Graduate appointments

Enrolled degree-seeking graduate students supported as RAs, TAs, and IGs have appointments that fall under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement between MIT and the MIT-Graduate Student Union – United Electrical Workers (Local 256). This legally binding agreement, called a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), covers the terms and conditions of employment (wages, benefits, hours, and working conditions) for graduate students with these appointments

Bargaining unit

The terms of the CBA apply to the Bargaining Unit (BU). The bargaining unit includes all graduate students enrolled in MIT degree programs who are employed (including part-time) in one of the following roles:

• Research Assistants (RAs)
• Teaching Assistants (TAs)
• Graduate Instructors (IGs)

The bargaining unit does not include the following roles:

• Undergraduates
• Graduate student resident advisers
• Graduate fellows
• Hourly employees
• Visiting students

The CBA solidifies rules for bargaining unit members, including: 

• Supervisor meetings to outline expectations around your position
• A desk or office space to conduct your work
• Tools and supplies (supplies, materials, and/or computer/software) related to your employment
• Reimbursement of expenses for work-related costs
• The source of your financial support, upon request
• Intellectual property rights that align with those of the faculty with respect to inventions, copyrightable materials, and other intellectual property created as part of your work, except where MIT policy grants greater rights to students 
• An inclusive work environment
• Training to enhance your work
• Time off
• Benefits
• Health and safety
• Compensation for your work
• Up to 8 hours/week of additional outside employment, provided it does not pose a risk for conflict of interest

Membership and dues

Students who are covered by the CBA are required to pay union dues, which the GSU-UE has currently set to 1.44% of RA/TA/IG gross wages. Visit the MIT-GSU website to sign up for automatic deductions or explore other options for payment.

Students with questions about dues, agency fees, and exemption processes should email contact@mitgsu.org.

While the roles associated with graduate appointments differ, all RAs, TAs, and IGs are expected to meet their work commitments, under the supervision and direction of a faculty member, or designated individual. More information on the general expectations of each role are outlined below:

Research Assistant

A research assistant is a member of a research group in a laboratory or on a project, whose principal duty is to contribute, under the supervision and direction of a faculty member, principal investigator, or other designated individual, to a program of departmental, interdepartmental, or sponsored research. This may include, but is not limited to, the gathering and analysis of data or evidence; the development of theoretical analyses and models; and the production or publication of scholarly journals and research reports. 

The appointment is made with the understanding that the overall work experience will contribute to the professional training of the employee, and to a program of departmental or interdepartmental research. Only full-time graduate students who are candidates for advanced degrees may be appointed.

Teaching Assistant

The principal duties of a teaching assistant include, but are not limited to, assisting an instructor in classroom and laboratory teaching, preparing apparatus or material for demonstration, conducting tutorials and discussion sessions, holding office hours, counseling students, proctoring exams, maintaining course websites and monitoring discussion boards, and grading homework, quizzes, and exams. 

Only full-time graduate students who are candidates for advanced degrees may be appointed. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for all teaching assistants who are US citizens or permanent residents.

Instructor-G

The principal duties of an Instructor-G are similar in nature to those of a TA, with the exception that an Instructor-G is generally assigned more independent and/or advanced teaching responsibilities. Employees with considerable teaching experience may receive Instructor-G appointments. These appointments are given only to sufficiently experienced employees of proven teaching ability who, in the opinion of the department or program head, are competent to accept teaching responsibilities warranting the level of Instructor-G. Only full-time graduate students who are candidates for advanced degrees may be appointed.

Graduate study is a full-time commitment, with a RA/TA/IG role constituting 20 hours per week of that full-time commitment. Graduate students are expected to dedicate additional time to academic progress. To ensure you have time to dedicate to your academic work, “No graduate student RA/TA/IG shall be compelled, coerced, or obligated to work more than an average of twenty (20) hours per week throughout their employment appointment period.” Read detailed policies for student academic and employment accounting. Staff and faculty can read instructional guidance and rules for graduate student appointments and hourly work (Touchstone authentication required).

In general, whenever feasible, all meetings associated with the position should be conducted during regular work hours 8:30 am – 5:30 pm. When there are teaching or research expectations that are outside of these hours, that should be discussed in advance of the appointment and other adjustments should be made in work hours to accommodate the off hours. 

The academic year is broken down into three segments, fall (September 1 – January 15), spring (January 16 – May 31), and summer (June 1 – August 31). Graduate students who will serve in graduate appointment roles (RAs, TAs, and IGs) will receive an appointment letter 30 days in advance of the start of the appointment period. This letter will identify your direct supervisor, and outline the expectations of the position, the location of the work, and the general work hours. 

You will be notified of your appointment through the Atlas app. At the same time you are asked to review your appointment letter, you will be prompted to review your FERPA release, your IPIA form, and ensure your I-9 is complete. Please note that you are not eligible to begin work until both sections of the I-9 are complete.

During each period (Fall, 9/1 – 1/15, Spring 1/16 – 5/31, and Summer 6/1 – 8/31), students receive five days of vacation (excluding Institute holidays). There is a “use it or lose it” stipulation, where vacation days do not carry forward from period to period.  Students should not request to use personal employment leave or remote work for vacation time.

Graduate students supported by TA and IG appointments should plan their vacations around their teaching responsibilities and should not expect to take vacations when classes are in session.

