CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFER OF GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP
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Instructions to departments making appointment: Please do not alter this document except to
fill in detail where indicated below. You may attach an addendum outlining details of the
appointment if more space is needed.
Instructions to graduate student: Please initial and return all pages of this contract to the
person indicated on page 4.
Date:
Name of recipient: XID#:
Type of assistantship:
Sponsoring unit:
Supervisor:
Stipend amount:
1
Appointment dates:
2
From to (12 months maximum)
Hours per week:
This appointment will require that you provide 28, 20 or 10 hours per week, or whatever number of hours you assign. Minimum
number of hours is 10 and maximum number of hours is 28. International students are restricted by law to a maximum of 20 hours
per week per semester.
Specific duties and responsibilities:
Be as specific as possible in describing the nature of the work that the student will be required to perform. Changes in duties
require a new contract. Supervisors should help students understand what work is part of their assistantship and what is work
performed toward completion of their degree and therefore is not part of the assistantship.
1. Must be at least a rate of 1.2x the prevailing minimum wage, according to Graduate School policy. Appropriate taxes are withheld as
required by federal and state law.
2. Appointments for Fall semester may begin as early as August 1 provided extra summer support is provided to the student for the time
prior to the start of classes at the same rate (or higher) as during the regular academic year. See Graduate School Policies &
Procedures Handbook for details.
Graduate Student name Student initials
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFER OF GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (continued)
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TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT
Commitment to Clemson University: Clemson University is a member of the Council of
Graduate Schools (CGS) and subscribes to the resolution below regarding fellowships,
assistantships, and traineeships.
Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15; earlier
deadlines for acceptance of such offers violate the intent of this Resolution. In those instances in
which a student accepts an offer before April 15, and subsequently desires to withdraw that
acceptance, the student may submit in writing a resignation of the appointment at any time through
April 15. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to
accept another offer without first obtaining a written release from the institution to which a
commitment has been made. Similarly, an offer by an institution after April 15 is conditional on
presentation by the students of the written release from any previously accepted offer. (CGS)
Student responsibilities
Full-time enrollment: In order to maintain a graduate assistantship, a student must
maintain full-time enrollment status. This requires a minimum of 9 credit hours during the fall and
spring semesters. If an assistantship is awarded for the entire summer (Long Summer), the student
must register for at least 6 credits. Any credits for research must be registered in the Long Summer
section. An assistantship in one of the 6-week part of terms (SSI, SSII, Mini A, Mini B, Mini C, Mini
D) will require registration in 3 credits during that part of term.
Performance and good standing: In order to remain eligible to continue receiving this
support, you must be in compliance with all policies contained in the Graduate School Policy
Handbook and policies from the department/program awarding the assistantship. You must
maintain minimum enrollment levels, maintain at least a 3.0 GPA, make satisfactory progress
toward your degree, perform at a high level in your assistantship duties, and follow all other
expectations of conduct appropriate to a graduate student. Failure to comply with these
expectations can result in loss of support and other sanctions outlined in the Policy Handbook and
program handbook. Conduct, ethical, and integrity violations can lead to immediate termination of
the assistantship as well as other sanctions outlined in the Graduate Policy Handbook.
Intellectual property terms, research policies and procedures: Ownership of any
intellectual property you may produce is governed by the University’s IP Policy, found at
http://media.clemson.edu/research/technology-transfer/ip-policy.pdf
International students: International students on assistantship without a U.S. Social
Security card/number must arrive on campus, register for classes, and complete the required
International student SEVIS check-in process outlined in the International Student Arrival Guide
(https://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/international/student-arrival/arrival-
guide.html) a minimum of 15 days prior to the University’s official “late enrollment” period. Please
find the enrollment deadline for the relevant term at the Registrar’s academic calendar page:
http://www.registrar.clemson.edu/html/acad_cal.htm. It is ideal to arrive earlier, but remember that
International students cannot arrive more than 30 days prior to their program start date found on
the front page of their I-20 or DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility. Additionally, students who are not
native English speakers must demonstrate proficiency prior to being appointed as a teaching
assistant. The Office of International Services is located in 108 Long Hall.
Graduate Student name Student initials
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFER OF GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (continued)
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Renewal of appointment / loss of appointment
Contingent upon availability of funds, this offer of financial assistance will be reviewed at
the end of each semester/term and may be renewed based on satisfactory performance in your
academic program as well as in your assistantship responsibilities. Once a year (minimum) you
should receive a written summary of your performance. If you do not receive a written performance
review, request one from your supervisor. Inform the Graduate School if you are not provided an
annual review after requesting one.
Loss of funding: Under very rare circumstances, your contract may be terminated due to
unforeseen loss of funding. This can be due to loss of external funding (if assistantship is funded
from external contracts or grants) or due to unexpected changes in the University budget
environment (such as drastic and unexpected changes to state or federal funding).
Financial liability from loss of assistantship: Your stipend payments will cease
immediately upon the termination of your assistantship, regardless of reason for termination. Any
pay received erroneously in excess of the contracted amount or after termination of the
assistantship must be returned to Clemson University.
In the event an assistantship is terminated, whether by the student or by the university,
tuition and fees for the current term will be recalculated to the normal rates rather than the highly
subsidized rate afforded to a student on an assistantship. The student will be responsible for the
full balance once the bill is recalculated.
Other implications of loss of assistantship: If you are an international student who is
required to have an assistantship, or a student required to maintain your assistantship for other
reasons, loss of your assistantship may change your ability to continue studies at Clemson
University. Loss of an assistantship may also change your eligibility for certain forms of financial
aid. It is your responsibility to understand these implications and work with appropriate offices
where necessary.
Benefits
Please see the following links for a summary of your other benefits:
http://www.clemson.edu/graduate/students/policies-procedures/index.html
https://www.clemson.edu/graduate/students/professional-development/student-assistance-
program.html
Mandatory health insurance: All graduate students are required to maintain health
insurance while enrolled at Clemson. Redfern’s current insurance and billing fee schedules may be
found at https://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/student-health/insurance-and-billing.html.
Leave and benefits: Graduate students DO NOT accrue paid leave or vacation time. You
are expected to work the set number of hours throughout the time you are appointed except when:
a) the University is shut down (except where required and described under duties),
b) your supervisor and you agree to alternate arrangements, or
c) where HR policies (like Family Medical Leave Act) would require leave.
Graduate Student name Student initials
CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFER OF GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (continued)
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Protections: Graduate students at Clemson are future colleagues and should be treated
with respect befitting that status. You are entitled to a workplace free from harassment and/or
discrimination. If you feel you have been subject to a hostile work environment, harassment,
discrimination, abuse, or have any other concern about your working and academic conditions,
please contact the Office of Access and Equity, Human Resources, the dean of the Graduate
School, or the Ombudsman’s office.
Access and Equity policies and information about harassment and discrimination:
https://www.clemson.edu/campus-life/campus-services/access/anti-harassment-policy.html.
This document may not alter or supersede the policies contained in the Graduate School
Policies & Procedures handbook, University HR policies, federal policies, etc. Graduate School
policies can be found at: http://www.clemson.edu/graduate/students/policies-
procedures/index.html.
An assistantship appointment will not be considered final until it has been approved by the
Graduate School.
SIGNATURES
Department chair name:
Please print
Chair signature: Date:
Department:
I hereby
£
accept or
£
decline this offer of financial assistance from Clemson University.
Student name:
Please print
Student signature: Date:
Please return a copy of this document to:
Name:
Office or department:
Mailing address:
Email: Fax:
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