STUDENT ASSISTANTSHIP INFORMATION Type The Department of Environmental Sciences currently has 3 assistantships, which are awarded to students in a thesis option curriculum. Additionally, individual faculty may have research funds available for GA positions in their grants and/or contracts. Stipends and Tuition Graduate assistant stipends vary widely, depending on the department and the assigned duties. Assigned duties may include research, teaching, and/or service. Graduate assistantship appointments may also be for one-third or one-quarter time, with an appropriate adjustment in the stipend. Appointments for more than one-half time require special justification. Although most appointments are made on an academic-year basis, assistantships are available in certain departments during the summer months, with an appropriate adjustment in the stipend. Stipends and tuition are subject to change without notice. Currently, Fall and Spring: $12,000.00 and up for a 9-month academic year. Students with GA's are assessed tuition and fees at the in-state rate for Fall and Spring semesters. Tuition may be paid all at once at registration, or be deducted from paychecks (see the Graduate Student Coordinator for the appropriate form). Paychecks are received by direct deposit to a bank. The first paycheck of the Academic year is not issued until the 21st of September. No pay advance is available from the Department or the University. One possible source of money prior to the first paycheck is a student loan from the Office of Student Aid and Scholarships. Eligibility Requirements Only graduate students with acceptable academic records may be appointed to graduate assistantships. A student admitted on probation may not be appointed to a graduate assistantship until good standing has been achieved. A graduate student placed on academic probation by the Graduate School for failing to make satisfactory progress may not be appointed or reappointed to a graduate assistantship unless the student's cumulative grade-point average is at least 3.00. Details and additional information regarding eligibility for a graduate assistantship may be found in PS-21, available in the Graduate School and in departmental offices. General GA Information Students who have accepted, but no longer want, a GA must request a formal release from the commitment. See the Graduate Advisor and Academic Programs Office as soon as possible. All full time GA's are considered 1/2 time employees, involved in 20 hours of work per week. Part time GA's are sometimes available but are uncommon. GA's on 1/2 time employment may not have any work amounting to more than 20 hours a week, whether on or off-campus. Since the University considers GA's part-time employees, they are entitled to Workman's Compensation within the range established by the University for any accident endured while fulfilling their duties. For further information contact the Employee Group Insurance office. GA's must be registered as full-time (9 semester hours in the Fall and Spring Semesters with 6 hours at or above 4000 level, and 6 semester hours during the Summer semester with 3 hours at or above 4000 level). Employment begins on the Monday of the week of orientation for new and transfer students. The Department has the right to, and does, withhold paychecks or even take GA's away if the student does not show up on time. For more specifics on University policy on GA's, read Policy Statement-21 on Graduate Assistants, available from the Academic Coordinator. Non-Native English Speaking Students Non-native English speaking students are all students whose citizenship is not that of: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the following Caribbean Islands: Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Virgin Island, Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Christopher, St. Kitts, and St. Vincent. The following requirement apply to them: The student must describe the level of her/his English abilities to the Graduate Advisor soon after applying for a GA, in order to receive an assignment that is appropriate to her/his present language abilities. The Graduate School requires that all students take a speech interview prior to registering at LSU and either place out or register during their first semester for a course in "Current Spoken American English" (ENGL 2021/1051). The following is from the University policy statement (PS-21) on GA. "International students on assistantships, whose native language is not English must take the LSU Comprehensive English Language Test and participate in a speech interview. If either test indicates a deficiency in English competency, students will be required to enroll in and successfully complete the appropriate courses and be certified as proficient in English before they may teach in a classroom." (PS-21, p.5). Bulletin Boards Several "Bulletin Boards" are located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Energy, Coast and Environment Building.  They should be checked periodically for events and activities within the Department as well as around campus. These bulletin boards contain information such as job opportunities, conferences, campus events, and financial aid availability.