IV. Financing Graduate Education - Return to Index

• Graduate Associateships
• Fellowships and Traineeships
• Research Support
• Hourly Support
• Financial Aid

It is the philosophy of the Horticulture and Crop Science faculty that, whenever possible, graduate students in the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science should have financial support from the Department, another University source, or their academic adviser. Consequently, admission in part depends on the ability of the graduate program to identify support for the incoming student. Students are supported in a variety of ways. Each type of support carries stipulations and terms with which the student should be familiar. One of the most important stipulations involves time limits for continuing support. We list here several means of receiving money for graduate study.

A. Graduate Associateships.
Many incoming students are supported by Graduate Associateships (GAs) within the Department. For a full description of this University position, including employing unit responsibilities, benefits, etc., see the Graduate School Handbook.

1. Stipends and Fee Authorizations. Stipend levels will comply with the Graduate School minimum. A half-time GA in Horticulture and Crop Science carries the following stipend as of July 1, 2001:
             MS $13,620 ($1,135/month)
             PhD $14,124 ($1,177/month)
   All GAs receive a fee authorization for full tuition ($2,111 per quarter for Ohio residents, $5,468 per quarter for non-residents). Students who have held regular GA appointments for three consecutive quarters are eligible for fee authorization during the fourth quarter (OSU Graduate School Handbook) . If appointed to a GA the student may not accept other employment during his/her tenure without the permission of the Horticulture and Crop Science GSC (OSU Graduate School Handbook).
2. Criteria and Procedures for Selecting GAs. Selection of GAs for positions funded by the departmental budget is the joint responsibility of the Department Chair and the GSC. Criteria for selection of GAs include academic and research record, letters of recommendation, and GRE and TOEFL scores. Qualified individuals expressing interest in departmental support monies should so inform the GSC Coordinator. Students may also apply to individual faculty or faculty working groups for funding from grants. Associateships can be held by MS-Plan A and PhD students. The GSC will evaluate applicants for appointment as graduate associates and will recommend students for departmental support to the Department Chair. The following will be considered in the evaluation process:
             Overall academic potential as reflected by performance.
             Background experience, motivation & dedication to the specific area of                     interest.
             Potential to excel in a specific area of interest.
             Recommendations from faculty members.
             Specific needs of the Department.
3. Criteria and Procedures for Reappointing GAs. In order to be reappointed, a student must be: (i) in good standing with the Graduate School; (ii) maintaining satisfactory progress in research and (iii) performing required duties adequately. Students will be informed if for any reason an appointment cannot be renewed. If a student is not to be reappointed he or she will be notified in writing by the Chair of the department; this will occur at least 60 days prior to the termination of the contract if it is for reasons other than failure of the student to maintain the required academic standards (OSU Graduate School Handbook). If it is necessary to apply for extension beyond the stated time periods, the criteria listed in (2) will again apply.
             All GA appointments, regardless of funding source, are made by the Department Chair using a standard letter of offer. All offers of GAs will be in writing, with copies provided to the GSC Coordinator. The OSU Graduate School Handbook covers deadlines for receiving acceptances or refusals of offers.
4. Period of Appointment. Appointments will normally be made for four quarters, but through mutual agreement between the student and the Chair of the Department, short term appointments of one to three quarters may be made.
5. Availability of Summer Quarter appointments. The standard appointment will include Summer Quarter. Separate Summer Quarter appointment may be available on application to the Chair of the Department.
6. Specific GA responsibilities. Graduate Associateships funded through the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science will carry responsibilities in addition to their own thesis or dissertation research. These duties may include classroom instruction, research, extension, administration, and service on committees. GAs can be asked to provide Departmental service up to twice in an academic year while receiving departmental support. Students will not be asked to perform Departmental service in the last quarter of their program. Students will not be required to teach more than 9 hours during Fall, Winter and Spring, and 7 hours in the Summer as indicated in the Graduate School Handbook. Scheduling teaching assignments and administering this policy is the responsibility of the Academic Affairs Committee in consultation with the advisor. Those students receiving Fellowships or Associateships through grants or contracts will have responsibilities as determined by their advisor in addition to one teaching experience as outlined in REGULATIONS FOR GRADUATE PROGRAMS (Section VI).
7. Eligibility requirements for GAs are listed in Section II.8.5 of the Graduate School Handbook. In brief, to be eligible for a GA appointment a student must be pursuing a graduate degree, be registered and in good standing in the Graduate School as a full time student (at least seven graduate credit hours), and have accumulated no more than 200 credit hours. Students who have conditional admission status due to a low undergraduate GPA are not eligible for a GA. Those admitted on a conditional basis due to background deficiencies may be eligible for financial assistance.
8. The suggested maximum time for receiving support on a GA while completing a degree is as follows:
             Masters degree - 2.5 years (10 quarters)
             Ph.D. degree with prior M.S. - 4 years (16 quarters)
             Exceptions for extending appointments beyond these limits will be considered on a case by case basis.
9. Termination of GAs. Graduate student appointments are terminated prior to the end of the appointment for any of the following reasons:
             The GA is no longer enrolled in the Graduate School.
             The GA is registered for fewer than seven graduate credit hours.
             Performance as a GA is determined to be unsatisfactory.
             The GA graduates.
             The employing unit has insufficient funds.
   Eligibility requirements listed in Section 2 above must be met in order to qualify for reappointment.
10. Evaluation of GAs is primarily the responsibility of the adviser or supervisor, although participation by the Department Coordinator, Academic Affairs Coordinator, or GSC may be appropriate. In addition, there will be semi-annual Graduate Student Progress Reports, filled out by the student and the advisor. This will permit the GSC to follow each student's progress and identify potential problems. Grievance procedures related to GA appointments are described in Section II.8.8 of the Graduate School Handbook.
11. Departmental Policies on Graduate Associateships
    a. Work load. Graduate Associates (GAs) are expected to work an average of 20 hours per week in service to the department. Research performed as part of the thesis or dissertation is not considered service to the department and does not count toward the 20 hours per week. Examples of service to the department include teaching and work done for the adviser's research project. Advisers should assign their GAs work experiences that further the GA's education and help prepare the GA for a career. It is expected that departmental service will not interfere with a GA's reasonable progress toward completion of the degree.
    The 20-hour figure represents an approximate average amount; there will be periods that demand a greater or lesser amount of time.
    b. Vacation and leave. Provision for time off for vacation, including breaks between quarters, should be decided by the GA's adviser. Time for vacation is important for all employees, but responsibilities to the department and to the maintenance of satisfactory progress toward a degree must be met. Sick leave and personal leave will be available for GAs as for departmental staff. If extensive leave is requested, the request should be reviewed by the Graduate Studies Committee.
    c. Use of facilities. Personal use of office facilities and supplies is not permitted.
    d. Outside employment. Outside employment by GAs is not permitted without approval of the adviser. The adviser should inform the Graduate Studies Committee in any such cases. In considering approval of outside employment, the primary criteria will be the effect of the employment on departmental mission and on the student's progress toward a degree.
    e. Re-appointment. Once appointed, GAs normally retain their positions until graduation unless they fail to make satisfactory progress or exceed the time limits described in section IV.A.8 of the Department of Horticulture and Crop Science Graduate Student Handbook. Additional valid reasons for termination of GAs are listed in section IV.A.9 of the Handbook.
    f. Resolution of disputes, due process. The student's adviser and advisory committee should be the first recourse in the case of a dispute. If this does not lead to a satisfactory resolution, the dispute should be brought before the Graduate Studies Committee. If further action is needed, the grievance procedures of the Council on Research and Graduate Studies (section II.8.8 of the Graduate School Handbook) should be consulted. Ordinarily, termination of GA for unsatisfactory performance will not occur without a probationary period, during which the GA will be given the opportunity to demonstrate improved performance. The Graduate Studies Committee reserves the right, however, to terminate a GA without such a probationary period if such an action is needed in order to protect the integrity of the department. The Graduate School will disallow re-appointment of GAs who are no longer in good academic standing.

