Department
of Psychology
There are various sources of funding for graduate students in the Psychology Department. We typically find some form of funding for 80% - 90% of first through fourth year students in good standing.
Departmental
Graduate Assistantships
These typically involve half-time (20 hours) teaching assistantships
or research assignments to faculty in the department. The supply of such
appointments is unfortunately limited; only about 30 are available during
any one semester for the entire department. Given that there are nearly
three times as many graduate students as departmental TA's available,
more students request assistantships than can be accommodated.
The process for assigning assistantships is roughly as follows. About mid-way through each semester, the Director of Graduate Training distributes a form to all graduate students asking those who desire departmental assistantships for the following semester to return the completed form. A listing of all student requests is compiled, and the faculty Area Coordinators provide the Director of Graduate Training with a prioritized list of students for departmental funding from their respective areas. The Director of Graduate Training, in consultation with the Head of the Department, then assigns students from the lists to fill each major area's assistantship slots.
All students in the program are potentially eligible for departmental funding or support given unlimited assistantship monies. But given that unlimited monies are not available, it is the case (as noted above) that faculty within each area are coerced into setting funding priorities. Although there are not hard and fast rules or specific set criteria for prioritizing students for departmental assistantships, there are some general guidelines that are usually applied. If a student is outstanding in class work, does well on an assistantship (if assigned), and is progressing well in research, then it is quite likely the student will receive a high priority rank for funding. At times, more advanced students (Years 2, 3, and 4) have higher priorities because of their greater experience (which generally makes them more versatile) and their record within the department. At other times, certain students may have specific skills that are needed for a particular job. With the diverse nature of various assistantship positions, it is not practical for the department to have "priority" criteria set in concrete. Nevertheless, it is important to state that overall performance in the graduate program is an important criterion, as are experience and special talents that may be needed. Even these attributes, however, are not always sufficient when more students request assistantships than assistantships are available. Usually, students who merit funding, but did not receive funding previously, have a higher priority than those students who are equally meritorious but were recently funded. Students do need to be aware that these are guidelines, not set rules for determining funding decisions.
Graduate
Assistant Semester Credit Limits
The credit load depends on the proportion of time you are delegated to
an assistantship. Normally, students are on 1/2 time assistantships which
specify 20 hours of responsibility per week. At times, however, some students
may be on 1/4 (10 hours) time assistantships. Below are listings of registration
and credit limits associated with assistantship and non-assistantship
status during Fall and Spring semesters as well as the Summer session.
Regular Session (Fall, Spring)
1/2 time (20 hours).....9-12 credits
1/4 time (10 hours).....9-14 creditsSummer Session
1/2 time (20 hours).....4-6 credits
1/4 time (10 hours).....5-7 creditsRegular Registration (without a GA)
Fall or Spring Semesters.....9-15 credits
Summer Session...............5-12 credits
Duration
of Teaching Assistantship Obligations
The regular semesters are 18 weeks, which typically equals approximately
90 days of assignment. TAs are expected to be available to the assigned
faculty member throughout the semester, including the final examination
period, and optimally for some period prior to the start of classes. Clearly,
the TA assignment spans the entire semester period, not just the class
period, and depending on responsibilities, TAs may be asked to assume
responsibilities prior to and following the termination of a semester.
Thus, a TAs responsibilities may not exactly coincide with the dates of
a graduate student's other responsibilities. The nature of the TAs duties,
and when they will be expected to be performed, should be worked out between
the faculty member and the student. These details should be established
at the beginning of the semester to avoid any later misunderstandings.
For example, although the department has not typically expected TAs to
remain during spring break, there may be cases where this is necessary.
In return, however, the shortening (at the beginning or end) of the semester
assignment, or some other scheduling adjustment would be expected.
Termination
from Assistantship
On rare occasions, problems arise in assistantship assignments
or in relationships between faculty and their assigned graduate or teaching
assistants. If problems develop, the first step in resolution is for the
individual faculty member and the graduate assistant to meet and attempt
to reconcile any difficulties. If a satisfactory solution is not reached,
the student or faculty person may request a "hearing" or review by the
Graduate Training committee, which will serve as a grievance committee
for such requests. The GTC will meet separately with the individual student,
the individual faculty member, and collect any other necessary information
to adjudicate the matter. The GTC could recommend reconciliatory steps
or termination from the assistantship, this decision to be binding upon
approval from the department Head. Graduate students terminated from an
assistantship can appeal a decision further by filing a written grievance
with the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Procedures for such an appeal
are specified in the appendices of the Graduate Bulletin.
Additional
Sources of Financial Support
There are many different sources of graduate student support;
all of the previous comments generally apply only to departmental funds;
that is, those funds which are awarded to students for assistance in teaching
and research in the department. Described below are other sources of potential
graduate student support that are commonly available.
