Graduate Bulletin 2001-2003
Graduate School
Bonham House, phone: 513-529-4125
www.muohio.edu/graduateschool/
Office of Student Financial Assistance
121 Campus Avenue Building
TTY/TDD accessible: 513-529-8734
www.muohio.edu/financialaid/
Graduate Awards
Award Information
You must be admitted to the Graduate School with regular standing to be considered for a graduate award.
If you meet the minimum undergraduate grade point average required for admission with regular standing, you may be appointed to a graduate assistantship for one semester with reappointment contingent upon achievement of a 3.0 graduate grade point average for that semester and satisfactory performance of your graduate assistant duties.
You may not hold more than one graduate award for any given semester or academic year.
A graduate award holder cannot hold any other employment at Miami University during the term of the graduate award unless recommended by the department chair and approved by the graduate dean. International students (those with F-1 and J-1 visas) are allowed to work a maximum of 20 hours per week while classes are in session (this includes assistantship/associateship duties). An international student who holds a modified graduate assistantship with duties of eight hours per week may request permission to hold additional employment as long as that employment does not exceed 12 hours per week.
Award of a graduate appointment for one year involves no commitment for continued support by the university for subsequent years.
To Apply for a Graduate Award
Apply for a graduate award when you apply for admission. The award application is included in the Graduate School admission application form. If you are an international student, your award application is included in the international admission forms available online or sent by the Office of International Programs. Return completed applications to the Graduate School by March 1 (or by Feb. 1 for programs in architecture, art education, studio art, English, environmental sciences, history, mathematics, political science, psychology, speech pathology and audiology, statistics, and zoology.
Three letters of recommendation sent directly from faculty or professional colleagues to your major department are also required, as well as formal admission to the Graduate School.
More information on graduate awards is in A Handbook for Graduate Students and Faculty, available at the Graduate School and online at www.muohio.edu/graduateschool/.
Types of Awards
Most award recipients work in departments of their field of study. Graduate assistantships and doctoral associateships, however, are also available in other offices, such as the library, the Bernard B. Rinella Jr. Learning Assistance Center, recreational sports, university advancement, intercollegiate athletics, and affirmative action. Information is available from Academic Personnel Services, 513-529-6724, and the Graduate School.
Graduate assistantships are for holders of a baccalaureate degree seeking an advanced degree. These awards carry a stipend from at least $6,053 to a maximum of $12,895 for half-time duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Graduate assistants must carry between 10 to 14 hours of graduate courses each
semester; however, Master of Arts in Teaching degree candidates in teacher education may carry nine graduate hours plus at least one undergraduate course each term. Duties normally occupy 18 to 20 hours per week. Students in music must pay additional special fees for applied music study.
Modified graduate assistantships are for holders of a baccalaureate degree seeking an advanced degree. These assistantships carry a stipend from at least $3,511 to a maximum of $4,513 for specified duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Holders must carry between 12 to 16 graduate hours each semester; however, Master of Arts in Teaching degree candidates in teacher education may carry nine graduate hours plus at least one undergraduate course each term. Duties consist of assisting faculty in instruction or research for an average of eight hours per week for each semester of appointment.
Residence hall assistantships, for students who plan careers in college student personnel work, carry a stipend of at least $6,053 to a maximum of $6,344 plus room and board for part-time duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Holders must carry between 10 to 14 graduate hours each semester and perform duties as a counselor in a residence hall. Application should be made directly to the Office of Residence Life and New Student Programs at the time of applying for admission to the Graduate School.
Teaching associateships are for holders of a master's degree or equivalent (i.e., 34 graduate semester hours in a doctoral program) seeking a doctorate or a Specialist in Education degree. These associateships carry a stipend from at least $10,738 to a maximum of $12,800 for half-time duties for two semesters. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours during summer terms immediately preceding or following the academic year of your award. Teaching associates must carry between 10 to 14 hours of graduate courses each semester and perform duties, usually teaching, equivalent to 18 to 20 hours per week.
Doctoral associateships are for holders of a master's degree or equivalent (i.e., 34 graduate semester hours in a doctoral program) pursuing an approved program leading to a doctorate or a Specialist in Education degree. Doctoral associates are normally assigned responsibilities for nonteaching duties in administration. Stipends and academic responsibilities are the same as those for teaching associates.
Dissertation scholarships, for doctoral candidates at dissertation stage, are service free and carry a stipend ranging from $10,621 to $12,800. Included is remission of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition for the period of your appointment and for registration of up to 16 graduate hours in the summer term following your appointment. Holders must carry the maximum graduate load during the period of appointment.
Graduate summer scholarships are stipends of $800 per summer term (or equivalent registration) without any duties. These stipends are awarded for a maximum of $1,600 for the summer session. They are given to graduate assistants, research graduate assistants, modified graduate assistants, residence hall assistants, teaching associates, graduate associates, and dissertation/doctoral scholars who hold awards for one or two semesters and meet guidelines for these scholarships. The instructional fee and out-of-state tuition are remitted as a benefit of the graduate award held during the academic year. Eligible students will receive information about this award in the spring semester of the academic year.
Graduate grants-in-aid are waivers of instructional fee and out-of-state tuition. There is no cash stipend. No duties are required. These grants are available for one or both semesters and/or summer terms to U.S. and international students who are in need of financial assistance, have strong academic records, and show considerable promise of future attainment. These grants are for students in continuous full-time study leading to a degree; they are not available to part-time students, nondegree students, and students whose full-time study is limited to summer sessions. Continuance or renewal of a grant is dependent upon satisfactory progress toward a degree. To apply for this grant, you must submit an official application form before March 1 for the following summer term or for the following academic year. You must apply for this award annually.
