North Carolina A&T State University is a publicly supported institution. Tuition and other required student fees meet only a part of the total cost of education of students enrolled. For each full-time student enrolled in an institution of the University of North Carolina, the State of North Carolina appropriates significant amount of public funds.
Tuition and Fees
Tuition rates are based on whether or not the student is a resident of North Carolina. Tuition rates for non-residents are significantly higher than that for a resident. Tuition and fees for Distance Education students are billed separately. Furthermore, student enrolling in courses in summer courses are billed at the Summer School rates.
Tuition and fees are subject to change without prior notice. For an updated listing of tuition and fees, see the University Treasurer’s website (click here).
North Carolina A&T State University provides billing statements electronically through its Online Payments system. Students and Authorized Users will receive an email notification each time that a new billing statement is available. Payments must be submitted by the scheduled due date to avoid cancellation of classes.
Auditing Courses
A part-time student must pay all fees, including tuition, which would be charged to a student taking the course for credit. A full-time student is not required to pay additional fees for auditing. A change from credit registration to audit will not be permitted after late registration ends. An auditor is not required to participate in class discussions, prepare assignments, or take examinations.
Indebtedness to the University
A student may not be permitted to attend classes or final examinations after the due date of any unpaid obligation. If special financial arrangements have been made, failure to comply with these arrangements as stipulated will result in the student forfeiting his/her privilege to receive special financial arrangements for deferments in the future.
Students are required to pay for any loss or damage to University property cost due to abuse, negligence, or malicious action at replacement, in addition to being subject to disciplinary action for such loss or damage.
Diplomas and transcripts are withheld until the student has paid in full all fees and charges due to the University.
Refunds
A student is entitled to a refund when the account is overpaid and a credit balance is created. A student must officially withdraw from courses and, as appropriate, withdraw from the University by the posted deadline to avoid academic or financial responsibility. A student who withdraws from the University may be entitled to a partial refund of tuition and fees based on date of withdrawal; the refund schedule is available from the Treasurer’s office.
Students who are awarded Federal Financial Aid and choose to withdraw will also be subject to the “Return of Title IV Funds Policy”. In such cases, the Financial Aid office recalculates eligibility of Title IV funds. This may result in an unpaid balance due to the university. For details, students are referred to the Financial Aid office.
Veterans
Meeting the needs of students who receive educational benefits from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs is a high priority for the Office of Veteran and Disability Support Services at North Carolina A&T State University. Our Veteran Support Services office is committed to providing services and educational benefit programs for all eligible enrolled U.S. Veterans, National Guardsmen, Reservist and their eligible dependents. Students receiving veterans benefits are advised to consult the Veteran Support Services office or visit their website (click here).
Full time Faculty and Employees
All permanent employees who are regularly scheduled to work at least 30 hours each week, and have met their probationary period, are eligible to participate in the Tuition Waiver Program (TWP). The purpose of the TWP is to provide an opportunity for eligible employees to take a course and have the tuition and fees waived at North Carolina A&T State University or any of the other 15 constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina. Participation is voluntary. Tuition waiver is allowed for an academic year of fall semester, spring semester, and the summer sessions that follow, or courses taken as distance education. During the period from the fall semester through the second session of summer school, no more than two (2) waivers or two (2) classes may be approved. The Treasurer’s Office should be consulted for more information.
Residence Status for Tuition Purposes
The basis for determining tuition charge is whether a student is a resident or a non-resident for tuition purposes. Initial classification as either a resident or non-resident for tuition purpose is based on information provided on the application for admission. If a student chooses to petition a reclassification of his or her residence status for tuition purposes they must complete and submit the Residence and Tuition Status Application along with all required supporting documentation to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions no later than 10th day of the term for which they wish to be considered.
Residency decisions are based on North Carolina statutes (G.S. 116-143.1). The residency classification officer reviews each application on an individual basis using the guidelines provided within these statutes. Additional information regarding residency may be found in the University of North Carolina System Policies and Resources page click here.
FAFSA Application
Students may apply for need-based and some non-need-based financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students should complete this form immediately after January 1. There is no processing fee and all graduate students are encouraged to complete the application. Students can submit the FAFSA on the Web (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov) or mail the form to the Federal Processing Center. North Carolina A&T State University school code is 002905. The University’s priority deadline for receipt of the FAFSA is March 15th; however, students who miss the deadline are still encouraged to complete and mail the FAFSA as soon as possible.
