• Graduate Assistantship (GA)
• Teaching Assistantship (TA)
• Scholarship Waivers
• Work Study (WS)

Note: In order to be eligible for the maximum amount of Financial Aid during the fall and spring semesters, graduate students must be enrolled for a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester. If enrolled for 7 credit hours per semester students are still eligible for Financial Assistance but at a reduced level.

Teaching Assistants (TA): may be assigned (1) responsibility for teach a self-contained class, or (2) responsibility for directing and/or teaching a subsection of a self-contained class, or (3) responsibility for directing and/or teaching a laboratory, or (4) responsibility for tutoring, or (5) responsibility as a class monitor in a distance learning setting. Teaching assistants are generally supported with funds allocated through MU’s regular budgeting process.

Research Assistants (RA): are generally assigned to individual faculty members to assist with research projects. The nature of the assistantship varies by discipline and can involve activities such as library work, grant writing, data gathering, and data analysis. RAs are frequently funded through grants and contracts. The amount of funding may vary with the individual grant or contract.

Graduate Service Assistants (GSA): may work in a variety of settings, including but not limited to the H.E.L.P. Program, Resident Services, Auxiliary Services, The Research and Economic Development Corporation, Instructional Television, the Office of Multi-Cultural Affairs, and the Welcome Center. The responsibilities and funding for graduate service assistants will provide support in the daily administration of the assigned unit.

Also, a full time TA, RA, GSA receives a tuition waiver for each semester of eligibility. A tuition waiver covers only the cost of tuition and does not include student fees, lab fees, or the cost of books.

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Graduate Assistantships (GA)
Most departments offering graduate degrees have funds for graduate assistantships. The amount of the award may vary but includes the waiver of tuition. Graduate assistants will normally be required to carry a 9 credit hour course load. By an act of Congress, all graduate assistants must submit an approved I-9 form. Payment of the GA stipend will not be authorized until this form is accepted by the Human Resources Office. Inquiries about graduate fellowships, work-study opportunities, loans, and other forms of financial assistance for graduate students should be directed to the Graduate College Office or to the Office of Student Financial Assistance, Marshall University , Huntington , WV , 25755 . A limited number of graduate and professional tuition waivers are available through the Graduate College in line with state and institutional policy. Announcements are made at the appropriate time concerning procedures and deadline dates for each semester. 

Students wishing to apply for Graduate Assistantships through the Forensic Science Program should do the following prior to the beginning of each academic term:

Provide a cover letter and resume which addresses the student’s area of interest, e.g. CODIS, forensic chemistry, computer forensics, pollen project and/or microbial forensics. The student will deliver the cover letter and resume to the Program Secratary in the Forensic Science Program Office who will make an appointment with the appropriate supervisor or instructor for all area(s) indicated as follows.

CODIS	Ms. Heather Harrah
Forensic Chemistry	Dr. Graham Rankin
Computer Forensics	Mr. Ron Jewell
Pollen	Ms. Catherine Rushton
Microbial	Dr. Pamela Staton
Expert Systems	Dr. Terry Fenger

If successful, the supervisor or instructor will send a letter to the Forensic Science Program stating the following:

• Student’s Name
• Position
• Intent to Hire
• Inclusive Dates
• Amount and Method of Payment
  

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Work Study Programs
Federal Work Study Programs provide jobs to graduate students in the Forensic Science Program in order to help them pay their educational expenses.

Students who qualify for Work Study will be assigned to various areas on an as needed basis. The Program Secratary will make the availability of Work Study Students known at the beginning of the academic year and thereafter as needed.

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Academic Progress Standards for Financial Assistance
In order to be able to receive financial assistance, Federal Regulations require that a student be making satisfactory progress toward the completion of his/her degree or program. Marshall University has adopted standards by which to monitor financial aid recipients’ progress. Satisfactory academic progress will be questioned of graduate students only when their Grade Point Average drops below 3.00 or the completion ratio drops below 80%. Eligibility for graduate students seeking a master’s degree will cease with the completion of the first master’s degree. 

Withdrawing from classes after the drop/add period can have a negative effect on continued eligibility as it can serve to increase the time required to complete one’s program. Repetitions will be dealt with according to the University’s policy governing Grade Point Averages and will be included in classes registered for and competed. Students not meeting the above standards will receive notification from the Office of Financial Assistance as soon as such status is discovered.  This notification will indicate ineligibility for financial aid, suggest that academic assistance can be found through the Student Development Center , and inform the student about his or her right to appeal. 

Financial assistance recipients who are eligible for refunds of fees paid to the University for tuition fees, room and/or board will receive a refund only after the assistance disbursed to the student for the payment period has been recovered. For additional information, refer to the section titled “Refund Procedure” in the on-line 2002-2004 Graduate Catalog.

Answers to questions regarding these and other concerns with financial assistance, including more specific information are available from the Office of Student Financial Assistance, phone 1-800-438-5390 or (304)-696-3162.


FEPAC accredited Master of Science Degree Program