INFORMATION APPLYING TO GRADUATE ASSISTANTS/FELLOWS

A. COLLOQUIUM REQUIREMENT FOR THOSE HOLDING ASSISTANTSHIPS IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING

The department requires all graduate assistants and fellows who do not have a scheduling conflict with classes or teaching assignments in Electrical Engineering to register for the EE colloquium series (course numbers EE 8970, EE 8980). This is offered only on an S-N grade basis; to earn a ‘S’ grade the student is required to attend six colloquiums.

B. OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT

The combined responsibilities of coursework and a 50%-time assistantship demand full-time attention from each student. Consequently, a graduate student who receives the financial support of a 50%-time assistantship may not accept supplementary employment, either off-campus or from another unit within the university. Any students contemplating any form of supplementary employment must obtain approval for the commitment from the Department Chairman before making the commitment.

C. FELLOWSHIPS

1. TUITION FELLOWSHIPS -- ELIGIBLE AFTER ONE ACADEMIC YEAR

   After one year of academic study, graduate students who do not have a 50% teaching/research assistantship or fellowship may apply for a Tuition Fellowship. Tuition fellowships are offered both Fall and Spring semesters and are announced via e-mail. The fellowship covers tuition only, not the student services fees or course fees.

2. FELLOWSHIPS -- INDUSTRY, GOVERNMENT, NSF, DOD

   As fellowships from private industry (IBM, AT&T, SRC, Guidant) and government agencies (DOD, NSF) become available, students and faculty are notified via e-mail. Nominations for several of these fellowships are made directly by individual faculty members, not by the Director of Graduate Studies. As information about fellowship opportunities becomes available, this information is passed along to students via email and is also posted on the Computer Engineering Bulletin Board. Most of these fellowships provide a basic stipend plus tuition, possibly fees, possibly individual health insurance, and some have dependency allowances. In some cases the basic stipend can be supplemented through a part-time staff appointment.

   Eligibility for fellowships is limited to candidates considered by the faculty to be capable of outstanding performance in a graduate program. Competition is keen for these desirable awards. While most fellowships include a stipend for only nine months, some fellowships may be accepted on a nine- or twelve-month basis, and some are renewable.

   See http://www.grad.umn.edu to Learn more about Fellowship Opportunities at the University of Minnesota