Financial Support
Description of Assistantships and Scholarships

Financial Assistance
Expenses and Fee Information
Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships and Associateships
Teaching Assistantships
Fellowships and Traineeships

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
All efforts are made by the Department to insure that graduate students receive financial support during their degree program. The Department or a supporting faculty member often pays the tuition and fees. Essentially, four forms of support are available to graduate students in the Department: Graduate Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, Fellowships/Traineeships, and Tuition and Fee Scholarships. It is critical that students discuss the financial commitment of the Department and prospective Major Advisors with the department and/or Major Advisors in order to clarify financial responsibility. Students should consult with their Major Advisor or the Graduate Program Coordinator early in their term in the Department and discuss this on a yearly basis with their Major Advisor to prevent misunderstandings.

EXPENSES AND FEE INFORMATION
There are several types of fees that must be paid each semester. Tuition is defined as an out-of-state fee that is required of nonresident students. Tuition is waived for all students who have a Resident Assistant (RA) or Teaching Assistant (TA) appointment regardless whether funding is through the Department or their Major Professor. Insurance fees are similarly covered for all students that have a RA or TA appointment regardless whether funding is through the Department or their Major Professor. The Department pays the Registration fees for all students (RA or TA) who are receiving Departmental support. Students supported by their Major Professor or by other funding sources are responsible for Registration fees and should consult their Major Professor or other funding sources regarding payment of these fees. International students are responsible for paying a one time International Student Orientation Fee ($50) when they arrive on campus. All students must pay a $57.50 TECH fee $1 KAMP Radio fee a $1 ASA fee, a $28.42 Recreation Center fee, and a $12 AFAT fee.

ASSISTANTSHIPS
The Graduate College offers each department a limited number of Graduate Tuition Scholarships, which waive out of state tuition, and Graduate Fee Scholarships, which waive the Registration fee. These scholarships are awarded based upon academic performance and minimum criteria established by the Graduate College. Recipients are recommended by the Graduate Student Committee and approved by the Graduate College.

Additionally, students are encouraged to apply for outside support from such agencies as the National Science Foundation and Howard Hughes Institute within the first year of their studies. These can represent higher levels of support than available through the Department, provide more independence for the student in pursuing their studies, and are an important addition to future resumes of graduates, as they are usually quite competitive. Students are advised to consult with their Major Advisor or the Graduate Program Coordinator prior to beginning the application process.

Graduate students supported by Assistantships, Scholarships, Fellowships, Traineeships, or by part time employment are expected to meet all requirements as defined by the Graduate College and Department. Additionally, all students on Departmental funds are expected to maintain a GPA in excess of 3.2, to participate regularly in Departmental functions, and to show evidence of continuing progress in their graduate education to be eligible for maintaining funded status. Students will be reviewed after each spring semester by the Graduate Student Committee (GSC) based upon their Annual Progress Reports; the GSC will then make recommendations as to continuation of financial support. Additional information on financial support can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Aid.

GRADUATE ASSISTANSHIPS OR ASSOCIATESHIPS:
Students with Graduate Assistantships/Associateships are part time (50% time) employees of the University on fiscal-year (12-month) appointments. Specific job responsibilities are determined by their Provisional Mentor/Major Advisor and are usually closely linked to the execution of their thesis/dissertation research. Graduate assistantships or Associateships are awarded to students majoring in Plant Sciences by the Department Head based upon recommendations of the GPOC.

For new students, decisions on Assistantship/Associateship awards are based on admission materials. These criteria, as well as annual progress reports, are used for decisions regarding previously admitted students. Assistantships/Associateships are not awarded to specific faculty or research programs. Assistantships/Associateships awarded by the Department are primarily intended for new students and are subject to review each semester.

TEACHING ASSISTANSHIPS:
All students must serve as a teaching assistant (TA) for at least one semester during their degree program. Each student must participate in a Graduate College-sponsored workshop. International students must pass the SPEAK test before they can be assigned as a Teaching Assistant. All other requirements stated in the Guidelines for Graduate Assistants/Associates in Teaching must be followed explicitly.

Teaching Assistantships are also awarded by the Department Head to students who then serve under the appropriate instructors for a predetermined course. The course instructor working with the student's Major Advisor will determine the student's work responsibilities and evaluate the student's performance in the course. Time commitments will range between 10 and 15 hours per week. All students with Graduate or Teaching Assistantships are exempt from the non resident tuition charge but must pay registration fees and insurance. They also must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.2 or higher and register for at least ten units of graduate credit per semester.

All students must participate in the University course for Graduate Teaching Assistantships, which is offered at the beginning of every semester before they will be allowed to teach. Additionally all foreign students who are required to submit a TOEFL score for University admittance must achieve both a TOEFL score of 600 and a TSE score of 50 before they will be allowed to TA. It is the student's obligation to ensure that all University requirements are met before the assigned term. All students admitted into the Department are required to TA for the Department for one semester but may opt for additional semesters and receive financial support from the Department if available.

FELLOWSHIPS AND TRAINEESHIPS:
Unlike Assistantships, the majority of Fellowships and Traineeships are supported by funds not appropriated by the University. If these sources of support are administered by a faculty member in the Department, the faculty member is responsible for all decisions related to management of the fellowship. This includes its initial award statement of work responsibilities performance evaluation setting stipend (based on University minimum) and duration of support.

Generally faculty administrators of fellowships serve as the fellow's Major Advisor or Thesis/Dissertation Director. Traineeships are generally provided directly to the student by funding agencies (e.g. foreign governments private companies non governmental aid organizations) that do not have a faculty administrator in the Department. Work responsibilities and evaluation vary widely for traineeships. Students supported by Fellowships or Traineeships should consult with their Provisional Mentor/Major Advisor and make arrangements to ensure that service in rotations does not violate the terms of their support.

Training and Fellowships in Genomics

Are you interested in genomics? The NSF Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) program in Comparative Genomics is now accepting applications for graduate traineeships. Benefits include generous financial support, training in genomics, visiting scientists, outreach opportunities and annual symposia. Current and prospective Ph.D. students at the University of Arizona are welcome to apply. For more information please visit www.genomics.arizona.edu.