Frequently Asked Questions

The Graduate Assistantships Resource Center provides links to handbooks, GAU, tuition waivers, health insurance, and more. The Graduate Assistant Handbook is an essential resource for information and policies on Graduate Assistantships. For International students, the International Teaching Assistant Handbook provides relevant information and policies on university Graduate Assistantships.

All graduate assistants, employed at USF, work under a contract negotiated by Graduate Assistants United (GAU) and the USF Board of Trustees. The GAU is the labor union certified as the exclusive bargaining agent for graduate assistants at USF. The current GAU agreement is here.

Title IX & VAWA Training is a requirement for new students. USF policy regarding Title IX is updated to ensure all GA/TA are fully trained in their responsibilities as mandated reporters to report sexual harassment, including sexual violence. If your duties include classroom instruction, supervision of any student at any level, or work with any study organization, you are required to attend one of the training sessions once every two years.

For the 2024 - 25 academic year, Doctoral-level graduate assistantships to provide $21,624 salary stipends for half-time (.50 FTE or 20 hours/week) or $10,812.01 for quarter-time (.25 FTE or 10 hours/week). A graduate assistantship of at least .25 FTE (10 hours/week) provides an academic year (9-month) stipend, full tuition waiver, and health insurance subsidy. All students accepted to the doctoral program in Psychology are guaranteed five academic years of financial support, if they are in good academic standing in the program. The department strives to provide support at a half-time or .50 FTE appointment to all graduate students; the vast majority are at this level. However, for a minority of students, funding will be at a .25 FTE. Limited summer funding is available, but not guaranteed. The support comes in the form of Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and Fellowships. Before being appointed to any teaching assistantship, international students must earn a satisfactory score on the speaking subsection of the internet-based TOEFL (iBT-S) minimum score 26 or 160 on the spoken portion of the TOEIC test administered by ETS. Regardless of the type of assistantship or specific assignment, students typically receive the same stipend when working within the department, except students who receive fellowships higher than the amount of the typical stipend. Students will be responsible for paying academic fees, typically expected to be approximately $800 per semester (Fall and Spring) and approximately $500 in the Summer. Student fees generally include a one-time $35 orientation fee, an ongoing $37 per semester fee, a $10 bank card fee (optional), and possibly other variable fees (e.g., technology fees, library fees). These are current rates and are subject to change. The hiring process for the assistantship position includes completing an online employment application, payroll paperwork, and providing original documents used to verify identity and work authorization.

The College of Arts and Sciences covers the required enrollment hours, but when the curriculum dictates that you enroll in more credit hours, additional paperwork is required. To get extra hours waived, you will complete the Request for Approval of Greater than 9 Credits Form located here; this link will provide instructions and an example.

The department recommends that students not work more than 20 hours per week (.50 FTE) in paid positions.  This policy exists to protect time for graduate student research, maintain the fair distribution of department resources for as many graduate students as possible, and ensure that our undergraduate students receive the quality education they deserve; it is also consistent with USF policy.  However, we acknowledge that working additional hours (e.g., internships, community placements, and non-USF teaching positions) may provide important professional opportunities.  Thus, requests to work more than 20 hours per week may be considered under certain circumstances.  Assignments exceeding 20 hours per week (single or combined multiple paid appointments, paid or unpaid activities outside the department) require multiple approvals, and sometimes these requests are denied.

Students who wish to take on additional employment that will exceed 20 hours per week for one or more months must complete any concentration-specific application forms (specifying that the additional work will not hinder their progress toward degree and will benefit their graduate study and future employment) and submit a request in writing to obtain permission from their Advisor (who will need to address the student’s current progress toward the degree and expected graduation date) and the Area Director.  Students seeking to work more than 20 hours within the USF system must use the departmental extra hours form, which will require approvals from the Major Advisor, Area Director, Associate Chair, and Office of Graduate Studies. 

