Paydays and Paychecks

Paychecks for salaried, monthly, and hourly appointees (TAs, RAs, Fellows, Trainees) are issued on the 10th and 25th of each month. Time sheets for hourly employees are to be submitted on the 11th day of the month, with payday following on the 25th; and on the 26th of the month, with payday following on the 10th of the next month. Checks are picked up by the "home department," reviewed for accuracy and completeness, and are usually available in the Women Studies Department by noon on the respective payday. Employees using direct deposit can check their payroll deposit information on MyUW. Actual paychecks are never left in open mailboxes but must be picked up and signed for by the individual recipients in the Women Studies main office (B110).

Each employee has a "home department" where the individual's composite check - money from all sources and issued each payroll - is sent. Sometimes things go awry and expected paychecks are missing or incorrect. Reasons range from late submission of payroll papers or time sheets to balkiness of a sickly computer. Any question concerning your paycheck should be directed to Carol Langdon. Emergency checks can be arranged, and in most cases take about a week.

a. Teaching Assistantships, as stated earlier, are made on a quarterly basis only, and have payroll periods that do not coincide with the actual instructional period of the quarter. These payroll periods are as follows:

Autumn Sept. 16 - Dec. 15 (3 months)

Winter Dec. 16 - Mar. 15 (3 months)

Spring Mar. 16 - June 15 (3 months)

Summer June 16 - Aug. 15 (2 months only)

(when available)

Although these pay periods do not perfectly coincide with the academic quarters, the TA's responsibility is to the course and its instructor for the academic quarter. The TA should check with the instructor to determine when the TA's assistance is needed before the course starts and after classes end. There is no paid vacation. In other words, there is no pay for the period from August 15 - September 15.

b. Research Assistantships can be for any period, but usually follow the quarterly dates as in the TA appointments. The standard practice is to make RA appointments for full or half months, although there is no regulation prohibiting the appointment for irregular periods, in which cases payment is computed on a daily basis from the monthly rate. However, the RA, unlike the TA, is expected to be on duty during the actual period of the appointment. For RAs, as for TAs, there is no paid vacation period.

Qualifying for a Tuition Waiver : During Autumn, Winter, and Spring Quarters (the academic year) both RAs and TAs must be employed full time (20 hours per week) and be on the active payroll for at least five of the six pay periods in order to qualify for a tuition waiver. They must also be registered for a minimum of 10 credits per quarter to qualify (see below).

One of the eligibility requirements for holding TA/RA positions is full-time registration of a minimum of 10 graduate credits per quarter. Exception: For Summer Quarter only, the minimum is 3 graduate credits. See: Registration Requirements chart, section 1, page 7. If you have a student loan you may be required to register for the full 10 credits during the Summer Quarter as well.

Most of your tuition and fees will be automatically paid for any RA or TA who is appointed to a 50% or greater position (i.e., 20 hours or more per week). However, you will receive a bill for certain fees that must be paid by Friday of the third week of the quarter. Failure to pay these fees by the deadline will result in an additional "late payment fee" being assessed to your account. See the UW Time Schedule or the General Catalog for deadlines and rates.

EVEN IF YOUR TUITION BILL IS INCORRECT, BE SURE TO PAY THE STUDENT FEE PRIOR TO THE DUE DATE.

Standard Deductions from TA/RA Paychecks

a) Federal Withholding Tax on salary

b) "Medical Aid" (state accident/health insurance termed "Workingman's Compensation" to provide for on-the-job injuries). This deduction is quite small. In cases of injury during the period of your service appointment, contact Carol Langdon (B110) for the appropriate claim forms.

You will receive a W-2 form (statement of income and taxes withheld) in January following the calendar year worked. If you were on the payroll during the months of November or December, your W-2 will be distributed to your mailbox. If you are off the payroll during the last couple months of the calendar year through the time that the W-2's are issued, then your W-2 will be sent to your permanent address. Please be sure to inform Carol Langdon of any address changes.

Summer stipends or paying positions are very rare. Most students seek outside employment. It is important for graduate students to plan ahead for alternative funding. Students can seek funding in the form of RA, fellowship, or traineeship appointments. They may even, in conjunction with faculty advisors, prepare small research grant applications to such on-campus facilities as the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute, the Royalty Research Fund, etc.. These have fixed deadlines throughout the year and require long-term planning.