Eligibility
- All Graduate Assistantship positions must adhere to Policy 7170.
- The Graduate Assistantship must include payment of tuition, full health insurance premium, and the minimum salary.
- The student must be admitted to a graduate degree program prior to the start of the GA contract period and must remain so for the duration of their contract period.
- The student must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 credits during the fall and spring term if they are not an international student. International students must be enrolled full time (9 credits). For summer sessions and breaks, they must meet intent to enroll criteria. For final semester exceptions (see Policy 7170 4.4.7Ab), student’s must submit a Final Semester Enrollment Verification form which is approved by their advisor and the Graduate College.
- The student must not exceed the maximum average weekly time commitments in their work obligation. This is 20 hours per week for a full GA and 10 hours per week for a partial GA in the fall and spring semesters. Graduate College approval is required for a GA to hold a secondary position on campus.
Request for Approval of Secondary Position to a GA Position
Titles
When completing the hiring process for GAs in Bronco Hub, for the “Business Title” use one of three approved titles for GA positions: Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), or Graduate Service Assistant (GSA). Please note that GTAs and GRAs are exempt employees and are paid a salary. GSAs are typically non-exempt (paid hourly) and the Internal Revenue Code places different taxation rules on their tuition benefit.
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)
A Graduate Assistant engaged primarily in instructional activities and whose pay and tuition and fees are funded by an assistantship award as described in Boise State Policy #7170: Graduate Assistantships. GTAs are exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). GTAs are typically paid a salary or may be paid hourly.
Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)
A Graduate Assistant engaged primarily in research activities and whose pay and tuition and fees are funded by an assistantship award as described in Boise State Policy #7170: Graduate Assistantships. GRAs are not covered for overtime pay and are paid a salary.
Graduate Service Assistant (GSA)
A Graduate Assistant whose primary duties are service activities and whose pay and tuition and fees are funded by an assistantship award as described in Boise State Policy #7170: Graduate Assistantships. GSAs may be either exempt or non-exempt employees (see below). View taxation of tuition benefits for GSAs.
Exempt Employee
An employee who meets Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirements to be exempt from overtime pay, i.e. Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants, or Graduate Service Assistants who earn more than the minimum threshold of $455.00 per week. FLSA exempt employees are paid on a salary basis and do not have to report hours; their salary is paid in uniform biweekly payments.
Non-Exempt Employee
An employee who does not meet the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requirements to be exempt from overtime pay and who is paid for all overtime hours worked in any work week. FLSA non-exempt graduate assistants are paid through hourly reporting to the university’s Time and Labor system.