Summer 2026 Graduate Student Employment
Students who currently hold a Spring 2026 graduate assistantship position (RA or TA) AND will return to the graduate program in Fall 2026 AND enroll in 6+ units are to be hired under the position type "Graduate Supplemental Compensation". Students and Principal Investigator are required to complete the "Summer 2026 Graduate Supplemental Compensation Form" and submit to grad-funding@optics.arizona.edu by Monday, April 27, 2026 for timely processing . Until summer hiring is complete and funding approved, a student is not authorized to work and the Principal Investigator may not assign project responsibilities. Retroactive hire/pay is not supported.
Teaching Assistantships (TA Positions)
Students offered a TA position should complete the Fall 2026 TA Funding Authorization Form. Completed forms should be emailed to grad-funding@optics.arizona.edu. Students and the course instructor must complete and sign the form before submission. Late forms will be processed but may result in late start dates and missed pay. Teaching appointments are by semester only, and a separate graduate student appointment form must be completed for fall and spring semesters. Students are limited to 1.0 Full Time Equivalency (FTE) in teaching appointments. Students who surpass the 1.0 FTE limit must complete the online Graduate Student Teaching Appointment Petition form. Upon completion of the online form, the student’s faculty advisor will be emailed a faculty petition. Both petitions must be filled out for consideration of additional teaching appointments.
Research Assistantships (RA Positions)
Students being newly hired or re-appointed by a faculty member to work in a research group should complete the Spring 2026 RA Funding Authorization hiring form. Students hired in August for the full 2025-2026 academic year do not need to submit a spring form. Completed forms should be emailed to grad-funding@optics.arizona.edu by November 28, 2025. Students and Faculty must complete and sign the form before submission. Late forms will be processed but may result in late start dates and missed pay.
SPRING 2026 RA FUNDING AUTHORIZATION FORM
Graduate Assistant/Associate Information
A .50 full-time equivalent (half-time; 20 hours per week) teaching or research assistant position includes a stipend, a full tuition waiver and student health insurance; a .25 FTE (quarter-time; 10 hours a week) position includes a stipend, a waiver of half tuition and student health insurance.
2025-2026 OSC GA Benefits SUMMARY(PDF)
2026-2027 OSC GA Benefits SUMMARY (PDF)
Qualifications for GA Appointment
Questions regarding GA funding should be directed to grad-funding@optics.arizona.edu.