Graduate assistantships for full-time Higher Education Administration(HIED) doctoral students are available through the HIED program and various BGSU administrative offices. Assistantships are available in both administration and research. The assistantship stipend and tuition scholarship represent the substantial commitment by the University to students' education.

These positions provide an opportunity to acquire valuable experience. The majority of graduate assistantships are half-time, nine month positions, requiring 20 hours of work per week. If students are offered and accept a graduate assistantship, the stipend will be $15,000 for the academic year, paid bi-weekly. Students will receive a tuition scholarship for the 64 credit hours of the program. If you are not an Ohio resident, the scholarship will cover the non-resident fee on the credits covered by the scholarship. After the first year, the scholarship will not cover the non-resident fee for domestic (US) students as Ohio residency can be established; international students will continue to have their non-resident fees covered.

Renewal of assistantship awards is possible. An approved Tentative Degree Plan (TDP) on file in the Graduate College is required for processing the second year contract. Funding as a graduate student is available for a maximum of three years at the doctoral degree level. Funding for a fourth year is not guaranteed but may be available, provided that you have successfully defended your preliminary exam and your dissertation proposal.

To retain an appointment, graduate assistants must make satisfactory progress toward a degree, and must perform duties satisfactorily according to the terms of the appointment.

The HIED program is fortunate to have an on-going relationship with a number of potential assistantship sites, typically at least as many as we have entering full-time students. Prospective students must interview with these supervisors and receive an offer to secure a graduate assistantship. The university will coordinate the interview process for invited prospective students who apply by December 1 by arranging an Interview Weekend (known as I-Days) early in the spring semester. Those applications reviewed after the Interview Weekend will receive help but will need to arrange interviews directly with the assistantship sites.

Acceptance into HESA(Higher Education and Student Affairs) guarantees a placement in a graduate assistantship, usually offered through the Division of Student Affairs. Graduate assistantships are awarded through an interview process, which matches students interests and skills with available two-year assistantships. Graduate assistantships offer students the opportunity to combine the theories, gained through classroom instruction, with supervised, real-world experiences. Assistantships are designed to give students the skills and knowledge to function effectively in the workplace. In addition, graduate assistantships at the University of Connecticut offer an exceptional compensation package, providing a full tuition waiver, and medical and dental insurance options. Graduate assistantships are usually nine-month positions, however, some graduate assistantships can be extended through the summer between a student’s first and second years.

A typical Graduate Assistant stipend for a nine-month appointment is $24,798.20. Additional pay may also be available for students who chose to stay on campus and work during the summer months. Graduate assistants are able to access employer-provided health and dental insurance and numerous other benefits including paid time off, partial fee waivers, and reduced-cost parking.

Admitted students who seek a Graduate Assistantship will be invited to interview for available graduate assistantships. Interviews typically occur during the HESA Admitted Students Weekend, and in some instances may occur outside of that window of time. Shortly after the interviews, admitted students seeking a Graduate Assistantship will be notified of their candidacy.