Axe ’Em, Jacks!
Graduate Research/Teaching Assistant Scholarship and Legacy Scholarship Procedures
Starting fall 2022, graduate research and graduate teaching assistant students are no longer eligible to participate in the Lumberjack Education Assistance Program under HOP policy 03-303. SFA has created a new scholarship program that will provide tuition assistance for GRA/GTAs who satisfy employment, enrollment, GPA and other requirements outlined in HOP policy 04-204. Those students who work as GRA/GTAs during fall 2022 will be considered "LEAP Legacy" participants in order to provide a transition to the new scholarship program. These "legacy" students will receive a second scholarship if they continue working as GRA/GTAs for the next two years. The transition period will end with the summer 2024 semester (exceptions may be granted for doctoral students).
The GRA/GTA scholarship and the GRA/GTA legacy scholarship will only cover mandatory tuition and fee charges. GRA/GTA scholarship and legacy scholarship benefits will be reduced if tuition and fees are paid by a third party or contract or are paid by any other exemption or waiver. These scholarships will also be reduced by other student financial aid including internally funded scholarships; however, Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, outside scholarships and loans will not be affected.
Scholarship conditions and requirements
Participation in the GRA/GTA scholarship program requires maintaining a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduate degree programs.
The scholarship will only apply to tuition and mandatory fees for graduate-level courses included in the student's degree plan. Any undergraduate courses taken concurrently will not be covered.
In order to be eligible for the GRA/GTA scholarship, the student must meet all of the criteria to be a GRA or GTA as outlined in HOP policy 04-204. Scholarship participants may not be eligible for cash advances or refunds of scholarship funds until verification of all documentation has been processed. Scholarship participants that are over-awarded and receive a cash advance or refund may owe a balance back to the university.
Scholarship participants are responsible for reporting any change in the number of hours they are taking, withdrawal from the university, and/or termination from the GRA/GTA position to the SFA Office of Research and Graduate Studies within three business days of the occurrence. Failure to report may result in the loss of the scholarship.
Enrollment and status requirements
Each semester, the student should expect the following:
- Withdrawals – If the student withdraws on or before the census date, the scholarship is removed. After the census date, the scholarship is not removed.
- Drops – If the student drops on or before the census date, the scholarship is adjusted. After the census date, the scholarship is not adjusted.
- Terminations – If the student terminates their position or the department terminates the student from their position on or before the census date, the scholarship is removed. After the census date, the scholarship is not removed.
- Hires – If the student is hired on or before the census date, the scholarship is added if the student otherwise qualifies. After the census date, the scholarship is not added.
- Enrolled – If the student is enrolled on or before the census date, the scholarship is added if the student otherwise qualifies and has an approved application on file. After the census date, the scholarship is not added.
- Scholarship applications – Scholarship applications must be fully approved no later than the census date each semester; otherwise, the student will not qualify for the scholarship in a semester in which their application is not fully approved before the census date.