B. Fellowships and Traineeships.
          Outstanding incoming students are eligible for various University Fellowships or the Research and Graduate Council Fellowship through the Graduate School of The Ohio State University, or for the Director's Fellowship through the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC). Stipends for these Fellowships are equal to or greater than those for GAs. Fee waivers are also included with these fellowships.
          To be eligible for Fellowship support, the applicant must indicate interest by checking the appropriate box on the Admissions Office application form. Students must be nominated by the GSC to be eligible for these awards. Information regarding other fellowships and scholarships may be obtained from the Graduate School office; refer to the listings in the Graduate School Bulletin. Be aware of all stipulations on any fellowship or scholarship such as course load, GPA, etc.

C. Research Support and Travel Grants.
          GAs are the primary mechanism for providing research support. Students nearing the end of their training are eligible for several special fellowships, including the Presidential Fellowship and the Graduate Student Alumni Research Award, administered by the Graduate School. A student must be nominated by the GSC or by the student's adviser to be eligible for these awards. There is also an annual OARDC Graduate Research Grant competition (with a late March deadline).
          For the 2001-2002 academic year, travel grants to present research are available by request to the GSC. Each student is eligible to receive one $250 travel grant per degree.

D. Hourly Support.
          A student may also be employed on an hourly basis on a project in the area of his/her study. Pay is based on amount of experience and academic level (BS or MS). A student paid on an hourly basis is not eligible for benefits accorded to GAs. Any arrangements concerning this type of financial assistance must be established between the Department Chair and the student's employer.

E. Financial Aid.
          Information regarding other types of financial assistance (such as student loans) may be obtained from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus OH 43210 (see Contacts).