Two types of departmental appointments may be awarded to graduate students: teaching assistantships and research assistantships. (Please visit The University of Iowa's Division of Sponsored Programs (DSP) for additional information concerning non-departmental funding sources).

Applications 
Initial applications for graduate appointments should be made by completing (1) the Applications for Graduate Award Form, and (2) the Personal Data Form available from the department office. To be considered for an appointment, the student must also have on file in the department office (1) a statement of admission by the Graduate College; (2) GRE scores; (3) TOEFL scores, if required; (4) the Rating Form of teaching areas for Physical Education Skills and GER courses; and (5) at least three letters of recommendation from persons acquainted with the student's academic performance and work experience.

Appointments 
Graduate appointments for the academic year are made in March, if possible, and become effective the following August. Application for graduate appointments together with all supporting data should be on file in the department office by January.

All graduate appointments are made on a semester basis but are automatically renewed the following semester assuming satisfactory academic and appointment performance. Students may apply for reappointment subject to the provisions stated in the Reappointments and Limits of Support paragraphs which follow.

Reappointments
To be eligible for reappointment, the student must (1) have satisfactorily completed not less than 15 semester hours of graduate course work during each academic year enrolled unless permission to enroll for less credit has been granted;  (2) be in good academic standing, i.e., not on academic probation; (3) be recommended for reappointment by the program advisor;  and (4) not have exceeded the years of appointment available (see Limits of Support).

Limits of Support
The department has adopted the following policy concerning the length of time financial support in the form of teaching assistantships, research assistantships, fellowships, etc., may be provided.

1. Students beginning graduate study after having completed only the bachelor's degree may receive support for not more than two years in obtaining the M.S. degree, and for not more than a total of five years in obtaining the Ph.D. degree.

2. Students beginning graduate study after having completed the M.A./M.S. degree within the past two years may receive support for not more than four years in obtaining the Ph.D. degree. If the time lapse between receiving the M.S. and starting the Ph.D. degree has been more than two years, the candidate will be considered for five years of support.

3.  If unforeseen circumstances develop which make it impossible for a student to complete their degree within the above time frames, a formal appeal may be made requesting additional funding.  Such appeals should be made to the program advisor who will convey the information to the faculty for a final decision.

Pay Schedule and Tuition
Stipends are paid to students in ten equal installments beginning September 1st and ending June 1st.
Graduate teaching and research assistants holding one-quarter-time or greater appointments are required to pay only instate tuition and fees. However, all graduate students receive at least partial tuition scholarships during the academic year.

Work Schedule
Departmental policies related to the work schedule for all graduate teaching and research assistants are as follows:

Half-time graduate assistants are required to average 20 hours of service each working week; one-third-time graduate assistants, 13 hours of service each working week; and one-quarter-time graduate assistants, 10 hours of service each working week. For graduate teaching assistants, allowances are made for time spent in preparing lesson plans, getting equipment and facilities ready for class use, and evaluating and grading student performances.

Teaching Assistantships
In selecting graduate students for teaching assistantship appointments, the following items are considered: (1) grade-point average and scores on the Graduate Record Examination, (2) teaching experience, (3) scores on the English language proficiency test, (4) degree for which the applicant is a candidate (doctoral students are given preference), and (5) past performance as a teaching assistant.

Graduate teaching assistants may be assigned to teach in the Physical Education Skills Program or in Department of Exercise Science courses.

Oral Communication Competence
The Iowa Board of Regents has adopted a policy on oral communication competence designed to ensure that all instructors have "the ability to communicate appropriately in the language of instruction to students attending Regents' Institutions."  New teaching assistants are evaluated by the middle of the first semester of teaching and by the end of every subsequent semester by their supervisor for oral communication competence. 

Research Assistantships
Research assistants are appointed by the DEO. In making such appointments, seniority, expertise in an area of specialization and scholarly productivity are considered. Research assistants are assigned to and supervised by specific faculty members and assist in conducting the research carried on by the faculty member. Appointments of research assistants supported by grants and other external funding sources are made by the project director in consultation with the DEO.

Course Loads
A full-time course load for a graduate student making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree is nine semester hours or more of graduate credit.  Half-time graduate assistants must have special permission to carry more than 12 semester hours of graduate credit each semester.

Back to Top