Enhance your education
As a graduate student, you have an opportunity to work as a graduate assistant — teaching, assisting with research or joining the coaching staff of an athletic team.
Graduate assistant positions are available in the following capacities:
Research
You may be assigned primary research responsibilities for a specific project or program.
Teaching
You may be assigned teaching responsibilities or other instructor tasks as assigned by a faculty supervisor.
Athletics
You may be assigned coaching responsibilities for various athletic teams.
Offices
You may be assigned responsibilities in offices such as Campus Recreation, Research and Sponsored Programs, The Learning Center or Institutional Research and Analysis.
Compensation
Graduate assistants typically receive tuition support for a maximum of six credit hours per semester. Some graduate assistant positions will also receive an academic year stipend averaging between $5,000 to $6,000 for a maximum of 20 hours per week for the academic year.
If you are an out-of-state graduate student receiving graduate assistant support, you will not be responsible for paying the difference between resident and non-resident tuition for the six credit hours.
If your graduate assistant position does not include a stipend, you will work approximately 10 hours per week while classes are in session.
Application Process
You must be accepted into a degree program or have a pending application to a degree program before you can apply for a graduate assistant position. Only students that have been accepted into a degree program can be offered a graduate assistant position.
Please complete an application and forward it to the Graduate Admissions Office. All positions will remain posted until filled. Once a position has been filled, it will be removed from this site.
You are responsible for making sure required recommendations are submitted with your application. Incomplete applications will not be processed. A separate application for each position is required.
Rules
- Graduate assistants on full or half assistantships can be offered additional work, with pay, without limitations during the summer and winter intercessions through temporary service payroll.
- Graduate assistants on half assistantships can be offered additional work, with pay, up to approximately 11 or 12 hours per week while class is in session payable as extra service through temporary service payroll.
- Graduate assistants on full assistantships can be offered additional work up to approximately one to two hours per week payable as extra service through temporary service payroll.
- Graduate assistants may assist faculty with classes and may teach laboratory sections. They are not permitted to teach classes by themselves.
- Graduate assistants may teach activity classes as long as the assignment remains in compliance with rules one through four.
- The Graduate Assistant Agreement must be completed each semester.
More detailed information can be found in the Graduate Assistant Policy (PDF).
Graduate assistant application
To apply, create an account or log in to your application if you are returning to complete it.
Select Start New Application, then GA - Assistantship Application and Graduate Assistant Application from the dropdown menus.
Answer each question completely, upload required documents, review and submit your completed application.
If you are unable to access the application, contact the Graduate Admissions Office at 607-753-4800.
Graduate Assistant Application
Graduate assistant position announcements for 2025-2026
Additional funding opportunities for graduate students in the Kinesiology; Physical Education; and Recreation, Parks and Leisure Studies departments are listed after the graduate assistant positions.
Academic Affairs
The Learning Center - Academic Support Tutoring (6 cr)
Writing Center - Writing Center (6 cr) - 3 positions
Athletics
Cortland Adapted Swim Team (CAST) (6 cr)
Division of Institutional Advancement
Lynne Parks '68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House (6 cr)
School of Arts and Sciences
School of Education
Foundations and Social Advocacy and Inclusive Education (6 cr)
School of Professional Studies
Communication Disorders and Sciences - Clinic Support (3 cr) - 2 positions
Physical Education - Elementary PE Support (3 cr) - 2 positions
Sensory Integration Motor Sensory/Multiple Sensory Environments (SIMS/MSE) Lab (6 cr)
Sport Management - Internship and Service (3 cr)
Student Affairs
Campus Recreation - Group Exercise (6 cr)
Health Promotion - SUNY Cortland Cupboard (6 cr)
SUNY Cortland Alumni Arena (6 cr)
Additional opportunities for eligible graduate students
Graduate students may also meet eligibility for the positions below. Additional information can be obtained from their academic department. Lab instructors positions do not follow the Graduate Assistant process.
Lab instructors for the Kinesiology Department: positions for Motor Behavior, Biomechanics and for Exercise Physiology. Contact Shani McMahon for application information at 607-753-4300.
Lab instructors for the Physical Education Department: positions for Adapted Physical Education. Contact Heather Hammond for application information at 607-753-5577.
Lab instructors for Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Studies: Teaching, Fieldwork and Lab position. Contact Kathryn Palmer-Smith for application information at 607-753-4941.