Assistantship Salaries and Stipends
Teaching and Project Assistant Salaries
The salary rates for Teaching and Project Assistants that were negotiated with the Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association (MGAA) for April 2007 and approved by the State Legislature will remain in effect until the contract is renegotiated. See the salary schedules for 2007-2008.
Differentials
Weekend and distance differential pay was negotiated with the MGAA for Teaching Assistants who teach a course on the weekend or teach (in person) at a remote site away from the Kenwood campus. The differential is an extra 1% added to the appointment percentage for either or both of these types of assignments.
Note: Schools, colleges, and departments must still have Graduate School approval for the appointment if these differentials create an appointment of 51% or 52%, but the contract language is the justification. More information on this is included with the salary schedule and Art. V, Section 11 of the MGAA Agreement.
The increased appointment percentage under this section is intended solely as add-on compensation for weekend or remote assignments. No additional hours of work are required.
Research Assistant Stipends
Stipends for Research Assistants for 2007-08 remain unchanged. See the salary schedule for 2007-2008.
Undergraduate Assistant Salaries
In exceptional cases when a qualified graduate student is not available, and with the approval of the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services in the Graduate School, a qualified undergraduate student may be hired to perform a function usually performed by a graduate student staff appointee.
To request approval, a Graduate Assistant Justification form must be submitted with the Personnel Action form to the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services in the Graduate School prior to the beginning of the appointment period. The appointment must not exceed 50% time.
Undergraduate assistants must pay 100% of health insurance premiums and they do not qualify for tuition remission. Income taxes are withheld and earnings are reported on a W-2 form. Social Security taxes will be withheld for undergraduate assistants with C-basis appointments over 39% or A-basis appointments over 28%. Completion of an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form is required for undergraduate assistants.
See the salary schedule for 2007-2008. A Graduate Assistant Justification form must be submitted to the Associate Dean for Graduate Academic Programs and Student Services in the Graduate School PRIOR to the beginning of the appointment period.
Health Insurance Benefits Information for Graduate Assistants
The School, College or Department must provide to all new Graduate Assistants a reminder of their eligibility for insurance enrollment. The memo is to be included with the initial Letter of Appointment, and is available on the Department of Human Resources Web site.
The following is an example of an enrollment deadline:
- Date of hire—August 27, 2007
- The last day to turn in a health insurance application (within 30 days of August 27) is Wednesday, September 26, 2007. Any time the 30th day falls over a weekend, the application must be received in the Department of Human Resources no later than the preceding business day.
Information and applications for the health insurance and other insurance programs can be found in the Department of Human Resources, Engelmann Hall 125. Benefit Orientations are also held to explain the options available to you. Orientation dates are posted on the Department of Human Resources and Employee Development Web sites.
Please call the Benefits Office in the Department of Human Resources at (414) 229-4925 should you have any questions concerning this matter.
Information for International Students
Contracts sent to international students must include Appendix C from the TA/PA manual.