While some requests to exceed 20 hours per week will be approved, we discourage students working more than a total of 29 hours per week across paid and/or unpaid positions.  This includes paid and unpaid research, clinical, consulting, and teaching activities that are outside the student’s primary laboratory.  It also includes activities unrelated to students’ academic focus.  The Psychology Department will not approve paid assignments involving more than 29 hours per week (.73 FTE) as these requests are always denied by the Office of Graduate Studies.  Requests to work above 29 hours in which the additional hours are unpaid assignments will also be denied by the faculty, unless there is very strong justification by the student, but such requests will require additional approval by area faculty.

Note that extra hours within students’ research laboratories or associated with informal research collaborations across laboratories (e.g., data analysis and manuscript write-ups, collaboration on a research project) do not require approval/reporting.  However, formal positions outside a primary mentor’s laboratory such as clinical intake assessor, primary therapist (on a clinical trial), data analyst, or project director do require approval.  Engaging in support hours or extra activities at the PSC, up to 4 hours (e.g., PSC 4-hour externship), are exempted from this policy.  In addition, these limits on hours do not apply to students taking a Leave of Absence or on formal internship (e.g., Clinical Internship).

Students who are employed as graduate or teaching assistants are required by USF policy to file Conflict of Interest/Outside Activity Reports through the EDisclose system if they engage in any paid activities outside of the department. Graduate student employees must disclose involvement in certain types of business, employment, or contractual relationships; employment of a related person in situations that could lead to nepotism; soliciting or accepting gifts; misuse of Public Position or Non-Public Information; engaging in certain outside activities that have the potential to create a conflict of interest or commitment. EDisclose can be accessed through the person’s MyUSF account. The request for approval will be forwarded to the student's supervisor, as listed in GEMS. Graduate/Teaching Assistants are obligated to file these reports if they receive funding as employees of the University; the requests are subject to approval before the activity can be engaged in.  The USF Compliance & Ethics Program reviews business, employment, and contractual relationship disclosures.  This obligation is required by USF System Policy 0-027 and is codified in Article 7 of the USF/UFF-GAU Collective Bargaining Agreement.  As clarification, activities engaged in by students within the university (e.g., student committee memberships, student government service, etc.) do NOT require outside activity reports (but it is always safer to submit if there is any question).  The outside activity report does not replace any internal forms required for approval of any additional assignments/work hours as mentioned above.  

When reviewing such requests, several issues will be considered.  We want to support students’ progress through and success in the graduate program.  We will support activities that enhance students’ training but not impede students’ timely progress.  We want to achieve fairness and equity in the distribution of paid positions.  Paid department research and teaching positions are limited departmental resources.  When assigning positions, we will consider students’ employment options and additional obligations.  We must comply with policies of the USF Office of Graduate Studies and the USF/UFF GAU Collective Bargaining Agreement as well as laws of the State of Florida.  While we will attempt to be sensitive to students’ very real financial needs, we hope to avoid potential ethical problems (e.g., work not consistent with programmatic values; unlicensed clinical work) and overload problems related to student work hours (departmental or outside, paid or unpaid).  Ultimately, these requests will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, but will be handled in as fair and equitable a manner as possible.

Typically, the first paycheck of the fall semester will be on the third or fourth Friday in August. As a reminder, for those who are just starting with the department or did not have a summer appointment, this will be a partial paycheck, not your normal full biweekly amount. If you had a summer appointment, this paycheck would have some days at your summer rate and some days at your fall rate. There will always be small deductions that come out of your paycheck, which will make it appear less than your bi-weekly rate. You should familiarize yourself with what these are. Your paystub is located at: MyUSF > GEMS > Employee Self Service > Payroll > view Paychecks > then click on the check date.

Sign up for electronic W2 forms, which are located at: MyUSF > Business Systems > GEMS > Employee Self Service > Payroll > W-2/W-2c Consent Form

The most recent updates for GA Health Insurance are at Human Resources and Student Health Services websites.

