Posting of GTA/GSA positions

The Department of Chemistry regularly has GTA/GSA positions available for the fall, winter and spring/summer semesters. Notification of intent to apply for positions must be submitted by the faculty research advisor for Ph.D. students in chemistry. Anyone with questions about this process may contact Melissa Rochon (melissa@chem.wayne.edu).

General timelines for applications

Approximate due dates.

Fall: May 1
Winter: Oct. 1
Spring/summer: Feb. 1

Hiring decisions are made based on the following factors:

Satisfactory academic progress toward the degree
Number of years enrolled in the program, number of semesters previously taught
Tenure status of faculty advisor
Number of positions requested by faculty advisor as described in the departmental GTA rubric

Decisions are made as soon as possible after all information is collected. Students are notified in writing if they are not selected for employment as soon as possible, but no later than Jul. 1 for the fall semester, or Dec. 15 for the winter semester. Inquiries about the process may be submitted to Kellie Lauder (k.lauder@wayne.edu) or Melissa Rochon (melissa@chem.wayne.edu).

Organizing committee

Wayne State University and the GEOC (Graduate Employees' Organizing Committee American Federation of Teachers) recognize an obligation and reaffirm by this Agreement their commitment to achieve equal employment opportunity, non-discrimination, and non-harassment within the University. Accordingly, it is agreed that, consistent with University policies, the University and members of the bargaining unit shall not discriminate or harass on the basis of race, color, veteran status, height, weight, ethnicity, religion, creed, political affiliation, political beliefs, membership in any social or political organization, national origin, caste, ancestry, marital/relationship or parental status, caregiver status (i.e. providing care for a dependent person), age, gender, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, disability, or HIV status, of those capable of performing their professional duties. The preceding list is illustrative but not exhaustive. For the purpose of this agreement, discrimination applies both to incidents characterized as "disparate treatment" and "disparate impact." Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit Wayne State University from the application of bona fide occupational qualifications as may be appropriate or from taking such measures as may be permissible by law, to protect the health and safety of the University community.

Rubric for teaching assistant assignments

Honor prior commitments and consider appeals for special consideration.
Calculate points (see below) and assign teaching assistantships from most to fewest points until all positions are filled.
Use the tiebreaker rubric (see below) to break ties.
If more GTA positions available than initial requests, send a second call for requests and repeat steps two and three with the new batch of requests and the remaining GTA positions.
Master's students have lower priority than Ph.D. students.

Points = sum of the following seven categories:

Year of student = (first year = 10 points, second year = 8 points, third year = 6 points, fourth year = 4 points, fifth year = 2 points, ≥ sixth year = 0 points).
Previous departmental support of student via GTA or GSA = {10 – [0.5 × (total fall and winter semesters of GTA or GSA)]}.
Assistant professor advisor = 10 points for first through fifth-year students.
Current bad academic standing = – 25 points.
Documented poor teaching from the previous semester = – 5 points.
Group requests = {1 – (number of requests for GTAs from advisor)/[(# of requests for GTAs from advisor) + (number of overhead-bearing GRAs from advisor)]} × 10.
Student with the most points from a research group = 5 points.

Tiebreaker rubric

If tied individuals are within the same research group, then it's the advisor's choice
Research group with the most overhead-bearing GRAs over the past five years
Research group with the most overhead-bearing GRAs for the current semester
Student has published at least one paper
Coin toss