The main difference between GAs (Graduate Assistants) is that GAs are paid by a stipend from their program, rather than by the Writing Center. The exception to this is if you choose to work over the holidays (such as Intersession, Summer, or extra hours beyond your stipend contract). Another major difference is that you will be invited to take on more leadership responsibilities. While other tutors can apply for leadership roles (Student Managers and Writing Group Facilitators), many of them won’t. In contrast, while GAs are not required to take positions as Student Leaders, most will.
GAs are not paid on an hourly basis, but instead by stipend. A set amount of compensation—determined by your department, not the Writing Center—is dispersed to you in even payments throughout the school year.
The Liberal Arts & Social Sciences Graduate Office oversees your stipend and Gerald Cruz (Associate Director of Graduate Advising) is the person directly responsible for approving your hours and answering any questions about your stipend. Gerald “encourage(s)…GAs to reach out to me at any time/for any questions” at [email protected] or (773) 325-7310.
The number of hours that Writing Center GAs work is determined by their GA contract (usually 14 hours). Your availability and schedule are determined through the same process as the rest of the Writing Center Tutors, as outlined on the Quarterly Scheduling Process & Policies page. Likewise, for any schedule changes or calling out sick, you will still use the schedule change form. This includes scheduling any make-up hours that you might need to, though you will also talk to your direct supervisor (for Student Leaders) or Katie Brown for about those hours.
The LAS Graduate Office is much more concerned with making sure that GAs aren’t being made to work more than their contract asks than if they are working less than that number. For instance, if your contract is for 14 hours a week, 16 hours on the clock is much more concerning than 12. As such, making up hours is between you and your supervisor in the Writing Center. If you are making up hours, it does not have to be in the same pay period as the missed hours, but Gerald Cruz would appreciate a heads-up about the extra hours on your timesheet so that he doesn’t think something is wrong. Your timesheet should always reflect the number of hours you have worked, even if that number isn’t the same as what your GA contract says.