This checklist is intended to provide convenient reminders for tasks and requirements associated with graduate assistantships. It is not exhaustive. Please contact the Graduate School, your department, or your adviser, as appropriate, if you have questions or concerns. 

Those Seeking Graduate Assistantships

If you are seeking an initial or renewed assistantship award, complete the following:

• Apply for an award. First year graduate students apply for assistantships on their applications for admission. When applying, they mark the box that asks if they wish to apply for merit-based aid. Admitted and returning students who want to be considered for assistantships should apply on Checkmarq by the application deadline (see Instructions for Applying for Financial Aid). Some service assistantships may require additional steps in the application process.
• Respond to your award. If you receive an award, the response deadline is stated in the award letter (acceptance of an assistantship assumes you have read, understood and agreed to all rules and guidelines in the Graduate Assistant Handbook).

All Graduate Assistants

• Register for courses. Graduate assistants must maintain full-time status with a minimum of seven course credits, less than seven course credits plus full-time graduate assistantship continuous enrollment or full-time graduate assistantship continuous enrollment alone.
• Meet with supervisor about responsibilities and goals. Schedule a meeting with the faculty/staff member supervising your assistantship to discuss your responsibilities and goals for the semester, each semester.
• Email supervisor to confirm responsibilities and goals. Following the responsibilities and goals meeting, send your supervisor an email to confirm and document the responsibilities and goals you discussed, each semester.
• Set performance evaluation meeting. Following midterm and before the end of the term, schedule a meeting with your supervisor for a performance evaluation discussion every semester.

All First-time Graduate Assistants

If this is the first assistantship award you have received from Marquette, complete the following:

• Direct Deposit. First-time graduate assistants - sign up for direct deposit of your paycheck (instructions on Student Employment website). Continuing graduate assistants - be sure to make any necessary changes to the direct deposit of your paycheck; otherwise, it will continue as previously set up.
• Assistantship Documents.
  • The I-9 employment verification form must be completed in the Graduate School within 72 hours of the first day of work. See form for acceptable forms of identification (I.D.s must be original).
  • Submit W-4 Tax Withholding form to Payroll (requires MU VPN).

First-time Teaching Assistants

If this is the first time you have been awarded a teaching assistantship, even if you have been awarded another type of assistantship previously, complete:

• Compliance Training (FERPA, Title IX, etc.) as Assigned by Department. Some responsibilities require training to ensure compliance with regulations. 
• New Teaching Assistant Training. This is required for first-time TAs only. Returning TAs who already attended New TA Training and research assistants are not required to attend. New TAs will be contacted by the Graduate School about New TA Training.

• Departmental Teaching Assistant Training. Departments may require teaching training for teaching assistants. TAs will be notified by their departments of these opportunities/requirements. 

• TA Training for International Students. International students awarded teaching assistantships are required to attend training provided by the Office of International Education. These TAs will be notified by the Office of International Education.

First-time Research Assistants

If this is the first time you have been awarded a research assistantship, even if you have been awarded another type of assistantship previously, complete:

• Compliance Training (Animal Care, Biosafety, etc.) as Assigned by Department. Some responsibilities require training to ensure compliance with regulations.