. Full-time employment (21-40 hours per week) is allowed only during the following times for enrolled and continuing students:

• Fall and Spring Break (5 weekdays, plus the Saturday and Sunday before and after);
• Winter Break (day after December graduation through day before January classes start); and
• Summer (day after May graduation through day before August classes start) but no more than an average of 30 hours per week between 5/16 and 8/15.

Teaching Assistant English Certification

International students who will be employed as teaching assistants or assistant instructors must obtain the International Teaching Assistant English Certification.