Below are some comments to each question that might be helpful to you in evaluating the future of your Graduate Assistants. (Some schools answered questions with just yes or no answers) Schools include NCAA D3, NAIA, NCCAA and USCAA members. Thank you very much for everyone who gave input to this survey.

 

 

Graduate Assistant Survey

 

 

1- Do you use Graduate Assistants in your Athletic Department?

*-absolutely-we would be in big trouble in the area of assistant coaches without them, we currently have 10 GA's that serve as primary assistants in various athletic programs. 1 GA in Football, 1-GA in Men's basketball, 1-GA in women's basketball, 1-GA that does both men's soccer and track, 1-GA that does both women's soccer and track, 1-GA that does women's volleyball and softball, 1-GA in baseball, 2-GA's who are certified in athletic training, 1-.5 GA in sports information

 

*-yes, but I am not positive it is in the traditional sense.  NCAA Division I & II Schools take a very professional approach toward Grad assistants.  It is an advertised position, etc.. 

 

*-Yes, but they are called student assistants.

 

*-This is the first year we have used grad assistants.  We have one for soccer and one for basketball.  We are hoping to add a third for softball next season.

 

*-1 yes, this is the first time this year.  We have two. One male and one female and  we would like to add another in sports medicine

 

 

2-What education package do you offer?

*-free graduate tuition for up to 21 hours per year. Typically, the GA's take two classes each term for fall and spring, then take 3 classes in their first summer, take 2 classes in the fall term their second year, and then 2 classes in their final semester.

 

*- tuition remission in the Xxxxxx State University Sports Administration Masters program.

 

*-Masters in Education or MBA paid for here on campus

 

*-no grad programs at this time...yes if we had them available 

 

*-I am not sure, I think it varies at this point depending on the role of the assistant.  Units are limited as well. 

 

*-none offered at this time

 

*-Our grad students are full time at Xxxxxx State University (15 minutes from us)

 

*-We offer a stipend and $3000 towards graduate tuition per year at our school or another institution. (plus room and board)

 

*-ROOM, BOARD AND TUITION FOR THE MA PROGRAM 

 

*-we pay for their masters program at Xxxxxx State University. They have a special program set up that makes it very affordable for us.

 

*- Tuition reimbursements. (no room or board or stipend)

 

3-Do you offer room and board?

*-yes, meal card for our school food service when the food service is serving. typically fall term, spring term and pre-season. We also house our GA's in campus owned housing with all utilities paid by the school. We have two houses that hold 4-5 people in each. These houses have full kitchens and each GA gets their own room-shared living space for the rest. If the houses are full, then we put GA's in campus apartments.

 

*-We try, Not under our control.  Usually the room and classes makes up for the fact that there is NO salary for assistant Coaches. 

 

*-Tuition Waiver 

 

*-We've been told that all parts of a compensation package must be taxable, so we're not allowed to do this.  I'm not sure if that's federal, state, or school policy.

 

*-YES, OR THE DOLLAR EQUIVALENT IF LIVING OFF CAMPUS 

 

*-no room or board but we did find a room for one  of them on campus. (Room behind the gym sort of thing)

 

4-Do you offer a stipend? (please include range)

*-for a GA that only works in one sport- $3000 + $500 for professional development travel (ten payments from August 1- end of May), for a GA that works two sports- $4000 + $500 for professional development travel (ten payments from August -end of May)

 

*-Yes - $15,000/year (no room and board)

 

*-yes, $400/mth. (no room and board)

 

*-We offer either room and board or room and a small stipend. $3,000-$5,000

 

*-$5000-$6000 for Sept. 1-April 30 

 

*-We are looking at the possibility of a grad student coaching.  The stipend would be the same as our other coaches - $1000 base for a fall coach and $1500 for a winter coach, with $100 added per year of experience here.  It's not enough, but limited by budget constraints.

 

*-we pay them $5000 includes grad work

 

*-Xxxxx State pays the student 90% of what we pay them. This makes it affordable enough for us to do it

 

*- yes 6K to 7K for ten months (no room and Board)

 

5-Would you consider benefits as part of the package?

*-We would love to consider benefits, but currently that is not part of the package. Therefore the GA's are allowed to get on the school student insurance plan for $350/year. They have to pay that if they need it.

 

*-we do not offer benefits but have been discussing it.

 

*-What benefits!?  Head Coaches do not even get benefits!! 

 

*-No.  None of our part time people have benefits.

 

*-Our coaches are generally paid as outside contractors which does not include benefits.  This year for the first time in several years, we have a fulltime college staff member who is also coaching a team.  So he receives benefits from the school, but not specifically for coaching.

 

6-Other comments

*-The GA's at XXXXXX College get an unbelievable GA experience. Besides acquiring their Master's degree, they actually serve as the primary assistant coaches for the various sports. Therefore they get real experiences working on the field or court with student-athletes. They are asked to be heavily involved in recruitment, therefore they get a real experience doing that. They are required to attend all regular staff meetings and vote as a full-time member of the staff. They get every privilege a regular full-time staff member has, they just don't get paid the salary.

 

*-we offer undergraduate internships.. all include tuition waivers and some include housing at the athletic dorm with added residence life responsibilities.

 

*-I'd like to expand what we do with our internships, but as always resources are an issue.  We do not offer enough graduate programs to expand our GA possibilities.

 

*-GA’s are a valuable resource for any school and for the college graduate a very fine way to enter into the work force and build a resume!