When are applications for Higher Education and Student Affairs (HESA) assistantships due?
Completed applications are to be submitted no later than DECEMBER 15.
What application materials do I need to apply for a HESA graduate assistantship?
To apply for a HESA graduate assistantship, you must complete and submit the following by DECEMBER 15. To expedite the application review process, please send all of your application materials in one package to the appropriate office.
Your assistantship application and must include:
1. Three letters of reference, two of which must be written by current or former supervisors/employers who can speak to your traits/skills
2. A current resume
3. A short personal statement*
4. A short answer to a question on the application*
5. A current GRE score**
What application materials do I need to apply for the HESA graduate program?
Please refer to the Graduate College website here
Where do I send my application materials?
All material for assistantships should be sent via email to SAGrads@uvm.edu
All material for the Higher Education and Student Affairs graduate program should be sent to the Graduate College
Do the academic and assistantship applications each require a set of reference letters?
Yes, each application requires its own set of three reference letters.
Can I use the same reference letters for both applications?
Yes, as long as they each have original signatures and as long as the references for the assistantship application include at least two letters from current/former supervisors or employers who can speak to your employment experience.
Can I apply for the HESA graduate program without applying for a HESA graduate assistantship?
It is strongly encouraged, but not required, that prospective students submit both the academic and the assistantship applications. The practical experience gained in the assistantship is an integral part of the HESA experience and encourages the translation of theory to practice. The majority of HESA students hold HESA graduate assistantships.
Can I apply for a HESA graduate assistantship without applying for the HESA graduate program?
Yes, but preference for these assistantships will be given to applicants who apply and are accepted to the HESA graduate program.
Are there HESA assistantships available in addition to the ones listed online?
Generally, the list accurately reflects the available assistantships for the upcoming admissions cycle. Occasionally, however, new assistantships are created and the list will be updated accordingly. If you are invited for an on-campus interview, you will also be notified of updated assistantships that might be a good fit for you, based on your interests and experiences.
Are there other assistantships available on campus?
The HESA assistantships are offered in close partnership with the HESA graduate program. If you are interested in an assistantship and are enrolled in another program or do not plan on applying for the HESA program, please contact the Graduate College for other options.
How do I select a HESA assistantship?
You should consider areas you are interested in and previous experiences. While all of the HESA Graduate Assistantships offered will provide a combination of skills and experiences that will assist you as you take your next professional steps in the field of higher education and student affairs, the actual experiences within each assistantship may be quite different. Every placement, however, will provide ample opportunity for learning and discovery. It is ultimately up to the student, as a reflective practitioner, to draw connections between the higher education and student affairs literature and professional experiences.
There are also several key themes and areas of content that will be present in all of the assistantships (Learn more here).The University of Vermont strongly values and promotes multicultural competency in order to prepare professionals for working with students from a variety of different backgrounds and identities. Students will also be able to gain an understanding and knowledge of the organizational and structural characteristics of the University.
What is the compensation for Graduate Assistants?
Compensation for HESA graduate assistants include a stipend valued at approximately
$15,500, which is distributed over a period of 9 months, and a full tuition
scholarship. Live-in positions may include a fully furnished apartment and a
limited meal plan. In addition, the Graduate College will fund a portion of
the student's health insurance. For specific information regarding health insurance
coverage please contact the Graduate College at (802) 656-3160.
How long is my appointment as a Graduate Assistant?
Graduate assistantships are two-year appointments. The second year is renewed so long as assistantship requirements have been satisfactorily met.