If you have been selected to receive a graduate assistantship, simply follow these steps:

1. Log in to your online application to view your decision letter.
2. From your “My Funding” Tab in the Grad Rebel Gateway, choose the application that has a status of “Decision Available.” Click on “Decision Available” to review your offer letter. After you have reviewed your offer letter, click on “Respond to Offer” under Action Required to accept or decline your GA offer. If you fail to respond to your GA offer before the deadline listed in your offer letter, your GA offer will be rescinded.
3. GA contracts are now processed electronically through Workday. Prior to the start of your GA contract, you will be notified regarding GA Orientation and onboarding.
4. Read the Graduate Assistant Handbook.
5. Register for your classes as soon as possible. We cannot process your tuition waiver until you have registered! Graduate assistants must carry a minimum of six graduate credit hours per semester. Audited or undergraduate courses will not be accepted. Failure to remain in six graduate credit hours for a grade will result in the termination of the graduate assistantship contract. An overload petition must be approved by the department chair and Graduate College Dean for credit overloads in excess of 12 credit hours.
6. Make sure to contact your GA department before the start of your contract for duties and responsibilities.

Important Information for International GAs

In order to process a GA contract, you must give your official Social Security Number (SSN) to the Graduate Student Financial Services office at the Graduate College. We are not able to process paychecks until we receive verification of your SSN. If applying for a SSN, you need to have been in the United States for at least 10 days. If possible, we recommended that you arrive with enough time to apply to avoid any delays in processing your contract and first paycheck. Per federal regulations, F-1 students are allowed to work up to 90 days while you wait for your SSN.

Mandatory Duolingo English Test for All New International Graduate Assistants

All new international students who are first-time graduate assistants will be required to take the Duolingo English Test. This includes all graduate assistants who will be advising or teaching students as an instructor, teaching assistant or lab supervisors. Research assistants and graduate assistants with other professional duties are also required to take the Duolingo English Test. Please visit English Proficiency Requirement for New International Graduate Assistants for more information regarding this policy.

Additional Employment Guidelines for Graduate Assistants

If you plan to engage in additional employment either on or off campus, you must first receive approval from your department chairperson, followed by the Graduate College dean. Your employment must be limited to 10 hours or less per week and be related to your area of study. It is important that you follow the approval process, as failure to do so may result in the termination of your assistantship, delayed payment, or other repercussions. Please also note that if you are working for any institution in the NSHE system in addition to your GA, there may be complications with your payroll processing, so it is especially important that you work with the GA program office in advance. Please complete the Request for Additional Employment form which can be found in the Grad Rebel Gateway portal under forms to begin the approval process.

International Students

Please Note: You are not permitted to work more than 20 hours per week during the academic year. Your 20-hour-per-week assistantship must be your sole paid employment.

GA Paychecks

GAs will receive their first paycheck the first business day of the following month after they begin employment. For example, if you begin your contract in mid-August, your first check will be the first business day of September. After you receive your first paycheck, all other paychecks will be delivered on the first working day of the month as long as you have a continuous GA contract. Please see the chart below for more information regarding pay schedules.

Graduate assistants may express interest in their placement of choice, but are ultimately assigned to one of two categories:

• Research GAs conduct cutting-edge research alongside faculty members.
• Teaching GAs instruct undergraduate-level courses.

State-Funded and Externally-funded (Grants and Contracts) Positions

Graduate assistants are appointed by the university to conduct work in exchange for a stipend package. Both Graduate College state-funded and extramurally funded graduate assistants will receive a stipend. All GA appointments must meet the minimum stipend amount from the student’s academic department. Graduate assistants awarded state-funded positions are under contract and receive a minimum stipend of $11,250 at the master's level for an academic year. MFA and Doctoral Graduate assistantship stipend amounts vary by department.

Externally funded GA stipends must meet the minimum state-funded GA stipend amount for the student’s home department.

Mandatory Student Health Insurance

All graduate assistants are required to have health insurance while employed. Graduate assistants will be charged for the student health insurance plan offered by UNLV. It will be up to each student as to whether or not to waive out of the UNLV Student Health Insurance by proving that he or she has acceptable coverage at the beginning of the semester in which they sign their contract. All state-funded graduate assistants and most extramurally funded graduate assistants enrolled in the UNLV Student Health Insurance will be given a stipend that will go toward a portion of the premium. Visit the Student Health Center to learn more about student health insurance.

Out-of-State Tuition Waiver for Non-Nevada Residents

Out-of-state graduate students who become graduate assistants are not required to pay out-of-state tuition while under GA contract. It should be noted, however, that out-of-state tuition is waived only during the time you hold your assistantship. Hence, if you are no longer a GA, you will be considered an out-of-state student (and pay out-of-state tuition), unless you have applied for and received Nevada residency, as defined in the residency regulations established by the Board of Regents.

Note: State-funded graduate assistants under contract in the spring semester and upcoming fall semester can take up to three summer term credits at a reduced rate.

GA Loans

More Graduate Assistant Benefits Information

• Inclusive Teaching Guide