Managing Stress and Competing Tensions: The Working Conditions in Graduate Assistantships

• In Event: Mental Health in College

Abstract

Graduate education plays a crucial role shaping future leaders in academia and the broader workforce. Of particular note, Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantship (GA) positions lay a foundation toward the professoriate and serve as instrumental learning experiences. In addition to reviewing previous literature, we will analyze written responses from a survey of GAs at twelve universities (N=493). Preliminary analysis on the data set has surfaced specific challenges and obstacles that GAs face around finances, roles, priorities and climate. Further analysis will focus on the experiences of traditionally marginalized students in graduate school (students marginalized based on their race/ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation). This paper will identify equitable practices for supporting the development of GAs as educators and researchers.

Authors

• Heather Haeger, University of Arizona
  Presenting Author

• Roman Christiaens, University of Arizona
  Presenting Author

• Sy Simms, University of Arizona
  Presenting Author