Assistantships – FAQs
From the UIC Graduate Assistant HR Resource Guide
Types of Assistantships Heading link
Graduate Teaching Assistant (TA)
“Duties include, but are not limited to, duties primarily in support of instruction and educational services such as: leading discussion sections; leading class discussions; holding lectures; the design of course materials; exam preparation; proctoring and grading assignments or exams; holding office hours; note-taking; meeting special needs of students with disabilities; and/or any other educational activity or service provided. This assistantship is part of the Graduate Employee Organization as long as the appointment FTE is between 25% and 67%.”
Appointments with a smaller or larger FTE (full-time equivalency) are NOT waiver-eligible and holders are NOT part of the union.
Graduate Research Assistant (RA)
“Research activities may include, but are not limited to, the following examples of applying and mastering research concepts, practices, or methods of scholarship: conducting experiments; organizing or analyzing data; presenting findings; collaborating with others in preparing publications; and conducting institutional research for an academic or administrative unit.”
Appointments with an FTE between 25 and 67% are waiver eligible. Appointments with a smaller or larger FTE (full-time equivalency) are NOT waiver-eligible. Research assistants are not part of the union.
Graduate Assistant (GA)
“Duties include, but are not limited to, duties primarily in support of administrative functions, such
as: clerical support; technical/support services; webmaster/assisting faculty with web pages, network administration/end user support, equipment management, monitoring instructional and service labs; translation; routine support for publications such as writing copy for university or department newsletters or non-research publications, correspondence, etc.; advising/providing curricular and academic advice to students, providing support to advisors; and outreach duties such as publicizing programs and activities to campus and public constituencies, and working with/assisting with event management. This assistantship is part of the Graduate Employee Organization Union if the appointment FTE is between 25% and 67%.”
Appointments with a smaller or larger FTE (full-time equivalency) are NOT waiver-eligible and holders are NOT part of the union.