7. Assistantships & Teaching Requirements

7.1 - Graduate Assistantships

PhD students may hold research or teaching assistantships, requiring either 10 or 20 hours of work per week supporting faculty. Assistantships provide valuable experience and financial support.

7.1.1   Research Assistantships

Students assist faculty with research-related tasks, including data collection, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation, among others. Significant contributions may lead to co-authorship opportunities.

7.1.2   Teaching Assistantships

Students gain teaching experience by either assisting faculty in courses or serving as primary instructors. Most PhD students are required to teach at least one course independently before graduation.

Performing teaching activities requires completing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) tutorial.

Non-native English speakers may be required to pass the SPEAK test before being assigned teaching responsibilities. Additional language courses may be required.

7.2 - Assistantship Performance Evaluation & Continuation of Funding

Doctoral assistantships at the Fogelman College of Business and Economics are contingent upon the student maintaining good academic standing, making adequate progress toward their degree, and performing satisfactory work in assigned assistantship duties, as outlined in the assistantship offer letter. Assistantship continuation is also subject to the availability of funding and adherence to the University's Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

7.2.1   Evaluation of Assistantship Performance

• First-Year Evaluations: Students will undergo evaluations of their assistantship performance at the end of each semester during their first year in the program.
  
  
• Subsequent Evaluations: After the first year, students who have consistently received satisfactory evaluations will be evaluated annually. Those who have received unsatisfactory evaluations will continue to be evaluated each semester.
  
  
• Evaluation Criteria: Evaluations will assess the student's performance in assigned research and teaching activities. The Departmental PhD Coordinator and/or the Department Chair, in consultation with relevant faculty, will conduct these evaluations. Each Department will construct their own evaluation format.
  
  
• Evaluation Outcomes: Evaluations will result in a designation of either "Satisfactory" or "Unsatisfactory." Students receiving an "Unsatisfactory" evaluation will receive written feedback and guidance for improvement.
  
  
• Communication of Results: The Department Chair and/or the Departmental PhD Coordinator will provide the evaluation outcome and any recommendations in writing to the student and will also convey this information to the Associate Dean for Academic Programs.

7.2.2   Consequences of Unsatisfactory Evaluations

A student who receives two consecutive "Unsatisfactory" evaluations may have their assistantship revoked.

7.2.3   Appeal Process

• Students can appeal an assistantship evaluation if they believe the evaluation contains procedural or factual errors.
• Appeal Procedure:
  • Initial Appeal: The student must submit a written appeal to the Departmental PhD Coordinator and Department Chair within 14 calendar days of receiving the evaluation. The appeal must clearly state the nature of the alleged procedural or factual error and include any supporting documentation.
  • Review Process: If the situation is not resolved, the student may submit a written request to the Dean of the College for further review, forwarding all correspondence related to the appeal. The Dean’s decision is final and not subject to further appeal.

• Retention Appeal: In cases where the assistantship revocation is part of a broader retention issue—such as when a student is recommended for termination from the PhD program—the student may initiate a retention appeal following the procedures described in section 6.3.2.