Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships give students paid, structured experience that connects their graduate education to hands-on experience at Montclair. As students build skills, contribute ideas and take on meaningful responsibilities, faculty and staff gain graduate-level support for projects, programs and services. The result is a partnership that strengthens both the student experience and the work of the University.

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Information for Interested StudentsResources for Current AssistantsPolicies & Forms

Are you a faculty or staff member looking for more insight on supervising an assistantship? Visit our Faculty & Staff Resources page.

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Information for Interested Students

Types of Assistantships

Each role is different. Before accepting an assistantship, review the position description, expected hours, supervisor, appointment dates and funding details. Generally, assistantships fall into one of the following categories: Graduate Administrative Assistant (GAA), Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), or Doctoral Assistant (DA).

Benefits of an Assistantship

A graduate assistantship can help support your education while giving you paid, structured experience at Montclair. You’ll contribute to the work of a department, program or research team, build skills in areas such as communication, collaboration and project management, and develop experience you can include on your resume. Assistantships may include two forms of financial support: tuition remission and a stipend.

Tuition Remission

A benefit applied to your student account towards eligible tuition costs.

  • Total credit allocation varies
  • Limited to current academic year
Stipend

Payment for your assistantship work, paid directly to you through payroll.

  • Set total amount, not hourly
  • Divided installments

Eligibility

Students must meet Graduate Center eligibility requirements to be considered for a graduate assistantship.

GPA Requirements

  • Master’s students must have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
  • Doctoral students must have a minimum 3.2 GPA.
  • Students must remain in good academic standing.
  • Individual graduate programs may set higher GPA or additional academic requirements. Students must meet both Graduate Center and program requirements.

Enrollment Requirements

  • Students in a full-time master’s-level assistantship must be enrolled in at least 9 credits.
  • Students in a part-time master’s-level assistantship must be enrolled in at least 6 credits.
  • Non-degree students and students enrolled exclusively in certificate programs are not eligible for assistantships.

Eligibility Limitations

  • Master’s students may receive Graduate Center funding for up to 4 semesters.*
  • Doctoral students may receive Graduate Center funding for up to 8 semesters.*
  • Student may not work more than 20 hours per week across all on-campus employment.

*The Graduate Center reviews requests to exceed these limits on a case-by-case basis.

Application Process

StepTask
Join the applicant poolNew students: Apply through the “Next Steps” tab in your application portal. After you submit the form, you’ll be added to the applicant pool for departments with available positions.

Continuing students: Email gradstudentservices@montclair.edu to confirm your interest and remain in the applicant pool.
Contact your program or departmentAsk your Graduate Program Coordinator or department chair about available positions, application requirements and the expected hiring timeline.
Prepare your materialsRequirements vary by department. You may be asked to provide a resume, statement of interest, relevant work samples, coursework information or a recommendation.
Interview with the hiring unitEach department manages its own interview and selection process. During the interview, ask about the position’s responsibilities, work schedule, supervision and expectations.
Wait for final approvalA department’s recommendation is not a final appointment. The Graduate Center must review and approve your appointment before you can move forward.
Review and sign your contractAfter your appointment is approved, the Graduate Center will send you an official contract. Review and sign the contract by the stated deadline for your appointment to proceed. Do not begin working until you have completed this step.

Resources for Current Assistants

Next Steps After Receiving Your Assistantship Offer

To finalize your graduate assistantship and receive stipend payments, please complete these steps as soon as possible.

You will receive an official offer letter by email from the Graduate Center. Review all assistantship details, complete the attached paperwork and return all required information and signatures by the stated deadline.

You must complete I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification with Human Resources before you begin working. Please schedule your appointment as soon as possible through the University’s I-9 Employment Verification website.

  • International students: You may complete the first step of the I-9 process at this stage by scheduling an appointment through the University’s I-9 Employment Verification website. Completing this step early may allow you to begin working sooner; however, you will need to schedule a follow-up appointment with Human Resources once you receive your Social Security number (SSN) in order to begin receiving payments.
  • Previous employees: If you have worked for Montclair State University within the last three years, and your income tax, I-9, and direct deposit information is on file with Human Resources, you may not need to repeat this process.

Make sure gradstudentservices@montclair.edu is copied on your I-9 notification email, or forward the confirmation to us directly.

Once your record is active, you will receive a welcome email from Workday, Montclair State University’s payroll system. At that time, you may have onboarding tasks to complete.

Employees can securely add or update their bank account information to ensure timely and efficient payroll deposits. If you do not sign up for direct deposit, you will receive a pay card in the mail at the home address listed in Workday.

 

You will receive an email invitation from the Graduate Center with your onboarding schedule and registration information closer to the date.

At the start of your appointment, you should discuss:

  • Priorities and responsibilities
  • Your work schedule
  • Communication and deadlines
  • How to track hours
  • Which responsibilities should take priority
  • How and when you’ll receive feedback

If you're not sure who your supervisor is, please reach out to the Graduate Center.

Graduate assistants who receive a stipend are paid automatically on a biweekly schedule. The total stipend is divided evenly across the term of the appointment.

Graduate assistants do not submit timesheets for stipend payments. However, your supervisor or department may still ask you to track your hours internally so they can monitor workload, scheduling and project progress.

How to Request an SSN

International students beginning employment in the United States for the first time must apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) if they do not already have one.

Submit a request for a Social Security letter through the MyGlobal Portal. OGE will email you when your documents are ready to pick up.

After you receive your Employment Confirmation Letter from OGE, contact the position supervisor listed on the letter and arrange for them to sign it.

Begin your application online at ssa.gov/number-card. You must then bring the required documents to your local Social Security office within 45 days.

Review OGE’s website for additional instructions and a list of required documents.

After you receive your Social Security number, provide it to the Graduate Center in person or by phone. This is required to complete Workday onboarding tasks.

Contact Human Resources to complete the final step of your Form I-9 to finalize your appointment.

Onboarding & Training

Your contract begins approximately one week before the semester so you can complete onboarding and prepare for your appointment. Time spent in onboarding counts toward your approved weekly hours. For example, if you have a 20-hour-per-week appointment and onboarding takes 5 hours, you may work or train with your supervisor for up to 15 additional hours that week.

professional conversation

New Assistantship Onboarding

To finalize your appointment and ensure timely processing of your stipend and tuition reimbursement, newly appointed GAs and DAs are required to attend this session.

Join us on campus on August 25 for an introduction to assistantship policies, payroll, tuition benefits and campus resources. Meet other graduate assistants, build connections and speak with the Graduate Center team about what to expect in your new role.

two students sit in front of laptops

Continuing Assistantship Training

Continuing graduate assistants are invited to join us virtually on August 26 for important policy updates, reminders and information for the upcoming academic year. You’ll also have an opportunity to connect with the Graduate Center team and ask questions.

Policies & Forms

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Graduate Center

Graduate education at Montclair is about more than coursework. The Graduate Center provides a central hub where students come together, access resources, and find encouragement to pursue their passions.