Stipends
Stipends are paid semimonthly on the fifteenth and the last working day of each month. When employment begins during a pay period, stipends are calculated on a pay-period basis. The employing department must be contacted to obtain specific information regarding paycheck delivery or pickup.
Matriculation Fees
Assessment of tuition and required fees is made on an equal basis for all students classified at the graduate level. Graduate Teaching Assistants, Graduate Service Assistants, and Graduate Research Assistants receive an exemption of 100% of assessed tuition. Graduate Assistants who are not Mississippi residents will receive a 100% exemption of the additional charges assessed for non-resident tuition. All students are personally responsible for paying any student account charges in excess of the tuition exemption.
Distance Education Courses
Graduate Assistants tuition award does not cover the Distance Education courses when a student is enrolled in more than 9 credit hours. Graduate assistants are responsible for payment of any additional per credit hour rate incurred as a result of Distance Education courses. The full-time tuition exemption credit will be applied to a student's Banner account covering the basic tuition of the Distance Education course. Tuition exemption does not cover the Distance Fee charge.
English as a Second Language Course (ESL)
Graduate assistants tuition award does not cover the cost of ESL courses when a student is enrolled in more the 9 credit hours. Graduate assistants are responsible for the payment of any additional per credit hour rate incurred as a result of ESL courses. Some international students are required by the University to take ESL 5323 and/or ESL 5313. Both are considered undergraduate prerequisite courses while holding an assistantship. ESL 5323 and ESL 5313 cannot be taken concurrently.
Beginning Assistantship Late
If the assistantship start date is after August 31 for fall or January 31 for spring, the student will be required to pay a prorated portion of the tuition exemption.
Course Overload
Graduate assistants wishing to schedule more than a full-time course load may, with the approval of his/her major professor, department head, graduate coordinator and dean, register for more than 13 hours. The student must submit an Overload Form, to his/her major professor. The dean's office sends the approved form to the Registrar's Office. Such transmission will allow application of additional tuition exemption consistent with current policy.