University guidelines and policies regarding graduate contract appointments are presented in the Graduate Catalog. Specific questions concerning graduate appointments should be directed to the office of the College of Arts & Sciences (200 Wilson Hall), the Department Chair, or the Graduate Chair.

Most contract appointments in the Department of Geological Sciences are as Graduate Teaching Associates, although a limited number of positions as Graduate Research Associates are sometimes available. Appointment in each case is contingent upon merit, determined on the basis of academic record and letters of recommendation. Providing a student's graduate obligations have been fulfilled, and his/her academic progress is satisfactory, contract appointments will be renewable on a year-to-year basis for a normal two-year maximum.

Application for contract appointment is made at the same time as application for admission. Departmental deadlines for appointments and acceptances are consistent with those of the College of Arts & Sciences. Applications for contract appointments should be received by the Office of Graduate Student Services by February l5. Insofar as possible, notification of appointment will be made by March l5. Acceptance given or left in force after April l5 commits the student not to accept another appointment without first obtaining formal release for that purpose. The same deadlines apply for renewal or non-renewal of contract appointments.

Graduate appointments in the Department of Geological Sciences presently carry a stipend of $12,420 (for three quarters) and a Teaching Scholarship equivalent to a waiver of tuition fees (with the exception of the $501/quarter General Fee). These amounts can change every year. The contract appointment also entitles the graduate student to tuition-free coursework during the summers immediately prior to and following the appointment, except for those workshops for which there is a fee. Summer mini-stipends, sufficient to cover the cost of the General Fee, are also available to all graduate contract appointees.

As stated in the Guidelines and Policies of the College of Arts & Sciences, “Graduate contract appointees are primarily and essentially graduate students pursuing an advanced degree. Therefore, the services for which they receive remuneration are to be limited in scope, secondary in importance to their studies, and insofar as possible, a meaningful part of their professional preparation.” Service rendered to the Department should not exceed l5 hours per week. The duties of the contract appointee include instruction of introductory laboratories, assistance in undergraduate major courses and laboratories, proctoring of examinations, driving on field trips, and limited assistance during periods of student registration and final examinations. In certain instances, a contract appointee may be given full responsibility for the instruction of an undergraduate course.

The Department requires that all new graduate students report to the Department several days prior to the beginning of Fall Quarter for orientation purposes. Students will be notified of details of the orientation schedule during the summer quarter. In addition, all graduate contract appointees and holders of tuition scholarships are expected to be available in the Department at least one day prior to registration for every subsequent Fall, Winter and Spring quarters. In order to expedite the assignment of teaching responsibilities, contract appointees are expected to submit course schedules to the Department during the pre-registration period of each quarter.

Graduate appointees will be evaluated each quarter on the basis of (a) student evaluations distributed in the laboratories, (b) written comments from a supervising faculty member, and (c) performance in coursework (see also Academic Standards). Persons who perform unacceptably will be notified in writing of their deficiencies, and will be given one quarter to remedy those deficiencies or face loss of financial support. Graduate appointees must also maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) or face loss of financial support.

Grievances relating to any aspect of the contract appointment should be directed to the Chair of the Department. In the event that a grievance cannot be resolved in conference with the Chair, it will be forwarded to the entire faculty for discussion. If grievances cannot be resolved within the Department, they may be submitted to the University Ombudsman.