Teaching experience is not a departmental requirement but may be required by the student's program area. Gaining teaching experience is strongly recommended for students planning academic careers. Several criteria will determine whether and what graduate students teach. The requirements include, but are not limited to, the following: relevant subject matter expertise, teaching experience, timely progress toward the degree, good standing in program, course performance, and completion of instructional training. According to SACS Degree Guidelines for which an Instructor is qualified to teach as the instructor of record, a graduate teaching assistant is eligible to teach an undergraduate-level course if the student has a Master's degree conferred in the teaching discipline or 18 graduate semester hours in the teaching discipline. Students who are first-time instructors must register for PSY 6947 (Graduate Instruction Methods). They should consult Dr. Adriana Uruena-Agnes for the appropriate number of hours. Opportunities for enhancing teaching skills are available through the department's teaching workshops and the Academy for Teaching and Learning Experience (ATLE). Before being appointed to any teaching assistantship, international students must earn a satisfactory score on the speaking subsection of the internet-based TOEFL (iBT-S) minimum score 26 or 160 on the spoken portion of the TOEIC test administered by ETS.

Instructors will be required to complete and submit to Brittany Vojnovic a Certification of Teaching Credentials Form (CTC form v 2 7_2013.pdf) and an updated vita. For online courses that have at least 80 students, course instructors can request TA support for the class. A request has to be made to the College of Arts and Sciences each semester to receive online TA support. Each semester an online form is provided to request TA support that will need to be completed by the instructor. The course instructor will be required to fill in the information for sections 3–7 of the form and then forward it back to Victoria Nelson for the Chair's signature. An example of previous forms is available for guidance. Online instructors are required to take the Online Instructors Course (OIC) before any TA support is approved. Follow links for course information and course registration.

Tuition waiver amounts are on the Graduate Assistantships Resource Center. See Student Tuition Waivers (Florida Resident).

Waivers typically post by the first week of classes, but the process can take longer. Due to the high volume of tuition waiver requests across the University, this process can take between two to three weeks, and possibly up to nine weeks after classes start to post to your account. Please wait until a few weeks after classes begin to try and address any concerns you may have regarding your student account.

Please refer to the Student Services section of the University Controller’s Office. They have the payment deadlines on their webpage.

See Tuition Payment Deadlines.

Unless otherwise indicated, students are responsible for all academic fees. This amount varies each academic year but will probably be around $800.

Graduate students are responsible for paying fees each semester by the university controller's cashiers office deadline dates. The University will cancel the registration of a student whose fees have not been paid in full by the deadline. For full reinstatement, you must pay the total amount of tuition and fees for the term and any prior charges that are past due by the reinstatement deadline. If you do not pay by the reinstatement deadline, you will need to petition for reinstatement: Petitioning for Reinstatement. You will also be required to pay a late payment fee of $100.00 and a $100 late registration fee. All canceled students should receive a cancellation notice by mail or email that includes the amount of their tuition and fee charges for the canceled term. If you make your payment online, you will need to contact the Cashier's Office at 813-974-6057 or visit them on the Tampa campus in SVC 1039. Once payment is confirmed, your reinstatement will be processed. The fee amount varies according to the number of hours taken and whether one is a Florida resident.

There are numerous additional fees a student can incur. First-year students have initial costs that continuing students do not have, certain classes have additional fees others do not. If you have a question regarding a specific student fee, you should contact the Student Services section of the University Controller’s Office. Brittany Vojnovic and Victoria Nelson are not familiar with all of the various student fees and can only ensure the requests we have submitted (tuition waivers/payments). The department staff is unable to problem-solve other issues on your student account.

Victoria Nelson can help you verify that the correct payment was processed. It is probably a financial aid issue, and you would need to follow up with them. There is a maximum amount of financial aid calculates that you are allowed to receive through your student account. If you apply for loans and get additional funding through fellowships/department supplements, this will lower the amount of your loan disbursement.

Grant payments do not process until the first week of classes, and it typically takes ten business days to post. If your payment is not posted by the week after drop/add, you may contact the Victoria Nelson in the business office if it is a Psychology grant. For Moffitt, Pediatrics, or other departments, you should contact Victoria Nelson.