Vacation days are in addition to Institute holidays, when MIT is closed. Bargaining unit members observe Institute holidays without loss of wages or benefits. There are instances where an individual bargaining unit member’s work requires them to work on an Institute holiday. This should be specified up front in the appointment letter, and alternative time off should be agreed upon at the start of the appointment.  Graduate students in the bargaining unit with a full appointment for the term are eligible for up to 20 hours of sick time over the course of the appointment period (meaning over the course of the term). Sick time is capped at 40 hours over 12 months for each person. Sick time is prorated for partial appointments.

Tracking sick and vacation time

Typically, vacation requests must be approved by the supervisor in advance using the Atlas app. You may make changes to requests up to the date of the request. Sick time must be submitted before the start of the regular work shift. If retroactive changes are required, please contact gradunionquestions@mit.edu.

Students in the bargaining unit may benefit from additional time away from their RA, TA, or IG appointments. Depending on the circumstances, students in the bargaining unit can take advantage of relief of employment duties for a period of time.

Employment leaves are times when a graduate student in the bargaining unit remains enrolled and eligible for regular student benefits, but needs to take a break from regular RA, TA, or IG responsibilities. Unless otherwise specified, graduate students should still make academic progress during this period since they remain enrolled. Students may also take an enrollment leave, meaning they will end their registration for a period of time; read more about enrollment and employment leaves.

The CBA outlines the benefits to which you should be provided access during your RA, TA, or IG appointment period. The benefits negotiated as part of the CBA are summarized briefly below.  Bargaining unit members hoping to learn more about their benefits can review them on the OGE website. 

MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) premium coverage: Most students are eligible. Per program practice, students in programs that do not receive the summer tuition subsidy typically do not receive premium coverage.

MIT Graduate Student Dental Plan: 83.8% subsidy on the student premium. The student pays the balance (the other 16.2%) of the premium. If you opt for a family dental plan, family members are not eligible for the subsidy.

Vision care plan: Students who opt into the vision care plan pay the premium themselves.

Parking: In your first year, you are eligible for Daily Student Parking. After your first year of enrollment at MIT, you may participate in the Employee Parking Program with a higher annual cap, but access to more lots. RAs/TAs/IGs living on campus are eligible for Campus Resident Parking Program.

Transit subsidy: 70% subsidy. When purchased in advance via Atlas, this applies automatically; for counter purchases, show the “Benefits” screen in your Atlas app. Students who believe they are owed reimbursements from prior purchases should complete the MBTA Pass Reimbursement Form.

Bluebikes subsidy: Employees and students may buy subsidized annual Bluebikes memberships for $49 (regularly $129).

Need-blind Child Grant: Full-time students in PhD programs and Master’s students in programs that receive the summer tuition subsidy are eligible, subject to application criteria.

Need-based Supplemental Child Grant: Full-time students in PhD programs and Master’s students in programs that receive the summer tuition subsidy may apply for the supplemental grant, subject to application criteria.

International student grant (awarded in first semester only): J1/F1 visa holders are eligible.

Short-term emergency grant: Eligible subject to funding criteria. Note: Sloan Master’s students should apply to Sloan Immediate Needs fund.

Long-term doctoral hardship funding: PhD students who meet funding criteria (generally, F1 or J1 visa holders whose spouse is unable to work)

Guaranteed Transitional Support: One semester of advisor-independent funding available for PhD and SM/PhD in situations of unresolved conflict; transitional funding may be available for other cases as well.

Graduate Assistance & Information Network (GAIN): MIT provides GAIN for all graduate students and their household members for confidential consultations and personalized research and referrals for many life concerns.

Backup Child Care: Eligible students can request up to 15 days of backup child care per fiscal year (July 1 – June 30).

Read more about graduate student benefits. 

Most individuals in the bargaining unit will complete their employment duties without encountering violations of the CBA. Occasionally a graduate student will encounter minor conflicts with their supervisor, or experience other issues associated with their role as an employee, that violate the terms of the CBA. 

If you find yourself in this situation, you can informally seek resolution from your supervisor or program.  GradSupport and the OGE staff are available to discuss the process and resources with you to help you resolve issues informally.  Graduate students are encouraged to resolve issues informally or at the lowest levels of the grievance process, and you may include your union steward in all discussions if you wish. The grievance process is the last resort if efforts to resolve the CBA violation have failed.  

If the issue is not resolved informally, you may proceed through the grievance process, broken into four steps: 

Step 1 – Report the concern to the DLCI head (or their designee)

Once the grievance has been submitted to the DLCI, a meeting will be held within 10 days of the report. You will receive a written response within 14 days of the meeting. 

Step 2 – Reporting the concern to the School Dean/Vice President for Research (or their designee) 

 If not resolved at step 1, a step 2 grievance is filed.  Once received, a meeting is held within 7 days of the step 1 denial. You will receive a written response in 21 days following the meeting. 

Step 3 – Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate and Graduate Education

If not resolved at step 2, a step 3 grievance is filed.  Once received, a meeting is held 14 days after the step 2 denial. You will receive a written response within 30 days of the meeting. 

Step 4 – Arbitration

This is the final and most rare stage of the grievance process, in which all efforts to resolve the grievance have not been accepted.  At that time, the union may submit a grievance to arbitration provided that a written note of the intent to arbitrate is delivered to the office within 30 days of the decision of the Step 3 grievance.

More information on the grievance process can be found in the CBA.