IV. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS

In 2007-08 the Department of Statistics and Probability has 30 teaching or research assistants. Approximately 8 of these assistantships become available each year as previous holders complete M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Advanced students fill assistantships for statistical consulting and research assistantships. Some students hold assistantships in other departments.

Requirements for the three levels (I, II, and III) of teaching assistantships are as determined by the MSU/GEU contract. See http://www.grad.msu.edu/geu/agree.pdf. Research assistantships are classified in approximately the same way.

Assistants are paid in equal installments over nine months on 9/15,…5/15. In recent years the Department has been able to provide at least a ¼ time and in most cases a ½ time assistantships for the three summer months, at the same rate of pay. An international student who is qualified to teach is much more likely to be appointed at ½-time rather than a ¼-time assistantship for Summer. Summer appointments are not guaranteed if students have not passed the SPEAK test. For international students assistantships are sufficient to satisfy the financial requirements of the University. The 2007-08 stipends for the nine month academic year were:

In approximation, assistants with prior master's degrees begin at Level 2 and reach Level 3 after six semesters as an assistant. Students without a master's degree begin at Level 1, reach Level 2 after 2 semesters as an assistant. Precise definitions are given in the MSU/GEU contract document for teaching assistants. For other assistants the spirit of the MSU/GEU rules is maintained, with the provision that an assistant’s level is never decreased.

Whenever graduate assistants pay for tuition they are at the in-state level rates. For 2007-08 the in-state rate was $378.75 per credit hour. There is a tuition waiver for 9 credits for Fall and Spring Semesters. Students who hold summer appointments receive waivers for 4 credits. Half-time assistants who are masters degree students must carry a minimum of6 credits for Fall and Spring Semesters and 3 credits in Summer Semester. Half-time assistants who are doctoral students must carry a minimum of3 credits for Fall and Spring Semesters and 3 credits in Summer Semester. The university requires that in order to receive the Ph.D. degree a student must have completed 24 credits of 999 (research) courses. The University pays for insurance for graduate assistants and part of the fees for spouse and children. See the MSU/GEU contract.

IV.1 Applications

The application for admission is also used to apply for graduate assistantships. An important part of this is transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores and reference letters. Your description of plans for graduate study is also important, as is the list of math/statistics courses with grades which can be found on the Department web page: www.stt.msu.edu ) . Though the GRE exams are not required, those with high scores are given more consideration for assistantships.

In addition to the admissions form, we are requesting a form on which you are asked to list some of the mathematics and statistics courses you have taken and the textbooks used in those courses.

IV.2 Acceptance of an Assistantship

Those offered assistantships during the period November 16 to April 15 for the following academic year are encouraged to respond as soon as possible. However, a student is not obligated to respond until April 15. A student who has accepted an assistantship should notify other universities immediately.

IV.3 Duties of an Assistant

The Department presently teaches 3 undergraduate courses which meet in large lectures supplemented by recitation classes meeting once each week: STT 200, STT 201, and STT 315. Our STT 315 course is for business students and STT 200 and 201 are courses for students from a variety of disciplines. STT 201 has a computer laboratory component. Graduate assistants teach the recitations during the academic year. Assistants are assigned four recitation sections per semester, are asked to grade for those recitations, hold regular tutoring sessions (office hours), and work in the department helproom at assigned times. The mean number of hours for a half-time assistant is 20 hours per week during the semester. Assistants must pass the University English test, SPEAK, before being allowed to teach classes. (See Section IVf on SPEAK). Those who have not passed are assigned to grade for faculty members.

IV.4 Criteria for Awarding Graduate Assistantships

The student's academic record, GRE scores and reference letters of professors are the principal determining factors in awarding assistantships. Particular attention is paid to the student's grades in mathematics. Students should ask those writing reference letters to comment on their impression of their mathematical ability. While students are progressing successfully their assistantships are continued for two academic years for MS candidates and for up to five years for doctoral candidates. Doctoral candidates with particularly strong preparation may be informed of a shorter expected time until completion of the degree.

IV.5 Responsibilities of a Teaching Assistant

The responsibilities of a teaching assistant are as described in the MSU/GEU contract. Suggestions are offered below.

• The assistant will arrive at each assigned class or recitation at least five minutes before the assigned meeting time.
• If the assistant needs to miss an assigned class or Helproom hour for reasons of illness or other personal or professional matters the assistant will arrange for a replacement and will inform a department secretary of the change.
• The assistant will treat students with respect, and, to the best of her/his ability, teach classes and grade papers as requested by her/his supervisor.

IV.6 SPEAK

Students whose native language is not English are required by the University to score 50 or more on the spoken English examinationin order to teach. This exam is given by the English Language Center at the beginning and end of each semester in order to teach. Students who score 45 may also be approved upon appeal. Since most department assistantships are teaching assistantships, the Department expects assistants to be approved within a maximum of one year, preferably sooner. The assistantship of a student may not be renewed for a second year if this requirement is not satisfied. A decision not to renew for this reason is made by the Graduate Support Committee of three or more faculty members, in concurrence with the chairperson.

IV.7 SEP (Summer English Program)

For each of thelast few summers new international assistants have been required to arrive on campus by July 20 in order to enroll in the special program “SEP”. This program is designed to help prepare students whose native language is not English to teach during the Fall Semester and after. Students are enrolled in a class of approximately 8 students for 5 weeks. The class meets each morning, with emphasis on pronunciation and on teaching techniques. The Department pays student expenses.

