Does this fact page tell me everything I need to know?

No. This fact page simply skims over the vital points of the Graduate and Teaching Assistantships in the English Department. If you have specific questions, email the MA Director, Caroline Krzakowski, at ckrzakow@nmu.edu, or MFA Director, Matt Frank, at mfrank@nmu.edu. 

A graduate assistantship or a teaching assistantship provides a tuition scholarship for eight credits per semester and a $11,236 stipend. Graduate Assistants (GAs) and Teaching Assistants (TAs) perform various tasks in the English Department. For instance, GAs typically work in the Writing Center, with Passages North, or for Western American Literature, while TAs normally teach one section of EN 109, Intensive College Composition, EN 111 College Composition I, EN 211, College Composition II each semester. Some TAs are also able to teach EN 110, Good Books, or EN 215, Introduction to Creative Writing. Beyond tuition and pay, GAs and TAs gain invaluable experience that will be helpful when planning to teach or work at the community college or university level. While health insurance is not included in the funding package at this time, select services are available free of charge at the University's Health Center.

Assistants are usually given a one-year contract. MA students may renew their assistantships for one additional year, and MFA students may renew their contracts for two additional years.

You can apply for an assistantship by visiting our graduate programs applications page.

Northern Michigan University is committed to providing a learning, living and working environment free from discrimination. NMU supports the Title IX* federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including: gender based discrimination, pregnancy and parenting discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, voyeurism, and any other conduct of a sexual nature that is nonconsensual.

Title IX covers any area where an NMU student is assigned for placement (e.g. student teaching) and/or participates in an internship arranged or initiated by the University, during their term at NMU. 

The University cares about you.  If you believe you are experiencing or experienced sex discrimination, in a university or non-university sponsored placement and/or internship, please report.  The University has resources and support information available for you.

To report, please contact:
Complaints against employees, applicants, and third parties
Janet Koski
Director of Equal Opportunity
Equal Opportunity Officer and Title IX Coordinator
105 Cohodas Building
906-227-2420
jakoski@nmu.edu

Complaints against students
Mary Brundage
Associate Dean of Students
Deputy Title IX Coordinator
2001 Hedgcock
906-227-1705
mbrundag@nmu.edu

Emergency
Public Safety and Police Services
158 Services Building
906-227-2151

* Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law that states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."