Duke University Job Description: GRADUATE ASSISTANT (1502)

Occupational Summary

Classification created to permit compensation to graduate and professional students performing a combination of teaching and incidental research activities on Campus and in the Medical Center, generally under the direct supervision of their assigned faculty advisor. The use of this classification is reserved for students who are enrolled in a full-time Ph.D. or master?s program at Duke. Employment is secondary to their academic pursuit. Graduate Assistants? teaching and incidental research assignments can vary from month to month, or week to week. Research assignments are generally short-term, i.e. less than one semester and funding sources are therefore not subject to the Graduate School Tuition Remission Policy for Ph.D. Student RAs.

Registration for continuation constitutes full-time enrollment in a Ph.D. program. Registration for 9 or more credit units of course work per academic term constitutes full-time enrollment for students in a master?s program. Social Security is not deducted from the pay of a student as defined above but will be deducted during any term where a Ph.D. student works but is not registered for continuation. A Duke Graduate Assistant may work no more than 19.9 hours per week during academic schedule and is eligible for Workmen's Compensation benefits only.

This classification is administered on Campus through the Office of the Provost and in the Medical Center through the Office of the Chancellor for Health Affairs.

Work Performed

Graduate Assistants perform a variety of roles related to teaching and incidental research that represent different levels of independence and that also contribute to the intellectual and professional development of the graduate student. Graduate Assistant assignments can include:

Grading essays and examinations

Course development

Leading discussion and/or tutorial sections

Course instruction

Laboratory assistance and instruction, and

Collection, documentation, analysis and interpretation of social, economic or health related information

Evaluation and interpretation of collected data; preparation of oral presentations and written reports

Develop forms and questionnaires and coordinate the application of research techniques

Confer with principal investigator in developing plans for research projects to discuss the interpretation of results and the preparation of manuscripts for publication Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of graduate students so classified.

Required Qualifications at this Level

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.