3.1 FINANCIAL AID
Prospective graduate students may apply for financial assistance in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. A limited number of part-time computer related jobs are also available in other departments and in computer facilities at Auburn University.
CSSE graduate teaching assistantships (2002 - 2003) range from about $900 (1/3 time) to $1,350 (1/2 time) per month. Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) also receive tuition waiver. A $200 enrollment fee is expected to be paid by each GTA per semester. Research assistantships provide support at the same level of teaching assistantships. A number of Graduate Research Tuition Fellowships (GRTF), which provide similar tuition waiver, are also available to some graduate research assistants (GRAs). Consult your major professor for the GRTF application. GRAs or other graduate assistants without GRTF are responsible for paying in-state tuition. Out-of-state full-time students without academic appointments pay three times the in-state tuition amount.
3.2 REGULATIONS FOR SUPPORTED STUDENTS
Departmental guidelines restrict GTA support to half time, including support from other departments. The purpose for this rule is twofold: (1) to equitably spread departmental resources among our students, and (2) to keep students from getting stuck in the system. It is to student's advantage to get a degree as quickly as possible and begin your real career. It is recognized that exceptions may be made to this guideline in cases of critical teaching or research needs.
Support under a research contract is totally under the control of the principal investigator. While he/she may choose to support a GRA in excess of 50 percent solely on research, combinations including both teaching and research should not exceed 50 percent.
A student with GTA support will be evaluated every semester by his/her course supervisor (a faculty member) and academic advisor for teaching and academic progress performance, respectively. A GRA will be evaluated by his/her research and academic advisors (normally the same faculty member) for research and academic progress. Any GTA not performing satisfactorily in either area will be given a warning. If performance does not improve to an acceptable level during the next semester, the student will be dismissed from the position. GRAs not performing acceptably on a contract and/or academic progress may be terminated with 30 days' notice at the discretion of the contract's principal investigator.
Generally, GTA funding will be limited to a maximum of two calendar years for a master's student and four years for a Ph.D. student. It should be noted that, due to limited enrollment and funding summer support may not cover all GTAs.
Commitments for GTA support are generally made during mid-summer for the following academic year. All such commitments and/or continuations of employment are dependent upon the availability of funds to Auburn University and the CSSE Department.
3.3 HOUSING
Auburn University maintains dormitories on campus for both men and women, as well as the Caroline Draughon Village apartments for undergraduate, graduate and married students. Peak demand for housing comes in the fall semester. All university dormitory rooms are usually reserved by mid-spring for the following academic year.
The 384 apartments in the Draughon Village form a complex of two-story brick buildings, each with 8, 16 or 20 units of one- and two- bedroom apartments. Features include an all-electric kitchen, furnished living room, dining room, and bedroom(s). Rent covers all utilities except electricity and telephone.
In addition to campus, there is a wide range of housing available in and around the city of Auburn. Off-campus housing includes a selection of privately-owned apartment complexes, homes which have been converted to accommodate private rooms or into small separate apartments, dormitories (often motel-type rooms), as well as mobile homes. Off-campus leases generally run from August 1st through July 31st, but sub-leasing is usually an option if students enroll to begin classes other than in fall semester.
For information about housing, on or off campus, write to:
The Director of Housing
Burton Hall
Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama 36849
Telephone: (334) 844-4580
