The Gahan assistantships were established by the late Dr. James B. Gahan, USDA Entomologist, and his wife, Mrs. Margaret H. Gahan, to be awarded to outstanding M.S. or Ph.D. students in entomology according to personal goals, interests, and academic achievements. Students awarded these assistantships are given a stipend and tuition waivers.
The Steinmetz assistantships were established by Mr. C.P. and Mrs. Lynn Steinmetz to be awarded to outstanding M.S. or Ph.D. students in urban entomology and landscape entomology. Students awarded these assistantships are given a stipend and tuition waivers.
The department has a few teaching assistantships that can be awarded to outstanding M.S. or Ph.D. students. Students awarded these assistantships are given a stipend and tuition waivers. See Table 1 for the number of semesters that the Gahan, Steinmetz, and departmental assistantships may be held.
*Summer session “C” counts as a semester
Grant-Funded Assistantships
Several students are financed by assistantships funded from grants held by individual
faculty members. Students awarded these assistantships are given a stipend and tuition
waivers. The faculty members holding the grants determine the length of time these
assistantships may be held.
Work Requirements for Assistantship Holders
Most assistantships are 1/4, 1/3 or 1/2 time. Recipients of 1/4 time assistantships are obligated to work 10 hours per week at whatever assignments their advisors designate. Recipients of 1/3 time assistantships are obligated to work 13.3 hours per week and recipients of 1/2 time assistantships are obligated to work 20 hours a week. Students supported from a faculty research grant usually must perform work according to the grant stipulations. For Gahan, Steinmetz, and departmental assistantships, the Graduate Coordinator determines the work to be done, which usually is as a laboratory instructor.
Stipends
Stipends for Gahan, Steinmetz, and departmental assistantships are determined by the Graduate Coordinator. Stipends for assistantships funded from grants are determined by faculty members who hold the grants.
Cancellation of Assistantships
A Letter of Appointment, signed by the student and the advisor, is issued to the student each semester and becomes a contract. Neither the department nor a faculty member may cancel an assistantship prior to the end of the contract without cause. The student may cancel the contract prior to the end of the contract (a semester), but then becomes liable for tuition that was waived while on the assistantship. Until those financial obligations are settled, the student cannot get a transcript, and cannot graduate.
Outside Employment for Students on Assistantships
The department discourages students on assistantships from holding outside employment. Sometimes we recognize that additional employment may be necessary for financial reasons. If this becomes necessary, please obtain permission from your advisor before seeking other employment.
Fellowships
There are a few prestigious university-wide fellowships (Presidential and Alumni) awarded on a highly competitive basis. The Graduate Coordinator nominates outstanding students for these fellowships. Usually, nominations must be made in January. Students nominated must have been accepted by our department, but not yet enrolled.
Scholarships
A number of scholarships, usually ranging from $500 to $2000, are awarded from endowment funds provided by families, clubs, etc. Most of these, such as those awarded by the Agricultural Women's Club, are awarded on the basis of scholarship and service to the department and community. Students must apply for these scholarships, and usually a letter from the advisor must be included in the application packet.
Employment
Some domestic graduate students support themselves by working part time, usually as technicians, in the many laboratories in Gainesville. If the funds paid to these student employees can be converted into assistantships by the employing agency, the students are given fee waivers.
Note: A graduate student awarded a Gahan or department-funded
assistantship may be allowed to hold the assistantship for an additional semester if
requested by the Chair of the Supervisory Committee and approved by the Graduate
Coordinator. Grant-funded assistantships are extended or terminated according to the
resources of the individual faculty members.
Grants
Some of our graduate students fund their studies, at least in part, from grants that they obtain by writing grant proposals and having them funded. We encourage students to write grant proposals.
The FAMU Feeder Program. This program is designed to increase the number of FAMU African-American graduate students. The University of Florida provides five fellowships annually and all graduate programs at U.F. may compete for them. The application deadline is 15 February each year.
