Teaching Assistants (TA) & Research Assistants (RA) Contract Process

TA-RA Approval Process & Timeline

  • Timeline for the processing of Teaching & Research Assistants contracts (effective April 2018)
  • DocuSign based TA/RA contracts for AY 2025 are available for department use.
  • Human Resources / Payroll deadline to ensure that TA/RA's will be paid for the first pay period in Fall 2024 is: Friday, August 9, 2024 and for 2025 Spring is: Friday, January 3, 2025.

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New Hire Forms: UMass Lowell Human Resources requires that all new student hires use the I-9 form to document both that they are eligible to work in the United States and that their identities match the information on their employment authorization documents. Please visit the HR payroll & Forms page.

Additional information on how to get paid can be found on the Human Resources website.


User Guides for UMass Lowell DocuSign Process


DocuSign Guided Process


  • GEO Stipend Levels (pdf) - table and step information - Updated May 2024
  • Mid-Point for the AY 2025 is December 29, 2024

Hiring Dates guidelines (for 2024 - 2025 academic year)

  • Fall Semester: August 18 - December 15, 2024 (9 pay periods; first paycheck is for 1/2 pay period)
  • Spring Semester: January 13 - May 10, 2025 (9 pay periods; last paycheck if for 1/2 pay period)
  • Full Academic Year: August 18, 2024 - May 10, 2025 (paid over 20 pay dates; 1st and last paychecks are for 1/2 pay periods)

RA Tuition Contribution

Student Forms

Reduced Credit Approval for Teaching & Research Assistants

NOTE: Graduate students interested in applying for TA/RA positions must contact their department office.