Graduate assistantships are the primary source of financial assistance offered by the School of Education. Through graduate assistantships, full-time graduate students have the opportunity to assist the School of Education in meeting teaching, research, or administrative obligations. In return, students receive tuition assistance and a stipend. The total remunerative value of an assistantship is a “package” including both tuition support and a stipend, as well as an out-of-state tuition waiver, if applicable.
Assistantships are available in other offices on the William and Mary campus as well as in other educational agencies in the community. The exact dollar value varies each year and is determined by the hiring agency.
Other student financial assistance includes fellowships, scholarships, and awards earmarked for School of Education students.
Assistantship Application Process
The assistantship application form is available online at the School of Education’s website at education.wm.edu. The application deadline coincides with the admission application deadlines, January 15 or October 1.
The selection process will occur each spring to coincide with admission reviews. Appointment announcements are usually made by mid-April for the following academic year. Although assistantship applications are accepted throughout the year, those submitted by January 15 will have a better chance of securing an assistantship because most appointments are made with the review of applications for admission.
The actual number of assistantships awarded each academic year varies. However, approximately 100 full-time graduate students are supported in half or full assistantships each year. Because assistantship opportunities may develop later during the academic year, it is recommended that those students who do not initially receive appointments allow their assistantship applications to remain on file for future consideration.
Appointment Process
Graduate Assistantships are awarded on merit, prior experience, and knowledge, skills and abilities. Each full-time faculty member and administrator is responsible for the selection of his or her assistant(s). Most appointments are made through a process of application review, prior contact with students, telephone interviews, or some combination of these activities. Students should attach a detailed resume with the application. Please remember, most assistantships consist of performing some job responsibilities for a faculty member or office on campus. Students should outline computer/office skills and abilities well in order to be considered for selection. Graduate assistantship contracts and other financial assistance information are issued by the Office of Academic Programs. Please note that the actual appointment of students to assistantships is not made by this office but is instead made by the faculty member, program, or office where the student will work. The application for a Graduate Assistantship and other submitted documents (resumes, portfolios, etc.) are maintained in the Office of Academic Programs.
Responsibilities of the Graduate Assistant
The graduate assistantship is recognized as a serious commitment on the part of the student. Students may be appointed as half-time assistants working an average of 10 hours per week, or full-time assistants, averaging 20 hours per week. The contract period for graduate assistants typically runs from around August 25 through May 15. The contract period runs through the Winter and Spring breaks, therefore, one might also be responsible to work through regularly scheduled vacations. Although the weekly commitment is typical, it is expected that you become flexible to accommodate the workload of your supervisor.
Level of Financial Support
The total value of an assistantship may vary from year to year. The value of assistantships for offices on campus varies from office to office. Most assistantships within the School of Education, however, offer similar compensation that usually include:
Master’s Level
- Full-time assistantship: $11,884 tuition scholarship plus a $4,654 stipend (paid in bi-weekly installments during the contract period), or a total remunerative value of $16,538*.
- Half-time assistantship: $4,269 tuition scholarship plus a $4,000 stipend (paid in bi-weekly installments during the contract period), or a total remunerative value of $8,269*.
Doctoral Level
- Full-time assistantship: $11,884 tuition scholarship plus a $10,816 stipend (paid in bi-weekly installments during the contract period), or a total remunerative value of $22,700*.
- Half-time assistantship: $7,350 tuition scholarship plus a $4,000 stipend (paid in bi-weekly installments during the contract period), or a total remunerative value of $11,350*.
*Out-of-state students who receive at least $4000 in stipend per year are eligible for an out-of-state tuition waiver. “Tuition waiver” means that out-of-state students will be charged tuition at the in-state rate. This adds an additional $14,386 (the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition) to the total package.
Enhanced packages may also be available through some grants and funded projects throughout the School. Specific compensation is disclosed at the time of the appointments. Please be advised that the stipend of the assistantship is subject to state and federal withholding. For more information please visit the website at education.wm.edu.
Other Student Financial Assistance
Fellowships, scholarships and awards that are earmarked for students in the School of Education are also announced through the Office of Academic Programs. Application forms and deadlines are available online at the School of Education’s website at education.wm.edu.
The School of Education annually awards the following scholarships to qualifying undergraduate and graduate students:
- Fred M. Alexander Scholarship
- Barton Malow Fellowship
- Dawn I. Benson Memorial Scholarship
- Dean Bettker Memorial Scholarship
- Edward E. Brickell School Leader Partnership
- Donald S. and MaryAnne Bruno Elementary Education Scholarship
- Douglas E. Braun Fellowship
- Chamberlin Higher Education Award
- Chandler Family Scholarship
- Christopher Wren Association Scholarship
- Emily Joyce Davis Scholarship
- Emma Waddill Davis Memorial Scholarship
- Harry and Martha Divens and Lawrence and Margaret Hauben Scholarship
- James Scott Duff Scholarship
- Educational Leadership International Student Scholarship
- Harry Robert Elmore Memorial Scholarship
- S. Stuart Flanagan Family Graduate Fellowship
- S. Stuart Flanagan Family Mathematics Scholarship
- S. Stuart Flanagan Family Scholarship
- Armand J. and Mary Faust Galfo Education Research Fellowship
- Mary Faust Galfo Science Teaching Award
- Kevin E. Geoffroy Memorial Scholarship
- Sarah Lindsey Gupta Memorial Scholarship
- John B. and Frances H. Harmon Family Scholarship for Men
- John B. and Frances H. Harmon Family Scholarship for Women
- Hershberger Family Scholarship
- Frederick L. Hill Mathematics Teaching Scholarship
- Helen C. Hopper Memorial Scholarship
- Hornsby Family Scholarship
- Jennings Family Scholarship
- Kappa Delta Pi Achievement Award
- David W. Leslie Research Award
- Barbara Eanes Lockwood Memorial Scholarship
- Mary L. Murphy Scholarship
- Frances H. and Robert O. Nelson Memorial Scholarship
- Patriot Heritage Scholarship for Social Studies Education
- Peter and Phyllis Pruden Scholarship
- Peter D. Pruden Jr. and Phyllis S. Pruden Scholarship
- Susan Bruch Rose Memorial Scholarship
- School of Education Dean’s Award for Excellence
- Professor John Thelin Higher Education Research Award
- Thom Terwilliger Higher Education Fellowship
- Joyce VanTassel-Baska Award for Excellence in Gifted Education
- Carol Veazey Titmus Scholarship
- James E. and Barbara B. Ukrop Richmond City Public School Teacher Scholarship
- John H. and Ardyss S. Wherry Scholarship
- Margie Lee Wygal and Family Scholarship
The School of Education is grateful to those who generously give to endowed scholarship funds and to the Fund for Excellence making these financial awards possible. Gifts from generous and committed donors have enabled students at the School of Education to achieve many of their goals.
To review the qualifications for these scholarships and awards and for additional financial aid information and links to scholarship opportunities outside the School of Education, go to School of Education Scholarships and Awards at: http://education.wm.edu/admissions/financialaid/index.php |
