Graduate Assistant Employment Comparison
Graduate Assistant Titles and Position Descriptions
Graduate students whose work does not involve instructional assignments nor support of teaching or academic programs, and whose work is not primarily assisting with research. GANT responsibilities vary greatly and may include, but are not limited to:
- Non-teaching/non-curricular duties
- Performance of varied programmatic duties in non-academic units,
- Assisting with administrative duties in a variety of settings, and
- Conducting activities that do not generally fit within GAT or GAR job responsibilities
Title Code: 9003 (budgeted bi-weekly)
Graduate students whose work involves assisting with research. GARs are not independent researchers. They assist a research supervisor or principal investigator (PI) with their research. GAR responsibilities are defined by and may include, but are not limited to:
- Conducting literature, library, laboratory or other forms of reviews or research,
- Collecting, coding, cleaning or analyzing data,
- Preparing materials for submission to funding agencies and foundations,
- Preparing materials for IRB, IACUC, or IBC review, and
- Designing, generating, or writing reports, presentations and publications
Title Code: 9004 (budgeted monthly)
Graduate students whose work involves an instructional assignment, supporting delivery of curriculum, or support of teaching or academic programs. GAT responsibilities vary greatly and may include, but are not limited to:
- Teaching a section or laboratory section of a course,
- Working in a teaching or computer lab for the purpose of educating students,
- Assisting a faculty instructor in teaching students in recitation or discussion sessions,
- Tutoring individuals or small groups of students,
- Holding office hours and meeting with students,
- Assisting with grading or student assessment (with or without student interaction), and
- Preparation of materials for instructors or academic units.
Title Code: 9009 (budgeted monthly)
Graduate students whose credentials allow them to serve as instructors of record for undergraduate courses. GALs are typically in the final years of their graduate program and report to the department head or the supervisor of instructors. GAL responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Full classroom instruction of course,
- Generating, proctoring and evaluating assignments and examinations,
- Student performance evaluation and assignment of grades,
- Office hours and student consultation, and
- All other duties associated with instruction as assigned by the supervisor
Title code: 9015 (budgeted monthly)
Graduate Assistant Requirements and Benefits
For further reference, see the table below or download a more detailed Graduate Assistant Position Requirements/Benefits chart.
Graduate Assistant Benefits Eligibility and Position Responsibilities
Criteria | GANT | GAR | GAT | GAL | POC |
GA Registration Requirements | Fall/Spring - 9 hrs Summer - 6 hrs | Fall/Spring - 9 hrs Summer - 6 hrs | Fall/Spring - 9 hrs Summer - 3 hrs if employed only session I or II; 6 hours if employed in session I and II or a 10-week session | Fall/Spring/ Summer - at least 1 hour | Grad School |
NRTW Eligible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Grad School |
TATEP Training | N/A | N/A | Yes, mandatory | Yes, mandatory | Grad School |
English Language Proficiency in Teaching | N/A | N/A | Grad School | ||
Compensation | Paid Hourly | Paid Monthly | Paid Monthly | Paid Monthly | HR |
Timesheets Required | Yes | No | No | No | HR |
Maximum hours (can work no more than 20 hours per week without approval) | Yes | Yes *See Request to Work Additional Hours for more details. | Yes *See Request to Work Additional Hours for more details. | Yes *See Request to Work Additional Hours for more details. | HR |
Budgeted Bi-weekly | Yes | No | No | No | HR |
Budgeted monthly | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | HR |
Exempt from FLSA | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | HR |
Payment of Tuition and Fees for PhD students | Optional | Required, at least through the 5th year of study for students admitted without a master's degree and through the 4th year for students admitted with a master's degree. See T&F Payments page for further details. | Same as GAR | Same as GAR | Employing Unit |
International Student Policies (Applies to All Positions)
All international students entering the U.S. on a F-1 or J-1 student visa are required to be covered under the Texas A&M University System Student Health Insurance Plan (SSHIP) or have equivalent insurance coverage. For the purpose of student health insurance, a student who leaves the U.S. and maintains immigration status with an intent to return to the U.S. is considered to be a student who has entered the U.S. and must be covered by SSHIP. The plan is automatically charged to F-1 and J-1 international student’s tuition and fee statement. Students can have the fees waived if employed by the university or can meet waiver requirements. Visit the International Student Health Insurance page on the Global Engagement website for further details
International students are allowed to work up to 20 hours a week in their assistantship during the fall and spring semesters, up to 40 hours a week during the summer terms, and up to 40 hours a week during break periods, in accordance the Department of Homeland Security Regulation 8 C.F.R. §214, paragraph (f)(9)(ii)(B) or (C). See F-1 On and Off Campus Employment or J-1 On and Off Campus Employment.
Graduating international students, on F-1 or J-1 visas, must stop working on or before the day degrees are conferred or the expiration of their I-20 or DS-2019 whichever comes first.
Visit the International Student Employment page on the Global Engagement website for for further details.