TA/PA Positions
Teaching Assistants/Project Assistants
Teaching Assistantships (TAs) and Project Assistantsips (PAs) are two classifications of funded appointments often held by UW-Madison PhD students. A third category, less frequently used in the School of Business, is the Research Assistantship (RA). More information about these types of appointments is found below. Departments and offices throughout the campus, including the School of Business, utilize one or both of these classes of assistantships. Most Business PhD students’ funding packages will include a TA or PA appointment or a combination of them during the up to four years of funding guaranteed upon admission. Students needing additional or supplementary funding sources at times pursue an assistantship opportunity on their own. Unfortunately, there is no central clearinghouse for posting and filling the many assistantship opportunities that may exist in any given semester across this campus. Competition for openings is keen and they usually go to those who are most resourceful and persistent in identifying and qualifying themselves for an opening.
Faculty members or academic departments generally fill their appointments through funding package commitments or by identifying and recruiting students through previous classroom/academic contact. However, there are also appointments that are posted or that are filled through a formal application process. Because most of the openings do not find their way onto the primary central posting system on the campus (The UW Student Job Center), it requires patience and persistence on the part of students seeking such opportunities. Students may wish to consider some of the following approaches:
- Network with faculty, staff support people (such as Departmental Assistants, Center Directors, office managers, etc.), and PhD students in areas where you may possess appropriate skills, teaching experience, and/or technical expertise. Such individuals are most likely to be aware of openings that may be filled.
- Do not limit yourself to the School of Business. Business PhD students frequently possess experience, training, and expertise that may satisfy needs for TA or PA appointments in other departments. These departments generally fill their appointments in the same partially unseen way described above.
- Expand your search to consider Project Assistant (PA) appointments or types of positions other than teaching positions, which typically employ the greatest number of PhD students.
- Check all sources of postings for campus positions, including The UW Student Job Center and the University Office of Human Resources. Note: As stated above, the majority of assistantship opportunities are not posted on these sites, but are filled through informal networking channels or by departmental/faculty initiative.
- Consult with your advisor or other faculty mentors with whom you have contact. Frequently, they are aware of the needs of colleagues, of grants that may necessitate additional human resource support, or they may have other ideas to guide you in your search.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School also provides a useful link to many resources that may assist you in funding your graduate studies.
What is a Teaching Assistantship (TA) or Project Assistantship (PA)?
These types of assistantship appointments are the two most commonly held by master’s and doctoral students on this campus. The third type of appointment, the Research Assistantship, is rarely used in the School of Business. A more thorough definition of each of these types of appointments follows as described in the Graduate Catalog of the UW-Madison.
Teaching, research, and project assistantships are available to qualified students in almost every department. Departments select assistants based on the applicant's scholarly promise and ability to perform the required duties and appointment decisions are made by the hiring departments.
Teaching assistantships provide financial aid to graduate students as well as opportunities for acquiring valuable teaching experience. The title is appropriate for graduate students who have been assigned teaching responsibilities in an instructional department under the supervision of a faculty member. TAs are included in a labor agreement between the State of Wisconsin and the Teaching Assistants Association. TAs must enroll for at least eight graduate credits or for three dissertator credits with at least a 33-1/3% appointment to be eligible for tuition and other benefits.
Project assistantships provide the opportunity for students to assist with research, training, or other academic programs or projects, which may be other than their own thesis research. PAs are included in a labor agreement between the State of Wisconsin and the Teaching Assistants Association. PAs must enroll for at least eight graduate credits or for three dissertator credits with at least a 33-1/3% appointment to be eligible for tuition and other benefits.
Research assistantships allow students to assist in the research program of the department in a project which will meet the requirements for the master's or doctor's thesis. The work performed is primarily to further the education and training of the student. Research assistants are required to carry a full graduate credit load.
Teaching assistants (TAs) and Project assistants (PAs) are required to average a minimum of at least thirteen hours per week (a 33-1/3 percent appointment) to receive a waiver of tuition, health insurance and a stipend. Stipend values vary based upon the number of hours worked and the experience level. [More information about stipend rates and other benefits.]
The School of Business strongly encourages PhD students to seek additional sources of funding to facilitate the best possible quality of life while earning the degree. The Graduate School of the UW-Madison provides further information on developing financial resources. The School of Business Research web site also provides suggestions for developing funding sources.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School also provides many useful resources and links through its Graduate Student Professional Development site. Furthermore, the Graduate Student Collaborative (GSC) exists to connect graduate students on this campus and to enhance the graduate student experience at the UW-Madison.