1) Departmental. Occasionally students teach classes in the department as their funding assignment. Normally these activities are reserved for advanced students who have passed their comprehensive exams, and are judged able to perform well in the classroom. This can be particularly valuable for those students seeking actual teaching experience for later job searches.
2) Continuing Education. The Continuing Education Program of the University often needs instructors for Psychology classes taught in the evening or in off campus sites. Notices for these positions are often posted; but selection of instructors for these courses is largely the responsibility of the Director of Graduate Training. Students with high priorities for funding within the department are given priority for these positions, but again advanced students are most desired.
3) Independent Learning. On occasion, students have received partial support through the Independent Learning Program; the Director of Graduate Training is responsible for selecting these personnel. Notice of these jobs, when available, is also posted.
4) Other Departments. Other departments sometimes have teaching positions available. For example, the College of Business Administration has often employed Social or I/O students to teach in, for example, Management courses, and the Department of Statistics has recently employed psychology graduate students to teach or assist with introductory applied statistics courses.
Students interested in teaching positions such as those described above should notify the Director of Graduate Training, as well as establish relationships with appropriate faculty in other areas or departments.
1) Faculty research grants. A common source of funding for graduate students is through individual faculty research or training grants. As a rule, these are similar to departmental assistantships in that graduate research assistantships pay a stipend and tuition. Occasionally wage payroll positions are available instead, which do not carry tuition. These positions are controlled by the faculty member who is the major investigator on the project, and students are generally selected for research assistantships based on their interest in that faculty's research, their previous research experience with that faculty member, and/or any other criteria thought necessary by the individual faculty member. Research assistantship possibilities are not limited to Psychology Department projects. Often, Psychology graduate students are hired by faculty in departments with related interests. Students' major advisors are often the best source of information about such opportunities.
2) Other research or fellowship support. The Graduate School maintains a file of sources of support which can be checked periodically; NSF, Department of Education, NIMH, and others often provide flyers and announcements, some of which are kept in the Graduate School. Others that are more appropriate to the Psychology Department are often forwarded here (main office or to the Director of Graduate Training). Both federal research fellowships and grant support have successfully been obtained by Psychology graduate students.
The Graduate School has several sources of support which are described in the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin. Graduate School Fellowships are awarded by the Graduate School strictly on the basis of academic merit. Applications are taken during the winter of each year and should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Training who coordinates the departmental selection process. The Graduate School limits to three the number of applicants from any one department. When more than three students apply from Psychology, the department must screen the applications and decide which three are to be forwarded to the Graduate School. Announcements are posted as they become available, and especially strong students are encouraged to apply. Because the applications for Fellowship must be at the Graduate School by the first Monday in February, applications need to be submitted to the Director Of Graduate Training well in advance of the Graduate School deadline (a deadline will be circulated each year). The competition for these awards is tough, but the Psychology Department has done well in the past in obtaining these awards.
Minority students may apply directly to APA for support. The Department receives information about the annual competition and this information is posted. Application forms are available from APA and applications are made directly to APA. There are also programs within Penn State which are designated for support of minority graduate students. As in other cases, relevant information is circulated and posted.
Summer Tuition Assistance
Below are listed a number of salient facts regarding summer
tuition assistance.
1. There are no teaching assistants during the summer session. Graduate students who teach in summer session generally do so through Fixed Term contracts. Students may apply to the Fellowships and Awards Office for tuition credits for their own training during the period of their Fixed Term contract.
2. Graduate students who are on assistantships during both fall semester and spring semesters, and who are paid from general funds budgets (generally departmental funds), are eligible to receive up to 9 credits of tuition during the summer session. Applications for summer tuition assistance may be obtained from the Graduate School offices in Kern.
3. Students on assistantships paid from external grants or contracts should continue on these assistantships during the summer. They are not eligible for tuition assistance during the summer unless their source of funding is terminated by the funding agency.
Taxes
Graduate students often ask whether their stipends or fellowship incomes
are taxable. The answer is ... it seems to change from year to year or
depending upon to whom you speak. Regardless of whom you have asked, the
single most useful publication on taxes for graduate students is the GSA's
tax guide, which is available in Kern. It is published yearly.
Funding is available to support travel and other research-related activities to continuing students making successful progress toward their degree that will benefit their professional development and future career plans. Both internal and external funds are available to help support student requests. For the full guidelines, click here.
This is a general
application that is to be used for any funding requests through the
department. You must also submit a supplemental
form for travel requests, or a supplemental
form for non-travel requests, depending on the nature of your request.
Nondiscrimination Statement | Affirmative Action
Privacy Policy | Copyright
© 2005 The College of the Liberal Arts , 111 Sparks Building, University Park, PA 16802
Please Direct Webpage Comments and Edits to: editor