A financial aid award will not be offered until a student is admitted to the University. Therefore, it is important that the admission procedure be completed as soon as possible. A student enrolled as a “Post-baccalaureate Studies (PBS)” student is not eligible to receive Federal and State financial aid unless enrolled in a Teacher Certification Program. All students must re-apply for financial assistance each academic year and separately for summer school.
Federal Work Study
The Federal Work-Study program provides students with an opportunity to work part-time to assist with educational costs. The program consists of jobs on and off campus for community service opportunities. Eligible students must be enrolled at least part-time, eligible to receive federal aid and have demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA application. For more information, students are referred to the Financial Aid office and to their website (click here).
Loans
The Financial Aid Office administers loan programs and disburses the funds through the Federal Direct Loan Program to Graduate Students. The Financial Aid Office will determine if you are eligible for this loan based on information reported on the FAFSA.
Students are notified of the amount of aid received through the award notification. The award notification indicates the gross amount of the loan for the fall and spring semester and/or summer sessions. The student’s account and bill indicate the actual amount received. For more information on the terms and conditions of federal loan programs, students are advised to consult the Financial Aid office and their website.
Scholarships and Fellowships
The majority of scholarships and fellowships at NC A&T State University are awarded through the academic department. Students are strongly urged to contact their academic department for additional scholarship information. Students receiving an outside scholarship should forward a copy of the notice to the Student Financial Aid Office. The scholarship will be included in the student’s award and may cause an adjustment to the current award package. All scholarship checks should be made payable to North Carolina A&T State University and mailed to the Treasurer’s Office. The check should include the student’s name and social security number.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available to graduate students who have been admitted to a graduate degree program at A&T, maintain full time status, are in good academic standing, and are making satisfactory progress toward their degrees. Graduate students who have completed their course work requirements and are working on their thesis or dissertation with less than full-time course load may be eligible for teaching and research assistantship in their final semester. The types of graduate assistantships are described below.
Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA):
A Graduate Teaching Assistantship’s primary purpose is to assist the student in strengthening and successfully completing his/her academic program. It includes activities that are relevant to the student’s program of study, provides training to the student in teaching, and contributes to the university’s teaching mission.
GTAs are selected based on their academic credentials and perform duties in their area of expertise. GTAs receive a stipend and in-state tuition. In-state tuition may be paid by the hiring unit or the Graduate College. The Graduate College also awards a limited number of tuition remissions on a competitive basis to out-of-state students that pays the difference between out-of-state and in-state tuition.
Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA):
A Graduate Research Assistantship’s primary purpose is to assist the student in strengthening and successfully completing his/her academic program. It includes activities that are relevant to the student’s program of study, provides training to the student in research, and contributes to the university’s research mission.
GRAs are selected based on their academic credentials and perform duties in their area of expertise. GRAs receive a stipend and in-state tuition and is consistent with the approved award/contract from the funding agency. The Graduate College also awards a limited number of tuition remissions on a competitive basis to out-of-state students that pays the difference between out-of-state and in-state tuition.
Graduate Administrative Assistantship (GAA):
GAAs support a variety of academic and non-academic functions of the university. Their duties may be unrelated directly to teaching or research. GAAs are selected based on criteria established by the hiring units. The Graduate College does not prescribe stipend levels for GAAs; instead they are compensated according to the hourly rates established by the Division of Human Resources. GAAs are employed on campus in positions designated as Student Assistant IV or Student Assistant V. In addition to positions posted independently by hiring units, the Division of Student Affairs coordinates the posting of positions at this website. The Graduate College does not award tuition remission to GAAs.
Appointment
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University provides equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, sexual orientation or sexual identity.
All assistantships are generally made for an academic year (9 months). A separate appointment for summer term can be made depending on the source and availability of funding and approval of the supervisor.
Notification of awards should be in the form of a contract using the form authorized by the Graduate College. The notification should contain information about the appointment period, compensation, expected duties, teaching and research load, review and renewal procedures, and tuition remission, if any.
Renewals
Continuation of graduate assistantship support from year-to-year or semester-to-semester is not guaranteed. Renewal of support is based on a number of factors including: (a) satisfactory progress toward degree completion, (b) satisfactory completion of prior assistantship responsibilities, (c) enrollment status, (d) academic standing, (e) completion of training requirements, (f) evaluation and (g) availability of resources.
