Graduate Program : Financial Aid Information
TEACHING ASSISTANTSHIPS
The department awards twenty-one graduate teaching assistantships
each fall, with approximately half of these usually assigned
to new students. Recipients teach one section of first-year composition
a semester; they receive stipends of approximately $9010 for
the nine month school year as well as tuition remission for each
semester and for two summers while enrolled in the program. During
their first semester, assistants meet regularly in a seminar
on teaching writing to work at understanding the goals and context
of Maine’s first-year course and at planning effective
course procedures. After that first semester, they are free to
design their own courses as long as they observe course-wide
goals and shared evaluation procedures. Those who teach well
their first year normally have their assistantships renewed for
one additional year.
To apply for a teaching assistantship, please check the appropriate
line on the graduate school application form and submit with
your application a 1-2 page statement of your philosophy of teaching.
The department welcomes applications from candidates with teaching
experience, as well as from those desirous of gaining such experience.
Award of an assistantship depends, in part, on early submission
(by February 15 for the fall admission date) of ALL materials
(including test scores, letters of reference, transcript(s),
writing sample(s), the above-mentioned Statement of Teaching
Philosophy and application/fee) to the Graduate School. Applications
completed after February 15th will still be considered for a
TA position but are likely to be placed on a waiting list, pending
notification from students who were the first to be offered positions.
Assistantship positions are granted primarily in the fall. Applicants
to other semesters are encouraged to submit the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the Office of Financial Aid
as soon as possible to qualify for other forms of UMaine and
federally-sponsored aid. Submission of the FAFSA is also recommended
for all students applying to the MA program.
For more information about teaching assistantships, contact:
Patricia Burnes
Coordinator of College Composition
319 Neville Hall
University of Maine
Orono, ME 04469
Pat_Burnes@umit.maine.edu
(207)581-3856
Other sources of funding:
GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS, SCHOLARSHIPS AND ASSISTANTSHIPS
The following fellowships, scholarships and assistantships are
available to all University of Maine graduate students, on a
competitive basis.
Each department nominates its applicants or current students
for the awards and the Executive Committee of the Graduate Board
makes the awards.
NEW ENGLAND - ATLANTIC PROVINCES FELLOWSHIPS
Two graduate fellowships are available annually, on a competitive
basis, for either Canadian or American students in the field
of regional studies on New England and/or Atlantic Provinces
of Canada. These awards are open only to students in thesis programs.
They provide a stipend equivalent to that received by Teaching
Assistants, payable in either nine or twelve installments, and
a tuition waiver. Students who accept the awards must register
for a minimum of nine credit hours per semester.
Each department can nominate two students for this award.
ATLANTIC PROVINCES GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Three full-tuition scholarships are available to graduates of
the colleges and universities of the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec.
Recipients must register for a minimum of nine credit hours per
semester.
Each department can nominate two students for this award.
TRUSTEE TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS
Twenty full-tuition scholarships are available to all full-time
registered graduate students not supported by other scholarships,
fellowships, or assistantships. Recipients must register for
a minimum of nine semester hours.
Each department can nominate three students for this award.
UNIVERSITY GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS (UGRA)
Fifteen research assistantships are available annually to be
awarded by the Graduate School. The stipend is equivalent to
that received by Teaching Assistants, and the student receives
a tuition waiver for up to nine credit hours per semester. Recipients
must register for a minimum of six credit hours per semester.
Note: UGRA nominations are limited to students who have been
matriculated in their programs for at least one semester.
Each department can nominate one student for this award.
INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENT TUITION WAIVERS
Twenty full-tuition waivers are available for full-time registered
international graduate students. Recipients must be enrolled
or admitted into a degree program for Fall 1998 and must have
a TOEFL score of 550, as well as satisfactory scores on other
entrance examinations, as required. Recipients must also register
for a minimum of nine credit hours per semester. Awards are renewable
for a maximum of two years for Master's degree students and four
years for Doctoral students if the student remains in good standing.
Note: Because awards are made for more than one year, the number
of waivers available will vary from year to year.
Each department can nominate two students for this award.
Applicants who wish to be considered for these awards should
notify the Graduate Coordinator in English of their interest
and make certain that their applications are complete by the
end of January. Applicants wishing to establish eligibility for
federal aid (loans, work-study assistantships, etc.) must file
the FAFSA by March 1.
More information on University
of Maine financial aid options can be found at: www.ume.maine.edu/stuaid/programs.html
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