Welcome to the Online Orientation for New Graduate Assistants

1. Welcome to the Online Orientation for New Graduate Assistants

2. Congratulations! Now that you have received a graduate assistantship and/or tuition scholarship, there are several topics that must be reviewed. In this orientation we will cover the following topics: • The Graduate Assistant Handbook • Eligibility • Required forms • Fee Remission • Parking • Plagiarism And more!

3. The Graduate Assistant Handbook

4. The Graduate Assistant Handbook is your primary reference guide if you have questions regarding your assistantship. Some of the important topics available are: • Types of Graduate Assistantships • Terms and Benefits • Rights and Responsibilities • Sexual Harassment/Non-Discrimination • Grievance Procedures Please review the handbook and bookmark the following link for your personal use: Graduate Assistant Handbook

5. Eligibility for Graduate Assistantship

6. To be eligible for graduate assistantship: • You must be fully admitted to a graduate degree program. • You must be enrolled as a full-time student during each semester you are working as a graduate assistant. 9 + credits in Fall/Spring semester 6 + credits in combined Summer sessions • Maintain a minimum cumulative 3.0 GPA and progressing towards degree completion. • Maximum works hours on campus may not exceed 20 per week.

7. Eligibility Requirements, continued • You are required to perform your graduate assistantship duties satisfactorily. • Maintain the standards of academic conduct. • Honor the terms of your contract agreement. • Teaching Assistants must meet oral proficiency requirements: International students must provide a score of 23 or higher on the speaking portion of the TOEFL, and Domestic students must be assessed by departmental procedures.

8. Required I-9 Form for the Graduate School The Polsky Building, Room 469 Akron, Ohio 44324-2101 330-972-5858

9. Required I-9 Form for the Graduate School: Graduate Assistants are required to complete the I-9 Form for the Graduate School. Graduate Fellowships are not required to complete the I-9 Form for the Graduate School. Please be advised that you will not be paid until the Graduate School has received the I-9 form. If you have worked for UA Student Employment, you are still required to submit the I-9 form to the Graduate School. Do not send the I-9 form to the Payroll Office.

10. The I-9 Form

11. Required Forms for the Payroll Office Location: Administrative Services Building (ASB) Room 112 185 East Mill Street, Akron, Ohio 44325 Mailing address: 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325-6210 330-972-7205

12. The Payroll Office requires the following forms: • W-4 Form • Direct Deposit Form • Form SSA-1945 • SERS Exemption FormorSERS Membership Record Form Please complete the Payroll Self-Service Tutorialprovided by the Payroll Office.

13. Retirement Plan • As a State of Ohio institution, we do not pay Social Security; instead, we contribute to a state retirement system. • As a student employee, you must choose whether or not you will participate in the School Employees Retirement System (SERS). • Your contribution is 10% of your earnings and the University will supplement this with a contribution equal to 14%.

14. SERS Membership or Exemption • You must submit either the Exemption or the Membership Records form to the Payroll Office within the first 30 days of employment. Failure to do so will result in you automatically being enrolled in SERS and you will be unable to exempt yourself until there is a break in service. • If you choose to complete the Membership Record, state law makes parents possible beneficiaries; therefore, your parent’s birth dates are required (note deceased if applicable). Visit the SERS websitefor more information.

15. SERS Information for Teaching Assistants • If you are an active member in State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) and you are noton a leave of absence from a teaching position covered by STRS Ohio, you may apply for exemption from contributions to STRS Ohio. Please consult the STRS Ohio website at https://www.strsoh.org/Employer/pubs/1k04.htmlfor more information and an exemption form. • If you are an active member in State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio (STRS) and on a leave of absence from a teaching position covered by STRS Ohio, or wish to contribute to STRS Ohio, you must complete a New Hire Notification for College and University Employees form. The form is available on the STRS Ohio website at https://www.strsoh.org/Employer/pdfs/50-279b.pdf.

16. All Payroll forms must be submitted to the Payroll Office: Location Administrative Services Building (ASB) Room 112 185 East Mill Street, Akron, Ohio 44325 Mailing address 302 Buchtel Common, Akron, Ohio 44325-6210 330-972-7205 • Any questions involving payroll forms should be directed to the Payroll Office. • The bi-weekly payroll schedule can be found on the Payroll website at: http://www.uakron.edu/busfin/controller/payroll.php .

17. Fee Remission

18. The University of Akron Fee Remission Policy for Graduate Assistants The University of Akron shall provide a scholarship during each semester or summer session of award period for: • graduate instructional fees • non-resident surcharge and • partial payment of parking permit for student campus lots Scholarships are not provided for: Graduate Scholarships will not be awarded, nor will any fee remission be applied, after the 14th day of any semester or session. • audit or undergraduate courses • administrative fees • facilities fees • technology fees • drop/add fees • library fees • additional cost of professional fess for joint graduate/law students • professional fees for any student that is not admitted to a joint/law program • miscellaneous fees • general service fees • late registration fees • tuition/fees at any other institution.

19. Plagiarism

20. The University of Akron’s Policy on Plagiarism • Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of any university. All members of an academic community must be confident that each person's work has been responsible and honorably acquired, developed and presented. The assumption that your work is a fair representation of your actual ability, knowledge and skills form the basis of institutional quality and the quality of its graduates. • For more information please view The University of Akron's policy on Plagiarism and Academic Integrity.

21. The UA Institutional Review Board

22. Institutional Review BoardAll students and faculty engaged in research are subject to the oversight and guidelines of the University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB) • The IRB is a part of the Office of Research Services & Sponsored Programs. • All individuals conducting research involving human subjects must be certified. All researchers must take and pass the core modules in the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) curriculum. Application formsanddeadlinesare available online. • A CITI Tutorialis available for Researchers Submitting a Protocol to the IRB and for Students taking the CITI Training to satisfy course requirements. After completing the tutorials, researches must complete the CITI course online. • Guidelines and samples for obtaining informed consent, as well as ethical principles and Federal laws are also available online.

23. Parking

24. Parking Reimbursement Your graduate assistantship entitles you to partial payment of a parking permit. You must request your Graduate Assistant Parking Permit online: • Log intoZipline • Access “Parking” • Select “Graduate Assistant” and request permit. Your department will be sent an approval notice. Once they have approved the payment, your student account will be credited. Questions regarding parking should be directed to the Parking Office: 330-972-7213 or parking@uakron.edu.

25. General University Information and Services

26. Useful Links for General University Information and Services: • Campus Map • Campus Shuttle • Career Center • Counseling Center • Library Services • Parking Services • Off-Campus Services • Schedule of Classes • Registrar • Student Health Services • UA Athletics • UA Bookstore • UAnet Services--Getting Online at UA • Zip Card Information

27. Thank you for completing the Online Orientation for New Graduate Assistants!