Termination
A Graduate Assistantship may be terminated before the expiration of its designated term due to loss of funding, for cause, for academic delinquency, by written notice, and by voluntary mutual agreement.
- Loss of Funding. A graduate assistantship may be terminated due to a loss, reduction, or reallocation in appropriation, grant, contract, gift, or other funds with which to support the appointment.
- Cause. The following are examples of sufficient cause for removal: incompetence, inefficiency, wanton carelessness or neglect of duty, violation of research ethics, violation of safety protocols, insubordination, and repeated or extended absence.
- Academic Delinquency. Not making satisfactory academic progress toward a degree or is otherwise not in good academic standing.
- Voluntary Agreement. With the agreement of the University, an appointment may be terminated by the voluntary written resignation of the GA.
Compensation
In accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requirements, the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO/AA) Statement (http://www.ncat.edu/hr/policies/index.html) and EEO/AA certification in the Federal Government’s System for Award Management (SAM.gov), compensation for Graduate Assistants must be treated the same under like circumstances. This principle requires the University and its academic units to hire graduate students doing similar kinds of work through the same mechanism at similar rates, including pay scales and tuition charges. Equal compensation is mandated by the following: the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Therefore, the University must pay equal compensation to Graduate Assistants who perform jobs that require substantially equal skills, effort and responsibilities, and that are performed under similar working conditions within the University.
Graduate Assistantships are based on degree level (Master’s or Doctoral), progression in the graduate program, and academic discipline. Pay rates may vary by student experience, funding source, discipline, and responsibilities of the appointment. The University will set the minimum and maximum salary scale for all categories of assistantships. The salaries will be competitive and ensure fairness.
Departments should monitor their pay practices for consistency to ensure that individuals are paid in accordance with the published pay scales and in accordance with the legal requirements cited above. For example, all GRAs with similar skills, effort and responsibilities in a PhD program in the same discipline shall be paid the same.
Tuition Remission
A Graduate Assistant may be eligible for tuition remission or reduction, as well as payment of required fees. The funds associated with GTA tuition remission are allocated to the academic schools and colleges. Allocation to individual students is managed by the schools/colleges.
Evaluation
An assistantship necessitates periodic assessment and feedback regarding a student’s performance. Each department is responsible for review and evaluation of graduate assistants and may include written assessment of work by faculty supervisor, classroom visitation by designated faculty members, and written student evaluations. The evaluations must be submitted to the Graduate College at the end of each semester.
Training
All graduate assistants are required to undergo training as specified by the Graduate College.
To keep the GTA appointment, the initial GTA training must be completed during the first week of the semester. In addition, GTAs will be required to attend specified training sessions throughout the academic year. Before assuming teaching assistant duties that require contact with students, a non-native, non-primary-English-speaking graduate student must also be certified as proficient in oral and written English.
To keep the GRA appointment, the initial GRA training must be completed during the first week of the semester. In addition, GRAs will be required to attend specified training sessions throughout the academic year. GRAs will be required to undergo training in research ethics, conflict of interest, responsible authorship, intellectual property rights, publications and patent policy, and other topics mandated by federal and state regulations. All GRAs are required to receive lab safety training (laser safety, chemical hazard safety, etc.) before working in any lab.
Administration
A graduate assistantship represents financial support to qualified graduate students to allow them to provide services to the university while continuing to focus their effort on completing their degree programs. All assistantships must be recommended by a senior university administrator (member of the Chancellor’s Cabinet or a Dean). All assistantships must be funded from approved university accounts with adequate funding in the assistantship line item. Personal funds cannot be used to support assistantships. The Graduate College will administer all assistantships and will be responsible for post audit reports to track and monitor compliance with these policies, adherence to fiscal regulations, etc.
Code of Conduct
A Graduate Assistant’s teaching, research, and administrative activities are subject to the ethical precepts and codes of the academic profession, the laws of the State of North Carolina regarding its employees, the laws of the United States, and University policies governing institutional obligations. Violation of any of these requirements constitutes a basis for disciplinary action in accordance with procedures set forth in the University’s policies. In their interactions with students, faculty, and all other members of the university community, GAs are expected to conduct themselves with professionalism, ethics, sensitivity and thoughtfulness.
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