Graduate assistant (GA) tuition waivers are an important, although limited, institutional resource provided by The Graduate School that support high-quality graduate learning experiences. Faculty proposing grants that include funding for one or more GAs are able to request an accompanying tuition waiver and should work with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) to make those requests to the Graduate School. 

A GA tuition waiver will be considered when the assistantship is clearly aligned with the project’s scope of work, provides meaningful educational value for the student, and complies with sponsor and institutional requirements. GA tuition waivers are contingent on available institutional resources and appropriate review and approval prior to grant proposal submission. GA tuition waivers are more likely to be approved for projects where the sponsor does not allow tuition to be funded. 

Criteria used to consider GA tuition waiver requests include: 

• The GA’s role is clearly defined and essential to the proposed project 

• The appointment supports the GA’s academic or professional development 

• GA tuition costs are clearly budgeted and justified, and the proposed budget includes a GA stipend to be funded by the sponsor 

• Whether the tuition waiver would contribute to needed matching funds, thus helping make the proposal more competitive 

• The request aligns with sponsor guidelines and institutional priorities 

• The budget and proposal have been reviewed in advance with OSP and relevant partners 

Faculty are encouraged to consult with OSP early in the proposal development process to determine whether a GA tuition waiver may be appropriate and feasible.