Research Assistants. Aero/Astro research
assistantships are usually considered part of a long-term commitment
to doctoral-level research, so it is rare for an incoming student
to receive an RA offer in this department. The research
assistants are selected by individual faculty members, who will
usually have worked together with the student in one or more
courses, and in some directed study, before deciding on an RA
appointment. Salaries are set by the faculty
member according to department standards, within limits set
by the University and School. Generally, salaries are highest
for students who have passed the Qualifying Exams, and lowest
for those who have not received the M.S. degree.
Most Aero/Astro RA's are half-time positions.
During the academic year, assistantship appointments may not
exceed this level, which means 20 hours/week of paid work.
(The other "half" of the time is courses and/or research units.)
In summer, some labs will allow 75% or 90% RA appointments,
with correspondingly higher salaries.
Students also receive a significant tuition
allowance, described below.
Aero/Astro Course Assistants are assigned
by the department in the early summer for the following academic
year. Application information for Course Assistantships will
be posted by the A/A Student Services Office in the spring quarter.
Applicants are expected to have taken and done well in the course
in which they will assist. Aero/Astro CA's usually are 50% appointments
(20 hours/week); salaries are set by the University, and are
roughly comparable to RA's. Current
Information about Aero/Astro Course Assistantships and an
Application Form are
available.
Aero/Astro students may also serve as course assistants
in other departments. A student who feels qualified to assist
in graduate or undergraduate courses in another Stanford department
may contact that department to ask how to apply for any available
positions. (Each department at Stanford may set its own priorities
and procedures for hiring assistants. The pay scales will be
fairly consistent, however.)
Students also receive a significant tuition allowance,
described below.
Tuition
allowance. Students with assistantships receive tuition
allowances in addition to their monthly salaries. A 50%
RA or CA has the tuition bill reduced to the eight- to ten-unit
rate; this tuition for 8-10 units is fully
paid for by the assistantship.
Note: For Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters, graduate
students who are not on TGR status must be enrolled for at least
8 units in order to receive any tuition allowance.
RA's and CA's with a less-than-50% appointment
receive a proportionally smaller tuition allowance. They may
accept more than one RA/CA appointment in the same quarter,
as long as the combined percentage does not exceed 50%. The
student will receive both salaries and a tuition grant based
on the combined percentage. For example, if they total 50%,
the tuition allowance will be 8-10 units and the bill will be
adjusted accordingly.
Tutition allowance for summer quarter assistantships
of over 50% will match the number of units (between 1 and 10
units) in which the student enrolls. Students with the maximum
90% summer appointment will receive tuition allowance at the
one- to three-unit level.
[Courses
& Degrees in Aero/Astro] [Aero/Astro]
aa-webmaster * [* add @stanford.edu], Aug., 2004
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