Academic Responsibilities
You must maintain satisfactory progress toward your degree in order to assure continuance as a grant-in-aid holder, graduate assistant, doctoral associate, or teaching associate. Satisfactory progress means meeting minimum registration requirements, maintaining a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0, and fulfilling academic requirements for your degree as determined by your department or program. Failure to achieve such progress may result in the revocation of the award.
Award Acceptance
The university adheres to the resolution adopted by the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States. The resolution provides that if an award recipient accepts an award before April 15, the recipient will have complete freedom through April 15 to resign in order to accept another appointment. After April 15, however, the recipient may not accept another award without obtaining a formal release from the first commitment.
Graduate Students' Achievement Fund
The Graduate School sponsors this program to recognize significant achievements in research or creative activities by graduate students. Achievement is defined as completed research or other creative activity that has been recognized by an external organization or selected by an academic department for regional or national presentation. Contact the Graduate School for more information.
Other Financial Assistance
In addition to awards administered through the Graduate School, the Office of Student Financial Assistance also offers financial assistance. Two types of assistance are available. Assistance based on need includes Federal Direct Subsidized Loans and College Work-Study employment. Assistance not based on need includes Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and campus employment.
International students are not eligible for assistance from federal sources.
Contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance, 121 Campus Avenue Building, 513-529-8734 (TTY/TDD accessible) for additional information.
Establishing Financial Need
To receive consideration for a loan or work-study employment through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, you must complete and submit the form "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA). The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov and at the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
The FAFSA is processed at no charge by the U.S. Department of Education with results sent to the institutions that you list on the form. You should submit the FAFSA by Feb. 15 for priority consideration or as soon after that date as possible.
Assistance Based on Need
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Program
To apply for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, you must first submit the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA).
The maximum loan for graduate students is $8,500 per year. The annual loan amount cannot exceed the cost of education less any financial aid you are scheduled to receive. Combined borrowing from this program for undergraduate and graduate study may not exceed the aggregate maximum of $65,500.
Interest and payments on this loan are deferred until six months after you cease to be a half-time student. Information on deferment provisions and interest rates may be obtained by phone from the Federal Direct Loan Servicer at 1-800-848-0979.
College Work-Study Program
Students seeking College Work-Study assistance must submit the "Free Application for Federal Student Aid" (FAFSA).
This federally funded program promotes part-time employment of students who need earnings to meet their college expenses. Students are employed by the university or other public or private nonprofit institutions, organizations, or agencies. When possible, jobs are related to vocational objectives. This employment is awarded as part of your financial aid "package" if you request consideration for employment on your application and if funds are available.
To be eligible for work-study employment, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or national or permanent resident.
- Be registered for Selective Service if you are a male at least 18 years old and born after Dec. 31, 1961.
- Be a full-time student enrolled in an eligible undergraduate, graduate, or professional program at the institution.
- Be able to demonstrate financial need.
- Maintain satisfactory progress in your course of study according to the standard practices of that institution.
- Not owe a refund on a Pell Grant, Supplemental Grant, or Leveraging Educational Assistance Program Grant received to meet the cost of attending an institution.
- Not be in default on any Perkins (National Defense/Direct) Student Loan, or Stafford (Guaranteed) Student Loan, or Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan, or Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), received to meet the cost of attending an institution.
Assistance Not Based on Need
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan Program
This federal loan is an alternative source of assistance if you are not eligible for a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan or if you need additional funds beyond your subsidized loan. The maximum annual loan amount for a graduate student is $10,000; the aggregate maximum for undergraduate and graduate study is $73,000.
Interest is charged beginning with the initial disbursement. You can defer payment while in school; however, your interest will still accrue during your in-school period. The interest rate is established annually but will not exceed 8.25 percent.
Campus Employment
The student employment area in the Office of Student Financial Assistance coordinates all student employment on campus. If your financial circumstances do not make you eligible for a work-study job paid from federal money, you can still seek a campus job paid entirely from university funds.
A reasonable semester work load is generally considered to be 12 to 20 hours per week. Graduate student wages may vary according to skills or responsibilities. You can look for a campus job online at www.muohio.edu/studentjobs/. A brochure, Working on Campus, is available at the Office of Student Financial Assistance.
Notification of Awards
Preference in awarding financial aid is given to those students whose completed applications are received prior to Feb. 15. Those filing by Feb. 15 should receive notification of their eligibility for assistance in late April.
Students with significant changes in family income after filing their applicationsdeath, disability, divorce, or other extreme circumstancesmay request application reviews. Additional assistance may be awarded on the basis of available funds.
Veterans
Veterans who intend to enroll at Miami should obtain their Veterans Administration GI Bill eligibility and certification of attendance forms from the Veterans Affairs Office, located in the Office of Student Financial Assistance. The phone number for the Veterans Affairs Office is 513-529-8772.
To be assured of advanced payment, initial paperwork should be submitted to the Veterans Administration (VA) 60 days before classes begin. Veterans receiving educational benefits from the VA must immediately report any changes of program (adds, drops, or withdrawal) to the Veterans Affairs Office and the Office of the Registrar.
Additional financial assistance is available to most veterans through programs described in this section.
Veterans and their dependents should note that sprint courses are not considered full-time semester courses for VA entitlement (pay) purposes.
International Students
International students are not eligible for financial assistance from federal sources. Contact the Office of International Programs or the Office of the Graduate School for information on specific aid and scholarships awarded to international students.