IV.8 Union of Teaching Assistants

Teaching assistants (those assigned to meet students in a classroom or computer laboratory) are represented by the MSU Graduate Employees Union. Teaching assistants must either choose to join the union or choose to be "represented by" the union. In either case an amount is deducted from the student's stipend. Currently that is approximately $22/month with slightly less for those only "represented". For the specific amount see the union contract at http://grad.msu.edu/geu/agree.pdf.

IV.9 Medical Insurance for Assistants

Coverage is provided by the assistantship, as described at http://www.hr.msu.edu/NR/rdonlyres/0179E8F9-8599-426E-96B7-8B3E8D98D800/0/PlanHighlightsGA.pdf. The insurance company is Chickering.

IV.10 Renewal of Assistantships

Each February or March the assistant is asked whether he/she wishes his/her assistantship renewed for the following academic year. As stated in the MSU-GEU contract an assistant must be informed by March 31 of each year whether his/her assistantship will be renewed. Decisions are made by the Chairperson as recommended by the Graduate Support Committee. In the case of non-renewal the student may appeal to the Graduate Support Committee, and be represented at a meeting by any person he/she wishes.

Assistantships may not be renewed if

• The student has maintained a GPA below 3.0.
• The student has not passed a preliminary examination within the three years of entrance into the doctoral program.
• The student has not passed a preliminary examination after two tries.
• The student’s performance as a teaching assistant has been unsatisfactory as determined by teaching evaluations and visits to his/her classroom.
• The student has not qualified to teach within 18 months of entrance into the doctoral program as determined by the English Language Center.

IV.11 Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution

Whenever a student and advisor are in conflict the student may appeal to the Department Chairperson for a resolution. The chairperson should then consult with the advisor and student, and seek advice from others, within and outside the department. The student has the right to ask for a change of advisors, and the chairperson should ordinarily make such a change within one month to accommodate the wishes of the student.

IV.12 Integrity in Research and Creative Activities

Each advisor and student should read the document "Guidelines for Integrity in Research and Creative Activities," available at http://grad.msu.edu/mentoreport.pdf, particularly pages 12-15 of that document. For example, from that document:

Key Principles of Integrity :

Integrity in research and creative activities embodies a range of practices that includes:
· Honesty in proposing, performing, and reporting research
· Recognition of prior work
· Confidentiality in peer review
· Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest
· Compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements
· Protection of human subjects and humane care of animals in the conduct of research
· Collegiality in scholarly interactions and sharing of resources

During orientation the Department will summarize these guidelines and will remind faculty and students periodically. Students with questions concerning these issues should consult their advisors, the graduate director, and/or the Department chairperson.

IV.13 Vacations, Leaves, Attendance at Meetings

To the best of its ability the department tries to accommodate leaves for illness, pregnancy, and other personal matters. It will make arrangements for temporary replacement of such assistants for up to 6 weeks with no loss in pay. The Department encourages attendance at professional meetings, and does its best to accommodate this. Vacations are ordinarily not allowed for teaching assistants during the academic year and summer sessions. See “Graduate Assistant Illness, Injury, and Pregnancy Leave Policy” in the Graduate Education section of the Academic Programs: http://www.reg.msu.edu/UCC/AcademicPrograms.asp .

IV.14 Student Files

T he Department maintains two files for teaching assistants:

• An academic file, maintained for all graduate students, and
• An assistantship file is maintained for all teaching assistants. Any information concerning a student’s role as a teaching assistant is kept in this file. That file may be read by the teaching assistant at any time. A teaching assistant may challenge the accuracy of any item in that file by submitting a letter to the chairperson. The letter will be placed in the file. See the MSU/GEU contract for more details. Students who are not teaching assistants may wish to consult “Graduate Student Rights and Responsibilities (GSSR), available at: http://www.vps.msu.edu /SpLife/default.pdf.

Three orientation meetings are available to new graduate students who will begin study with the Fall semester. Details are sent to new students in the early part of summer.

• A university orientation for all new graduate students usually help in the week prior to the beginning of Fall semester,
• A university orientation for new teaching assistants, usually held about two weeks prior to the beginning of Fall semester,
• A departmental orientation held during the week before Fall semester begins. This has two parts, a session for new teaching assistants, and another on department programs and policies. A departmental meeting of all faculty and students is held on the Friday before classes begin. All graduate students are urged to attend.

IV.16 Outside Pay

An assistant may accept outside pay for such things as tutoring and consulting, keeping in mind his/her responsibilities as a student and assistant. International students should always be aware of “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services” - USCIS) rules which prohibit the earning of additional amounts beyond that paid by halftime assistants. Such students should always check with the International Students Office before accepting such additional pay. Tutoring for the class you are teaching is not allowed.

IV.17 Judicial Structure

The Graduate Support Committee, which includes one student, will serve to hear student complaints at such times as this becomes necessary. This committee will hear student complaints only if the problem cannot be resolved after consulting with the graduate director, the student's major professor(s), and the department chairperson. If satisfactory resolution of a conflict is not achieved, the student may seek resolution through appropriate college/university judiciary structure (See the Graduate Student Rights & Responsibilities document, www.vps.msu.edu/SpLife/gradrights.htm ).

IV.18 Grievance Procedure

The 50-year history of the department indicates that serious instances of disputes involving the academic life of students occur very infrequently. However, when they do, students may ask the Advisory Committee of the Department (a committee consisting of all tenure-track faculty, plus two elected students) to consider their case, keeping in mind a student’s wish for privacy. If, in the opinion of the students, there is no satisfactory resolution, the student may contact the Office of the Ombudsman of the University (soffin@msu.edu).