TUITION AND FEE REMISSION
Ball State Graduate Assistants are eligible for partial tuition and fee remission through the Graduate Assistant Tuition and Fee Remission Program.
The amount of the remission is dependent upon Full-Time GA or Half-Time GA status.
Click the links below to view a summary description of the current program provisions.
2019-2020 FULL-Time GA Tuition and Fee Remission Program (PDF)
2019-2020 HALF-Time GA Tuition and Fee Remission Program (PDF)
CONTRACTS
Your assistantship contract must be signed before you can begin to receive your stipend. The Graduate School will email you with appropriate steps you need to take in order to sign your contract. For new students this email will contain important instructions on how to complete your employment verification.
Ball State University participates in the federal E-Verify program for employment eligibility. This process provides the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. The federal verification process must be completed by the third business day of work.
For Out-of-State and International Graduate Assistants
If you plan to arrive on campus during the Orientation Week, do not worry. It is all right to wait until that week to come to the Graduate School office and sign your contract. When you do come in, please make sure to bring with you all the necessary identification documents. Please note that all students will need a Social Security number to process their contract. International students must contact the Rinker Center for International Programs for more information about obtaining a Social Security number.
PAYROLL
Graduate assistants are paid their stipends biweekly. See the calendar of pay dates for the term you will be employed.
All employees are required to authorize electronic direct deposit of their paychecks. Direct deposit is a safe and secure way to have your pay deposited directly into your checking and saving account(s). Ball State will electronically transfer your pay into your choice of bank account(s); the money will automatically be deposited into your account(s) on payday. See the Direct Deposit Authorization Form under Payroll Forms.
Direct deposit stubs will not be printed by the Office of Payroll and Employee Benefits. You can access your direct deposit payroll statement via myBSU.edu.
Be sure to learn how to properly record your hours when working as a graduate assistant by using the Kronos timestamp management system. Browse to the University Human Resources System Guides page, click on the plus sign to the right of the word "Kronos" to see the available Kronos guides and review the document, Kronos Graduate Assistants and Student Employee Instructions.
ORIENTATION
In addition to the new student orientation website for all new students, the department or office that “houses” your assistantship may require you to undergo specific training or orientation sessions meant for GAs before the start of your contract.
TRAINING
Carefully review the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and sexual harassment policies before the start of your contract.
Both students new to Ball State and graduate assistants are required to complete harm-reduction training, in the form of EverFi. During your first term as a GA, you will also be required to complete a FERPA awareness course on Canvas. You will receive emails with instructions on how to complete the training, as well as reminders if it isn’t completed in a timely manner.
COURSE REGISTRATION AND WITHDRAWAL
Any reduction in credit hours during the semester may adjust the tuition and fee remission and affect financial aid. Also any holds on accounts will prevent assistantship payroll to be processed.
If a student intends to completely withdraw from a term, he or she should contact the Office of Retention and Graduation prior to withdrawal from the university.