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The University of Texas at Austin

New Students

For all students who will be a TA or RA:
  1. The official University records must document the award of the Masters degree by the 20th class day of the semester in order for a student to receive the master’s level stipend. New students earning a masters degree at their previous institution are urged to submit their official final transcript documenting the award of this degree, and the semester earned, to GIAC as soon as possible. The transcript must be delivered to GIAC in a sealed envelope. They are located at 2608 Whitis Ave. It is advisable to mention to GIAC that you are giving them proof of having earned a masters degree, and to request that it be added to your official records as quickly as possible as it affects your stipend.
  2. Students who are a TA, RA, or AI must be registered full-time for the semester(s) they are employed, which means a minimum of 9 hours in a Fall or Spring semester and a minimum of 3 hours in a Summer semester. You must be registered and paid for the appointment to be processed.
  3. Fill out a 'Paycheck Profile' on UT Direct: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/payroll/po8/payroll_info.WBX
  4. After your TA or RA appointment is completed, you must take some required Compliance Training modules: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/cts/index.WBX
  5. Tuition Assistance waiver for TAs and RAs: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/acct/fb/waivers/index.WBX.

     

    Click to "Request Waiver." Follow the steps. You will receive a message that the request is approved, unless documentation is required. If documentation is required, you will be given 10 days to provide it.

    Once the request is approved, 75% of the waiver amount will be added to your fee bill immediately. You may view the corrected tuition amounts on "My Tuition Bill." You may view the status of any request by entering the web site, and clicking, "Check status."

    You may request a waiver as soon as registration begins for any semester, but you MUST submit a request each semester. All requests must be submitted before the last official class day of the semester to be covered.

    25% of the tuition assistance is initially withheld for taxes. Any balance will be refunded after the 12th class day.

For TAs only:
  1. All new TAs need to attend the College of Natural Sciences TA Orientation on August 21 from 1-3 p.m. Location WCH 1.120. Important information such as insurance options will be covered.
  2. All TAs for the CS Department need to attend our TA Orientation on August 25 at 2 p.m. in TAY 3.128.
  3. TA applications are only valid for one semester. Assignments are made approximately one month before classes begin. To be considered for a TA position, you must fill out a new application each semester when it opens: http://www.cs.utexas.edu/academics/graduate/ta/
Textbooks

Appointed TAs who need a copy of the textbook for their assigned courses may borrow one from the department. To request a loaned textbook, you must have a current TA appointment and submit an email to smoak@cs.utexas.edu with the following information: your name, the course number of the class for which you are a TA, and your supervising instructor's name. Textbooks will not be loaned for personal use or for any courses in which a TA is a student. All textbooks are due at the end of the semester in usable condition.

Room Scheduling

To reserve a CS-controlled room for an event, use the CS Facilities Meeting Rooms scheduling system (accessible only with a CS account). To reserve a University-controlled room for discussion sections, exam prep, reading groups, or other class-related activities, send an email to smoak@cs.utexas.edu with the following information: your name, the course number of the class you are TAing, the date and time you need, and the room capacity that you need.

Additional information for International Students who will be a TA or RA:

  1. Social Security Number: A social security number is required to process an appointment for employment.

    If you do not have a social security number and you were awarded a TA or RA, you need to COME TO AUSTIN EARLY. You must be in the U.S. at least 10 days and registered before you can apply for a social security number. It will take some time for the application to be processed. The government and university have hard deadlines, so be sure to arrive early enough for this process! Failure to allow 10 days will delay your paycheck.

    The Graduate Computer Sciences office in Taylor Hall, room 2.114, has the necessary form to apply for a social security number.

    If you do have a social security number and you initially entered it on your Apply Texas application, you should be fine.

    If you received a social security number since the time you applied to UT Austin, you must let us know.

  2. Social Security Card: Bring your social security card with you in case it is needed to process your appointment.

  3. International Teaching Assistant (ITA) English Assessment and Workshop for those who will be a TA:

    Students are responsible for making their own appointment by visiting this web site: http://tiec.org/tiep/ita.htm

    Dates for August are posted on the above site.

    l International TAs who pass or conditionally pass the English Assessment must take the ITA Communication Workshop, which is now online at
    http://www.utexas.edu/student/esl/ita/certificationcalendar.html. Be sure to review the PDF of instructions regarding the workshop before you begin.


    Some students may qualify for a waiver of the Assessment Test and Workshop: http://www.utexas.edu/student/esl/ita/exemption.html. If you have questions, please contact our office.

  4. International Health Insurance waiver for TAs and RAs: https://utdirect.utexas.edu/isss/waive_insurance.WBX

     

    Information about Student Insurance Waivers is available at:

    http://www.utexas.edu/international/isss/insurance/waiver.shtml

     

    You should request a waiver only if you are hired to a benefits eligible appointment for the semester. An academic appointment (GRA, TA, AI) for 20 hours per week for 4.5 months is benefits eligible.

    You may request a waiver as soon as registration begins for any semester, but you MUST submit a request each semester.

    Please be aware that if your appointment is not made by the 11th class day (in a long semester), you will be billed for the university student health insurance, even if you requested the on-line waiver. No waiver or refund is possible after the 12th class day, and no refunds will be granted to students who failed to request the online waiver before the deadline. Please feel free to contact Mimi Wong in the International Office if you have any questions (mimiwong@austin.utexas.edu).

     

    Regardless of whether or not you currently have a social security number, when you go to the International Office for check-in, tell them you will be a TA or RA, and ask if you are eligible to apply for tax treaty benefits.

Important Dates: