Graduate assistantships have been established at ISU for the encouragement of graduate work and the promotion of research. A limited number of teaching and/or research assistantships are available each year in the Agricultural Education and Studies Department. A student enrolled in the Graduate College who is making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree may be appointed to a graduate assistantship. Two types of assistantships are available from the department.
Graduate Research Assistantships (RA)
A graduate research assistant (RA) conducts research under the supervision of a faculty member in the department to develop not only technical and manipulative skills, but also to foster originality, imagination, judgment, and patience – the traits of an independent scholar. Specific research responsibilities for an RA are determined by the faculty member supervising the graduate research assistant. These responsibilities and the related research focus may or may not be suitable thesis or dissertation material. Research assistantship are usually one-quarter (1/4) or one-half (½) time. The official university guideline is 20 hours of work per week for ½ - time service and 10 hours of work per week for 1/4 - time. However, these guidelines should be viewed as minimal for a research assistantships.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (TA)
Graduate teaching assistants share the faculty's responsibility for undergraduate teaching. Graduate teaching assistants are assigned to a faculty member in the department. The TA’s fractional teaching load may vary but is generally in proportion to the normal full-time teaching load carried by faculty members in the department. The official university guideline is 20 hours of work per week for a ½ - time teaching assistant. This, too, should be viewed as minimal for a teaching assistantship.
