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GSRA FAQ
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GSRA FAQ

GSRA Qualifications

You qualify to be considered for a GSRA appointment if you meet the following criteria:

GSRA Eligibility Criteria

  1. GSRAs must be admitted to a UM-Flint graduate program with standard or conditional admission. Any conditions of admission must be fulfilled before an appointment can begin. Those admitted on probation are not eligible to apply until 12 graduate credit hours have been completed and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better has been achieved.
  2. In order to hold the title “Graduate Student Research Assistant,” an individual must be:
  1. Term I and II: In good standing as a student in a graduate degree program and registered for not less than six (6) credit hours each term or, with written approval of the student’s faculty advisor, not less than five (5) credit hours consisting of not less than two (2) courses relevant to the student’s degree program.
  2. Term III: In good standing as a student in a graduate degree program with no specific enrollment requirement.
  3. Exception: If the student is enrolled in the semester in which the degree will be granted, the student must enroll for at least the number of credits required to complete the degree, or if no more credits are needed, at least meet the university minimum registration requirement of one credit (i.e., If the person is at the thesis/dissertation stage but doesn’t need to register for the thesis/dissertation course, they would have to enroll in at least 1 credit to get an assistantship).
  1. GSRAs must be in good standing as a student in a graduate degree program and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) in each semester of the appointment.
  2. Lifelong Learning graduate students and graduate guest students are not eligible for GSRA positions.
  3. Recommendation for appointment as a GSRA must be approved by the graduate program director or the student’s academic advisor.

Available GSRA Positions @UM-Flint

The Office of Graduate Programs posts a link to available Graduate Student Research Assistantship positions for upcoming semesters at https://www.umflint.edu/graduateprograms/paying-for-college/research-assistantships/. The deadline for positions that begin in Fall is June 1 of each year.

GSRA Application Instructions

The Office of Graduate Programs posts a link to available positions on the Graduate Student Research Assistantships page. Positions for Fall and Winter are generally posted in late March or early April. The deadline to apply for most GSRA positions is June 1 for the following Fall and Winter semesters.

Candidates for the GSRA positions will be matched to appropriate positions. Faculty chairing the projects will be presented with possible candidates and an appropriate candidate will be selected for the position.

Students apply through the University of Michigan Careers website.  

  1. Go to http://careers.umich.edu.
  2. Click on Login (upper right corner).
  3. Click the last link option for U-M Graduate Student on the Dearborn or Flint campus.
  4. In the Search Jobs Field, type the Job ID number, then click → (Search).
  5. Click Apply for Job.
  6. Login, register as needed, complete form and upload combined cover letter and resume document.
  7. Click Submit.

Contact University Human Resources at (810) 762-3150 if you have questions about the application process.

GSRA Appointments and Responsibilities

GSRA appointments will typically be made for periods coinciding with academic terms. Appointments may be structured to begin or end during the course of a term, as the result of unanticipated needs or variations in external grant or contract support. It should be noted, though, that appointments of less than a full term are not accompanied by some of the benefits described in this document. In all cases, the appointment period should closely coincide with the period of personal research or services rendered.

Once a commitment has been made to provide a given level of funding for a specific period to a student, this support would not normally be reduced during a period of appointment nor would an appointment normally be terminated prior to the originally processed end date unless the appointee fails to meet the stated program enrollment requirements at the University of Michigan-Flint.

If it is determined that the appointee is not making satisfactory progress towards a degree, or when appointment performance is unsatisfactory (including cases involving misconduct) the appointment duties may be reduced and the appointment fraction and stipend may be reduced correspondingly, or the appointment may be terminated. Prior to initiating a termination, the matter should be discussed with the GSRA in an effort to correct the problem. Where efforts at correction are inappropriate or prove to be unproductive, the proposed termination of appointment and support should be reviewed and approved in advance by the department chairperson or an equivalent level of authority (in an Institute or Center) prior to proceeding. In addition, the Employee Relations and Compensation Office should be made aware of the pending action.

It is the responsibility of the GSRA to understand weekly workload expectations during the entire period of their appointments; including work assigned and the time frame within which the work must be completed, essential duties and responsibilities, and work conditions.

GSRA Benefits

Benefits of a GSRA position at UM-Flint include the experiential learning opportunities provided by performing research for an academic unit in the student’s area of interest. Close contact with faculty and other graduate students, an employment experience in an academic setting, and the opportunity to devote one’s energies to academic work are some of the other intangible benefits of this program.

Stipend

The minimum amount for stipends associated with GSRA appointments is announced annually by the Flint Office of University Human Resources. In 2024-2025, the full-time per-term rate for the Flint campus is $25,769. Most GSRAs are appointed between 10% and 15% effort, amounting to per-term stipends of $2,576.90 and $3,865.35. GSRAs are paid monthly. Most graduate assistants qualify for additional financial assistance in the form of scholarships, grants, and student loans. The Office of Financial Aid should be consulted for further details at (810) 762-3444 or on their website at https://www.umflint.edu/finaid/.

Travel Accident Insurance

Graduate Student Research Assistants who travel on University business (other than trips to and from their regular work site) are covered by the University's Travel Accident Insurance plan.

Vacation and Sick Leave

GSRA appointments do not provide for paid vacations or holidays. However, remuneration is not reduced during the term of the appointment for class recess or holidays. Graduate Student Research Assistants are eligible for sick pay not to exceed three (3) weeks in a consecutive twelve (12) month period, beginning on the first day of the initial appointment period when unable to meet appointment obligations because of personal illness or injury. Pay during such periods is subject to approval of the department chairperson, head of the research unit, or the GSRA's supervisor or mentor, as appropriate.

Leaves of Absence Without Salary (F.M.L.A.)

Leaves of Absence from an academic program are academic issues handled locally by each academic unit. In general, due to the limited term nature of GSRA appointments, no leaves of absence are available during the course of the appointment period. However, if an individual has been appointed by the University, in any capacity, for 12 months or more and has worked at least 1250 hours during the 12 months immediately preceding the request for leave, a federally mandated Family Medical Leave may be available. In no case can an FMLA leave extend beyond the previously-processed appointment end date. The University complies fully with the Family Medical Leave Act.

Other Benefits and Additional Information

GSRA's responding to a subpoena may serve on jury duty or as a witness without loss of compensation. Other benefits include instructional staff library privileges and bereavement time.

GSRA's with a 25% or greater appointment fraction are eligible for additional benefits in the form of a tuition waiver and group health, life, and dental insurance. Appointments of 25% or greater are rare on the Flint campus.

Students with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations at Disability and Accessibility Support Services (https://www.umflint.edu/disabilitysupportservices), 264 UCEN (810) 762-3456.

UM-Flint GSRAs are covered under all University of Michigan policies for GSRAs. Details can be found at https://hr.umich.edu/working-u-m/my-employment/academic-human-resources/graduate-student. Other University of Michigan employment policies also apply. Contact Human Resources for additional information at (810) 762-3150.

Complaints and Grievance Resolution  

A GSRA with questions or concerns about any aspect of his or her appointment should be  encouraged to raise the concerns with his or her mentor, supervisor and/or department  chairperson. The faculty member chairing the project is the first point of contact for the GSRA  and should be contacted first before moving to other resources.  

Staff of the Office of Graduate Programs (810-762-3171), University Human Resources (810-762-3150), or Academic HR Services Office (734-763-8938) are available to advise and assist students and departments in the resolution of non-academic issues which may arise relating to the terms and conditions of GSRA appointments.