MAE Employment Policies and Procedures

Graduate Appointment

Graduate Assistants are appointed for a specific period, typically a semester to perform teaching or research services. Due to the joint nature of the College of Engineering, students may be employed by either university. Students should request a copy of their appointment and pay careful attention to the start and end dates of their appointment. Students will not be automatically re-appointed when their current appointment ends. The faculty member supporting the student must initiate the re-appointment process. Re-appointment requests must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the end of the current appointment.

Academic Integrity

As a graduate assistant, you are expected to uphold the standards of the academic honor system. You must report all instances, or reported instances of academic dishonesty to the course instructor immediately.

Conflicts of Interest

Graduate assistants must refrain from any activity or conduct, which creates either an appearance of, or an actual conflict of interest. Any questions concerning appropriate ethical behavior should be submitted to the supervising faculty member and/or graduate coordinator.

Professional Responsibilities

As a graduate assistant, you represent the Department and the University. Therefore, it is imperative that you conduct yourself in a professional manner at all times. This includes maintaining a completely professional relationship with the students and faculty. It is also your responsibility to perform the tasks related to your role as a graduate assistant in a timely and professional manner to the satisfaction of the supervising faculty.

Professional Development

All graduate assistants enrolled through Florida State University must attend the Program for Instructional Excellence (PIE) Teaching Conference during the fall semester. This three-day conference covers various topics designed to help graduate assistants teach more effectively and to acquaint graduate assistants with various university policies.

In addition, the Department will hold Graduate Assistant Workshops during the beginning of the Fall semester and throughout the academic year, as needed. The purpose of the workshops is to familiarize both new and continuing students with departmental policies and expectations. The workshops will also help address issues specifically relevant to the department and/or college, such as effectively communicating with a multicultural student population or using and promoting a group learning environment effectively.

The overall goal of these workshops is to encourage and promote the professional development of teaching instructors by helping develop effective teaching and communication skills, leading to a better classroom learning environment.