ABOUT PAY AND BENEFITS

1. What if I don’t get my first paycheck on time? Whom do I contact?

Speak with the department’s graduate secretary, or to the department administrative assistant, or to the person who offered you the assistantship position. That person should be able to explain why you did not get a paycheck and when you can expect one. He/she can trace your appointment payroll documents through the appropriate offices to find out where the problem is. Those offices include your school/college dean’s office and Human Resources.

2. What if I have a question about my medical, dental or vision benefits?

• It depends on several factors, including the source of funding for your position.
• If you are a non-Michigan resident, the Graduate School will pay the difference between the Non-Michigan resident assessment and the Michigan resident assessment for all enrolled credits that are on your approved Plan of Work.
• The resident portion of your tuition assessment is paid by the Graduate School if your salary comes from a departmental general fund position or by your department if you are supported from a grant or sponsored program fund.

Not if you dropped it after the 100% reimbursement date – which is normally about two weeks after classes begin. (See TIPS at the end.)

It pays for up to ten (10) graduate credits for each of the fall and winter semesters of an appointment and up to two (2) graduate credits for the spring/summer appointment.

The Graduate School will pay:

• the difference between the non-resident and the resident portion for all graduate credits on your approved Plan of Work if you are a non-Michigan resident;
• the resident assessment for up to two graduate credits on your approved Plan of Work, as specified in the GEOC/AFT Labor Agreement, if you are supported in a general fund position (ask your department secretary or administrative assistant).

The Graduate School has no authorization to remove or cancel Late Registration fees. If you feel that the circumstances that prevented you from registering on time were outside your control, speak with your department graduate secretary or administrative assistant. If that person agrees, he/she can explain the situation to the Registration Office and request cancellation of the fee. Note that cancellation will be approved only in circumstances that are deemed to be outside the control of the student. (See TIPS.)

Send an e-mail to Tricia Koufes (ae5366@wayne.edu) or Carole Barduca (c.barduca@wayne.edu) explaining the situation and Student Accounts Receivable will be asked to have a reimbursement check mailed to you. The reimbursement cannot be processed until your tuition account shows a credit balance, indicating that there is an excess payment in your account.

Tuition payments are scheduled as early as possible; however sometimes circumstances prevent the tuition from disbursing prior to need-based financial aid.

Contact Tricia Koufes, The Graduate School, 577-2145, triciak@wayne.edu or Carole Barduca, The Graduate School, 577-8051,  c.barduca@wayne.edu. We will determine who was responsible for paying your tuition (the Graduate School or your department) and facilitate the tuition payment and reimbursement of your loan.

Contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, The Welcome Center, 42 West Warren, 577-3378.

The Registrar’s Office completes the form. In some cases, that office may send the form to the Graduate School (if you have a fellowship). The Registrar’s Office is located in Suite 5101, 5057 Woodward. 

 

• If you are a Master’s student and have completed all course and thesis credits, you cannot be considered full-time unless you are enrolled for eight credits (fall or winter) and/or two credits during the spring/summer. You can request approval to be a graduate assistant for one semester only, as long as you are enrolled for one required credit. Submit a written request, signed by your advisor, to the Dean of the Graduate School, 4012 Faculty/Administration Building.
• If you are a Ph.D. student and have completed all required credits, you may enroll for Maintenance Fee Status. This will permit you to be considered full time and to be supported as a graduate assistant as long as you have not exceeded the maximum number of semesters of support.
• If you are an international student, you must also get approval from the Office of International Students and Scholars.

The answer(s) to your question(s) may be available on the Graduate School Web Site. If not, you may contact Carole Barduca, The Graduate School, 4012 Faculty/Administration Building, 577-8051; or the GEOC Office at 5057 Woodward, Third Floor.  313-831-5259.

Students whose first semester of enrollment was Fall 2003 must pay a $25 fee each semester to use the Center.  Previously-enrolled students are free; however, the Center admits persons by scanning the person’s One Card, and Graduate Assistants’ cards will reflect employment status rather than student status. Tell the Fitness Center admission staff person that you are a graduate assistant and that your name should appear on the active list of GAs that they receive from the Graduate School.

Visit the Graduate School Web Site,