TA Support FAQ's
Will a College’s allocation of OSTs be based on what we have had in the past? Can we get more if new sections are needed?
Currently, the TA OST waiver allocation per college will be based on the current year’s number of awards. If additional OST waivers are needed due to some contingencies, the Dean of the college may request waivers from COGS Dean with reasons for request.
Will extra staff need to be hired in COGS to manage this review and approval process?
COGS has requested additional staff support from the University. Before its request is granted, the current staff members in COGS will try their best to meet the challenges and needs of the new review and approval process.
What is the timeline for implementation?
AY 2012-13
April 20
- Estimate needs for fall TA’s based on Vandal Friday numbers
- College will assess Vandal Friday numbers and communicate with COGS Dean if any TA OST adjustments are needed
May 1
- Continue to update Banner with in-state fee scholarships as necessary
- Colleges will inform COGS on the status of TA offers, OST usage, and forward to COGS a copy of the signed offer letters for those who have accepted offers
- Redistribute unused OST’s as appropriate and necessary
July 30
- Colleges will inform COGS on the status of TA offers, OST usage, and forward to COGS a copy of the signed offer letters for those who have accepted offers
- Redistribute unused OST’s as appropriate and necessary
August
- Colleges will inform COGS on the status of TA offers, OST usage, and forward to COGS a copy of the signed offer letters for those who have accepted
- Approve EPAF’s for all TA’s for AY 2012-13
- Redistribute any left over OST’s if necessary
AY 2013-14
October/November
- Dean and Associate Dean attend each college dean/director/dept head meeting and talk about graduate education. Distribute OST and scholarship reports from AY 2012-13 and talk about projections for AY 2013-14
January 18
- Receive renewal information from colleges for OST and in-state fees scholarships for AY 2013-14
By January 30
- Notify colleges numbers of in-state fee scholarships (renewals and new) available for next academic year, as well as number of TA OST’s
March 1
- Receive names of in-state fee scholarship recipients for 2013-14
April
- Estimate needs for fall TA’s based on Vandal Friday numbers
- College will assess Vandal Friday numbers and communicate with COGS Dean on any TA OST adjustments
May
- Colleges will inform COGS on the status of TA offers, OST usage, and forward to COGS a copy of the signed offer letters for those who have accepted offers
- Redistribute unused OST’s as appropriate and necessary
July 30
- Colleges will inform COGS on the status of TA offers, OST usage, and forward to COGS a copy of the signed offer letters for those who have accepted offers
- Redistribute unused OST’s as appropriate and necessary
August
- Colleges will inform COGS on the status of TA offers, OST usage, and forward to COGS a copy of the signed offer letters for those who have accepted offers
- Approve EPAF’s for all TA’s for AY 2012-13
- Redistribute any left over OST’s if necessary
Will there be any differences in the graduate admission procedures under the new TA OST waiver system?
The admission process will remain the same.
Will there be any differences in the TA approval procedure?
- All TAs are to be issued an offer letter by the recruiting unit with a copy sent to COGS. While you may use a departmental format for the letter, you are strongly encouraged to use one of the templates that are available at www.uidaho.edu/cogs/forms (scroll to the bottom section).
- All TA EPAFs will continue to be entered by the departments, but the College of Graduate Studies will be added to the approval list for all EPAFs for TA’s beginning with AY 2012-13. A signed offer letter must be on file in COGS prior to review of the EPAF.
- Colleges will monitor the use of TA OSTs and periodically inform COGS on the status of usage and needs based on the timeline for implementation.