These standards govern the employment relationship between the University of Iowa and all graduate teaching and research assistants in all matters not explicitly covered by an existing collective bargaining agreement or the conditions of an applicable federal grant.

Purpose. The purpose of these standards is to ensure consistent application of university policy, practices, and procedures to graduate assistants across all collegiate units.

General questions regarding the application or interpretation of these standards should be directed to the Graduate College’s human resources unit. Specific questions regarding individual circumstances should first be directed to applicable departmental human resources representatives.

Scope of Coverage. These standards cover all currently enrolled graduate and professional students with a twenty-five percent (25%) or more appointment (i.e., teaching at least one course and/or providing service for at least 10 hours a week) employed as: Teaching Assistants (FT19), Research Assistants (FR19) or Law Research Assistants (FL19), who provide services to the University in exchange for salary compensation.

Exclusions. These standards do not cover:

  1. Research Assistants (FR19 or FL19) whose appointments are
    1. primarily a means of financial aid which do not require the individuals to provide services to the University, or
    2. primarily intended as learning experiences which contribute to the students' progress toward their graduate or professional program of study or
    3. for which the students receive academic credit.
  2. Graduate students appointed as Fellows, (FT52), if they are not providing services as Teaching Assistants (FT19), Research Assistants (FR19 or FL19) except as provided in the Scope of Coverage paragraph above.
  3. Other graduate students holding any University appointments not specified in the "inclusions" above.
  4. Employees included in any other bargaining unit.
  5. Confidential or supervisory employees and all others excluded by Chapter 20 of the Iowa Public Employment Relations Act