Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships

Ithaca College offers a limited number of graduate assistantships which may include taxable salary, graduate fellowships (tuition credits), or both. Graduate assistantships and graduate fellowships are degree-specific and may not be offered for certain degrees.

Deadlines for completing applications for graduate assistantships and/or fellowships vary by graduate program and may be due earlier than the deadline for application to the program. Please consult the Graduate and Professional Studies Website or your specific graduate program for all queries regarding the assistantship and fellowship applications, submission deadlines, and recommendations.

The recommendation for a graduate assistantship and/or a graduate fellowship originates with the respective graduate chair and is approved by the Office of the Provost.

Graduate students with Assistantships may hold other student employment positions on campus and will be compensated at the rate stated for that position. Graduate students with Assistantships must comply with the Student Employment Hours policy, which limits all student working hours to twenty (20) hours per week across all student employment job assignments while classes are in session. Graduate degree programs may have restrictions on whether enrolled students may be employed while completing their studies.

Student payments are processed through the College payroll system on a bi-weekly basis and will not be paid until the student has completed the W-4 and I-9 forms, which will be distributed to the student by the Office of Human Resources. International students are expected to complete the Form SS-5 within ninety (90) days of beginning their Assistantship.

During the academic year FICA taxes (taxes for Medicare and Social Security) will not be withheld for student employees unless they are enrolled in a credit load of half-time or below. All student employees, including graduate students with Assistantships, are eligible for New York State Paid Sick Leave (NYS PSL).

Students with Graduate Assistantships should consult with Student Employment, in the Office of Human Resources, for more information regarding payment processing for the Graduate Assistantship salary.

The Office of Student Financial Services applies the graduate fellowship (tuition credits) to the student bill at the appropriate time for the fall, spring, or summer billing cycle.

Graduate students must register for a minimum of 6 credits each semester during the academic year to maintain an assistantship (3 credits in the summer). Students with assistantships may take a maximum of 12 credits per semester. Exceptions should be requested in writing by the graduate program chair and require approval of the Office of the Provost.