There are many reasons to become a graduate assistant, not the least of which is that an assistantship will provide necessary financial support for your education. In exchange for service, an assistantship provides a monthly salary, tuition remission, and an institutional contribution toward mandatory fees and the graduate assistant-only health insurance premium. Teaching assistantships (TAs) may include leading a discussion, delivering lectures, grading papers, or supervising a laboratory. Research assistantships (RAs) typically assist faculty in conducting research projects. As Oregon State is a leading teaching and research institution, it follows that the work of our graduate assistants is essential to fulfilling the university's mission.

Many teaching assistants teach introductory undergraduate courses or assist faculty in the delivery of upper division and graduate courses. This requires not only a mastery of the course content, but it also challenges your ability to communicate ideas clearly (a skill that is central to success in your graduate studies and professional life). For many students planning a career in academia, a TA position is an excellent training ground for issues of pedagogy, lesson planning, and classroom culture. Find training resources for GTAs.

Research assistants typically work on a faculty research project. The money that is funding the research is also funding the assistantship position. The research grant market is highly competitive, and funding agencies expect results, thus your professors need the most motivated graduate assistants who are capable of getting the work done, communicating results, and being a team player. In exchange, you get hands-on experience with cutting-edge research in your field of interest. You may eventually be able to tailor your duties to conduct specific research that leads to the completion of your degree.

Assistantship appointments range from 0.38 FTE to 0.49 FTE (FTE meaning full-time employment). An assistant on a 0.38 FTE appointment, for example, is expected to provide 182 hours of service during a 13-week academic term. When a student is offered an assistantship, the administering academic department provides the details of the appointment (e.g. contract dates, FTE, monthly stipend, expectations of position). Contact your program for more information on possible assistantship positions available.

PLEASE NOTE: Graduate Assistant appointments at OSU are ultimately governed by the contract agreement between OSU and the Coalition of Graduate Employees, American Federation of Teachers Local 6069. Departments should consult the Office of Human Resources and the CGE contract for definitive employment rules and regulations concerning Graduate Assistant appointments. The CGE contract takes precedence over all other published information.

All graduate assistants are required:

  • To be a regularly admitted, conditionally admitted, or provisionally admitted graduate student at Oregon State University (i.e., not a graduate non-degree-seeking, postbaccalaureate student, or PharmD or DVM student).
  • To hold a bachelor's degree.
  • To be enrolled as a full-time degree-seeking graduate student at Oregon State University, completing a minimum of 12 credits of instruction each term (3 credits during summer session). Audit registrations, course withdrawals, and enrollment in INTO OSU may not be used to satisfy these minimum enrollment requirements.
  • To be making satisfactory progress toward an advanced degree.

Graduate Tuition Remission Policy
Information for International Graduate Teaching Assistants
Guidelines for Administrative and Academic Unit Partnering for Graduate Assistantships
Changing from Graduate Assistant to Graduate Fellow Status

Financial support offers — CGS April 15 Resolution

Oregon State University is a participant in the Council of Graduate School's Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees, and Assistants. We seek your assistance in complying with its terms. Please read the Resolution carefully so that all parties understand the expectations implicit in agreements for financial support. In brief, the resolution states "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." The Resolution also states "...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."