Graduate Research Assistant - Social Work Program (Fall 2025)

Department:

Social Work Program

Position Summary:

A Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) assists a faculty member or members with academic research that may involve data collection and analysis, field experiments, computer programming, preparation of reports or presentations, or other comparable duties. Stipend: $12.00 per hour with a max of 20 hours per week for a total of 16 weeks. Student compensation is based on the number of hours worked, and students must clock in and clock out for each shift. Biweekly payroll over the course of the term.

Positions will be filled based on individual applicant’s skills, qualification, and departmental needs.

If you choose to apply for employment as a graduate student at JSU, your transcripts and letters of recommendation will be reviewed by personnel from the units who have posted a graduate administrative assistantship position.

Graduate Research Assistants are expected to work 20 hours per week during a fall or spring semester, or a full summer term (May, June, and July).

Student pay is disbursed biweekly and is based on the number of hours worked, students must clock in and clock out for each shift. Biweekly payroll over the course of the term.

In addition to a stipend, graduate assistantships carry a scholarship each semester up to the max award of $4,460.00. The scholarship award covers the general university fee and and tuition. Students are responsible for additional fees such as international, program, and course fees. Students enrolled in specialty priced programs may owe a remaining balance after scholarship award.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Assists in research related tasks including use of the library and internet to find and/or update sources.
• Assists in logging and processing conference, grant, and internship materials.
• Performs a combination of duties under the supervision of the grant personnel.
• Performs clerical and other related duties as assigned.

Graduate Assistantship Qualifications:

• Must be classified as a degree-seeking graduate student at JSU.
• Must be actively enrolled in a graduate degree program at JSU during the assistantship semester.
• If a new student, must be admitted to a degree program.
• Must be actively enrolled in required coursework towards the degree. The Graduate Assistantship will not pay for courses that are not in the degree program plan of study/checklist.

Note: If a student is classified as a graduate student and is required to take undergraduate courses for the graduate degree (foundation courses, undergraduate deficiency courses, etc.), the Graduate Assistantship will only pay for these courses if they are documented as required courses via memo from the student’s advisor to the Director of Graduate Studies.

• Must hold the minimum required GPA for the student’s enrolled degree program.
• During the assistantship semester, must be enrolled at JSU in six to nine (6-9) graduate semester hours in a fall or spring semester or six to nine (6-9) graduate semester hours in a full summer term. (Full summer term = May, June, and July). An exception to this requirement may be made by the Director of Graduate Studies, under the following circumstances:
  • If a student is classified as a graduate student and is required to take undergraduate courses for a graduate degree (foundation courses, undergraduate deficiency courses, etc.). The Graduate Assistantship will only pay for these courses if they are documented as required courses via memo from the student’s advisor to the Director of Graduate Studies.
  • If a student has made satisfactory progress toward obtaining the graduate degree and needs fewer than six (6) graduate semester hours available to complete the degree, the student may be considered for an assistantship.
  • If a student will hold a Graduate Teaching Assistantship during a summer term, the student may be allowed to enroll in fewer than six (6) graduate hours to be considered for the assistantship, as long as the courses are required for the degree.
• Must not be holding another campus job.
• A graduate assistant is prohibited from accepting, receiving, or being credited for other forms of tuition scholarships or waivers from the University. Scholarships from sources outside of the University and the JSU employee benefit of tuition assistance will both be permitted.
• If the student has previously held a Graduate Assistantship position at JSU, the student must have fulfilled all duties and complied with all policies to be considered for another Graduate Assistantship.
• It is preferred that a Graduate Teaching Assistant not teach and take a class during the same summer term. An