The University makes financial aid available on a competitive basis to prospective graduate students in the form of fellowships and graduate associateships. All applicants who want to be considered for any kind of financial aid must check the appropriate box on the Graduate School admissions application.
Fellowships
All fellowship consideration is conducted at University-wide levels. Students with exceptional academic records may be nominated by the Comparative Studies Graduate Studies Committee for consideration for the award of a University Fellowship or, for students who are members of underrepresented groups, a Graduate Enrichment Fellowship by the Graduate School. Special Graduate Enrichment Fellowships may also be considered for members of underrepresented groups who show evidence of high potential for graduate study, but whose previous education requires supplementary coursework.
The stipend for University fellows runs for 12 months; resident and nonresident fees are waived. Graduate fellows must enroll for at least 15 hours of graduate credit each quarter they hold an appointment and must be in residence at The Ohio State University. The Comparative Studies Graduate Studies Committee does not permit graduate fellows in the M.A. program to hold any other type of employment with one exception: fellows may hold a concurrent Graduate Associateship at a maximum of 25% time. Students must continue to meet all fellowship requirements.
Please consult the Graduate School and the Graduate School Handbook, Section II.9, for further information on graduate fellowships.
Graduate Associateships
- Graduate Teaching, Graduate Research, and Graduate Administrative Associateships (GTAs, GRAs, and GAAs) are available through University departments, centers, and other units. Duties and responsibilities of GAs appointed by units other than the Department of Comparative Studies are determined by the employing unit.
- Graduate Teaching Associateships. A small number of Graduate Teaching Associateships are available through the Department of Comparative Studies, and these positions are offered to especially qualified candidates. Students are also encouraged to inquire about Teaching Associateships in other departments. Applicants with backgrounds and skills of interest to a particular department (such as experience in teaching elementary foreign languages, mathematics, the sciences, or composition) should contact the appropriate graduate studies chair about the availability of GTA positions, eligibility requirements, and application procedures.
- Within the Department, GTAs sometimes have full responsibility for their own classes and sometimes assist faculty in teaching large lecture classes. GTAs employed as teachers will be expected to take full responsibility for all aspects of the class they are teaching. New GTAs will be observed and evaluated by Comparative Studies faculty at least once during the first quarter of teaching and at least once during the quarter in which a class is being taught for the first time. GTAs assisting faculty instructors will determine their specific duties in consultation with the instructor of the class. GTAs will be assigned office space, but in some instances may be required to share desk space with other GTAs.
- GTAs submit student evaluations of their performance each quarter to the Department Chair. Student and observer evaluations will be made available to GTAs, and GTAs will be expected to improve areas of weakness. If student or observer evaluations reveal serious problems with GTA performance, appropriate means of improvement will be determined in consultation with the Chair.
- For further information about Graduate Associate appointments, fellowships, and financial aid in general, please consult the Graduate School Handbook, sections II.8 and II.9.
- Graduate Research Associateships. Duties and responsibilities of GRAs will be determined in consultation with the faculty or staff member to whom they are assigned. Means of evaluating GRA performance are the responsibility of the faculty or staff member with whom the GRA is working. GRAs generally will not be assigned office space of their own.
- Graduate Administrative Associateships. GAAs work as program assistants in offices throughout the University, and their duties and responsibilities are assigned by those offices. However, because there is no central listing of University-wide GAA positions, applicants themselves must often locate them. The Department brings such positions to the attention of students whenever possible. These positions are usually filled in March, April, and May, but GAA positions sometimes become available during the rest of the year, as well. Procedures for evaluation of job performance are established by the unit in which the student is employed.
For further information about Graduate Associate appointments, fellowships, and financial aid in general, please consult the Graduate School Handbook, sections II.8 and II.9.
Criteria for Appointment and Minimum Enrollment Requirements
To hold any Graduate Associate appointment, a student must be pursuing a graduate degree at the University; must be registered in the Graduate School for at least nine credit hours during each quarter of appointment (except Summer Quarter, when students must be registered for seven credit hours); must be in good standing in the Graduate School when the appointment or reappointment becomes effective; must maintain reasonable progress toward a graduate degree; and must certify proficiency in spoken English before assuming GTA duties involving direct student contact.
Reappointment Criteria
Reappointment as a Graduate Associate depends upon reasonable academic progress as determined by the Graduate Studies Committee, as well as satisfactory job performance. Comparative Studies students appointed by departments other than the Department of Comparative Studies are subject to the procedures and criteria of the employing unit for appointment and reappointment. Termination of employment will occur only after reasonable attempts have been made to resolve the specific problems leading to termination.
Time Limitation
Students who enroll in the graduate program with a BA and who are in pursuit of an MA will be assured of two years of funding. Students who enter with a BA and progress on for a Ph.D. will be assured of five years of funding. Students who enter with an MA and are in pursuit of a Ph.D. will be assured of four years of funding. Each of these assurances presumes that the student remains in good standing and is making sufficient progress toward her or his degree. Students may also petition for additional years of funding which will be considered on a year-by-year and case-by-case basis. The Graduate Studies Committee will decide the merit of all such petitions.
Grievances
When grievances of any kind cannot be resolved through discussion with an adviser, supervisor, the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, the Chair or Assistant to the Chair of the Department, or a dean of the College of Humanities, the Graduate Associate is advised to consult with Graduate School officials in order to undertake grievance procedures as established by the Council on Research and Graduate Studies.
For further information about Graduate Associate appointments, fellowships, and financial aid in general, please consult the Graduate School Handbook, sections II.8 and II.9.
Travel Reimbursement
All students enrolled in the Ph.D. program are encouraged to present papers at professional conferences and are encouraged to petition the Chair for reimbursement of travel expenses incurred for such presentations. The Department will make every effort to provide some assistance, but all reimbursement will depend on the availability of funds. The Department cannot guarantee any financial assistance for travel to conferences. In no case will students be reimbursed for attendance at a conference in which they are not formally participating as a presenter or discussant.