Graduate Research Assistant Appointment Eligibility

Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) are salaried student employees who perform research that is in their fields (or a closely related field) of study and is integral to the student’s education (e.g., dissertation topic). The duties performed are under the direct supervision of faculty or research professionals. The duties do not involve classroom instruction. 

GRA appointments will be approved by the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research in accordance with the appointment and benefits expectations outlined in the Improving Doctoral Experiences on External Awards (IDEEA) policy (for all funds under the University of Kansas Center for Research [KUCR]), the Budget Office (for the professional schools’ state- and endowment-funded GRA positions), or the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) for state- and endowment-funded GRA positions in the college.

In order to be eligible for a GRA appointment, a graduate student must meet all the following conditions:

1. During the term of appointment, the student is admitted to and enrolled in a graduate degree program offered by the University of Kansas;
2. During the term of appointment, the student is enrolled in accordance with the Office of Graduate Studies policy definition of full-time enrollment for students with a GTA position, or other credit hours as required for the student’s graduate degree and as approved by the Dean’s Office of the student’s home academic school or college. [Note: GRAs on summer session appointments are not required to enroll; however, GRAs may do so at their own discretion and with full expectation of tuition support in accordance with the policy governing Benefits Available to Graduate Research Assistants, Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants.] 

   1. Enrollment and Post Comps:  Full-time enrollment for the student includes enrollment in fewer than 6 hours for doctoral students who have successfully completed the oral comprehensive exam, all other Graduate Studies and departmental requirements for candidacy to the doctoral degree, and are enrolling in accordance with Doctoral Candidacy.

3. During the term of appointment, the GRA must be in Good Academic Standing policy and be making satisfactory progress toward a graduate degree, as determined by the GRA's home academic department and/or their school or college, in accordance with the Office of Graduate Studies' Good Academic Standing policy. A graduate student must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 to remain in good academic standing. However, if a department judges that a graduate student whose GPA falls below 3.0 after the first semester at KU is nonetheless making satisfactory progress, the department may recommend to the Dean of the school/college  that the student be allowed to keep the GRA position for one (1) additional semester despite being on academic probation. In all other cases of academic probation, the student is no longer eligible for employment and the appointment must be terminated due to ineligibility.
4. The student must successfully pass a background check established by the University.
5. A student who has earned a graduate degree may not continue in a GRA appointment after the graduation date unless the student has just completed a master’s degree and is enrolled in a doctoral program in the same field or a closely related field or is a doctoral graduate who has been accepted into another graduate program. 

Enrollment Exception for GRAs

In certain master’s degree programs, students who are in the final semester may be able to complete the course and hours requirements for the degree while enrolling in fewer than six (6) hours. Such students may enroll in fewer than six (6) hours and still retain eligibility to hold a position as a GRA provided that the student will not be continuing in a doctoral program at the University of Kansas. The option of enrolling in fewer than six (6) hours during the final semester is available only to master’s students with GRA appointments. It is not available to master’s students with Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or Graduate Assistant (GA) appointments.