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APPENDIX D-11: Criteria For Appointment And Reappointment Of Graduate Students To Service Positions Department of Materials Science and Engineering University of Washington A. GENERAL The policies of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering regarding the appointments of graduate students to Teaching Assistant (TA), Research Assistant (RA), and Graduate Staff Assistant (GSA) positions conforms to the University of Washington Executive Order No. 28, as stated in Volume IV, Chapter 6 of the University of Washington Handbook. Specific interpretations and additional requirements are defined here. B. NUMBER OF AWARDS AVAILABLE The number of Graduate Student Service Appointments available for award varies from quarter to quarter depending on the current level of funded research and on the current level of state support. However, as a general indicator, over the past few years, in each quarter there have been approximately 30 RA positions (usually at the 50% level, 20 hrs per week) and 10-12 TA or GSA positions. These are for a total student enrollment of about 55 full-time graduate students. Additionally, approximately 10 students have fellowships. Thus, almost all full-time graduate students are supported. C. APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS 1. TA and GSA Positions TA and GSA selections are made at the start of each quarter by the Department Chairman following consultation with the Departmental Graduate Program Committee and the course instructor. There is no general expectation that a TA or GSA appointment will continue for more than one quarter. Most TA positions usually are awarded to students with some prior record in the department, but award offers may also be made to prospective new or incoming graduate students. The general policy is that long-time and PhD level students should not expect to be continually supported with TA or GSA positions, but instead should become associated with a particular faculty member and be supported as a RA. 2. RA Positions All RA selections are made by the individual faculty members whose grants and contracts have funds for those positions. The continuation of these appointments depends on the continuation of the funding of the project, the satisfactory performance of the student, and on the evolving needs of the research. The continuations generally are considered each Spring for the following year. Rev. 01-2004
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