Graduate fellowships are non‑service awards, meaning students are not required to perform teaching, research, or other work for the University in exchange for funding. These awards are structured to support academic and professional development through education and training, which is why they are classified as non‑employment appointments.

Academic Progress as the Central Expectation

A fellow’s primary responsibility is to make satisfactory academic progress toward their degree. Under University guidelines:

  • Fellows are not required to teach, conduct research, or perform services as a condition of receiving funding
  • They do not have assigned work hours or percentage-time appointments
  • They are not supervised as employees
  • Expectations relate to academic milestones, coursework, examinations, or independent research aligned with degree requirements

Academic advising is distinct from employment supervision. Fellows may have advisors who guide their academic progress, but only graduate assistants have supervisors who evaluate job performance.

How Fellowship Funding Works

Fellowships provide two forms of support:

  • Tuition coverage
  • A living stipend

These funds function similarly to financial aid, allowing fellows to pursue innovative research and academic work with a level of autonomy that reflects the award’s educational purpose and prestige. Importantly, fellowship stipends are not compensation for services.

Many fellowships are funded by external sponsors — such as federal agencies, private donors, and foundations — that require recipients to maintain non‑employee, non‑compensatory status or have other requirements of how the funding may be used. Maintaining this classification is necessary to meet those requirements.

How Graduate Assistants (GAs) Differ

The University has approximately 4,500 GAs. Graduate assistants are student employees who perform work on behalf of the University. Their appointments are classified as employment because they involve:

  • Assigned instructional, research, or administrative duties
  • Direction from a supervisor
  • Defined work hours or percentage-time commitments
  • Compensation for specific services and hours worked
  • Terms and conditions associated with employment

Graduate assistantships provide professional experience while supporting University teaching, research, and administrative functions.

Both fellows and graduate assistants contribute to the University, but their roles differ in purpose, structure, and governing requirements.