Research Policies

Approved by the Council of Deans (COD) and President on January 28, 2015.

Introduction

A graduate student is a valuable asset who may be offered an assistantship in the form of tuition waivers and/or stipends. A University Graduate Student Assistantship (UGSA) is offered to a student assigned as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) by the respective department. A GTA primarily teaches remedial and/or introductory courses, while a GRA is mainly engaged in research projects under the supervision of a full-time faculty member. The objective of a UGSA is to enhance teaching efficiency, promote research activities, and advance NDU’s graduate programs. Additionally, it provides graduate students with teaching and research opportunities to develop critical thinking, scholarly competence, cultural maturity, and professional and administrative experiences in alignment with the mission, vision, core values, and strategic goals of Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) 

Eligibility

To be eligible, all applicants should maintain a full-time load.

• NDU Students must have:
  • A minimum of 3.3 GPA in the undergraduate major
  • Three recommendation letters
  • An interview by the concerned Faculty Graduate Committee
• In addition to the above, applicants from other universities to NDU should complete a minimum of 6 graduate credits at NDU with a GPA of 3.5 and above. This requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Faculty Graduate Committee.
• Other grading systems will be evaluated by the concerned Faculty Graduate Committee to determine the GPA in the major field of study.
• During the summer session, graduate students may be eligible for a GTA/GRA depending on the approved needs of the respective department.

Duration

A GTA/GRA is granted assistantship for one semester/summer session duration. 

Conditional Renewal

A GTA/GRA is renewed if:

• The respective department deems there is a continuous need for an assistantship.
• The student maintains a GPA of 3.5 and above.

Duties of a GTA/GRA

A GTA/GRA will be assigned duties by the Faculty Graduate Committee upon the request of the chairperson of the respective department. 

• The duties of a GTA/GRA shall be defined by the concerned department and shall consist of 20 hours per week.
• A Teaching/Research Assistant will not be assigned non-academic duties.

Selection Process and Appointment Procedure

Upon announcement of a GTA/GRA by the concerned Faculty:

• A graduate student shall submit an application.
• The concerned Faculty Graduate Committee will oversee the selection process. It shall:
  • Review applications (transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.).
  • Conduct interviews.
  • Assess the research potential of the candidate.
  • Evaluate a one-hour teaching presentation by the candidate.
• Upon approval, the concerned dean shall offer the student, on behalf of the University, an official letter/contract for final signature.
• The appointment procedure is completed when the candidate signs the letter/contract and when it is ratified by the signature of the President on behalf of the University.

Compensation

The GTA/GRA shall receive:

• Full tuition waiver. For a GRA, tuition shall primarily be covered by grants/funds received by the GRA advisor/thesis supervisor. Any outstanding tuition balance shall be settled by NDU through the GRA, carrying additional academic duties.
• A stipend.
• Student parking during the duration of the contract.

Enactment

This policy shall take effect immediately after its approval by the President.