An assistantship is a form of work study for graduate students that typically awards a tuition waiver and stipend in exchange for part-time work. While departments and offices at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, offer a number of different types of graduate assistantships and associateships, SIS positions are Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs).

Assistantship positions are awarded for one academic year, though continuing students are encouraged to apply for the second year of study. SIS awards GTA’s with 9-month appointments to serve from August 1 to May 31 and work in the fall and spring semesters of an academic year.

SIS GTA’s primarily perform various duties associated with faculty preparation for instruction or assist with research or service tasks. Other duties may be assigned upon approval/direction of the Director and/or Director of Graduate Studies. Master’s level GTAs are 35% time (14 hours a week) and PhD GTAs are 50% time (20 hours a week).

Most SIS GTA positions are attached to either individual faculty members or administrative tasks. SIS partners with various organizations for a small number of additional opportunities, such as the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) Assistantship.

The School of Information Sciences (SIS) awards a limited number of graduate teaching assistantships, typically to begin in the fall semester, to on-campus and distance education students. These opportunities are highly competitive. Applicants may indicate interest in a GTA position as part of the application process, and continuing students are invited to apply at the beginning of the spring semester for positions that will begin in the following August.

GTAs offer a tuition waiver and stipend. Stipends are monthly with payments occurring on the last working day of each month for the duration of the appointment.

In addition to the stipend, the graduate teaching assistantship provides a waiver of in-state or out-of-state maintenance/tuition fees for the appointment term and, for on-campus students, health insurance benefits. (DE students are not eligible for student health insurance.) The assistantship also covers mandatory fees, such as in-state or out-of-state charges for the programs/services fee, the health fee, the facilities fee, the technology fee (or online support fee for DE students), the transportation fee, and the library fee. Charges not covered include books and materials needed for courses, housing, or graduation fees. The student is responsible for these costs.

Applicants who begin the program prior to the appointment must have a minimum of 18 semester hours remaining to complete the degree at the effective date of the appointment.

14-hour Master’s Level GTAs are required to maintain full-time enrollment (minimum of 9 hours) and a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 during the appointment.

20-hour PhD Level GTAs are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours and maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 during the appointment.

Application instructions for admission applicants

Indicate your interest in an assistantship on the admissions application. No additional form is needed.

Application instructions for new and continuing students

The application for new and continuing students will be available early in the spring semester. All students who wish to be considered for a GTA position must complete the application, even if they have been awarded a one in a previous year. Applications and all supporting materials, including reference letters, are due in mid-February. The application link below will only work when the period to apply is open.

While we try to make the application and award process as short as possible, the review committee considers a number of factors when making selecting students for GTA positions. Finalists may be contacted for an interview as part of the review process.