Exceptions to Minimum Academic Load Eligibility Requirement
If you wish to hold an assistantship while enrolling in less than 9 hours in a fall or spring semester, or
less than 3 hours in summer, you must apply in writing to the Graduate School for an exception to
minimum registration requirements. During your time as a GA at ISU, you may be granted no more
than one of the three exceptions listed below.
Exception for Last Semesters if Not completing a thesis/dissertation.
A student not completing a thesis or dissertation can apply for an exception in their last semester. To
be eligible for this exception the student must have filed for graduation and need less than 9 credit
hours to complete their course of study. To request this exception, ask your graduate coordinator to
complete and approve the Graduate Assistant Reduced Course Load Request Form. If your
appointment comes from outside of your department/school, ask your appointing unit to complete the
form and have them forward it to your academic department/school for approval and signature. Once
complete, the department/school will forward the form to the Graduate School for review. You and
your department/school will receive written notification of the outcome from the Graduate School
after determining eligibility.
Exception for Last Two Semesters Completing a Thesis/Dissertation
A student completing a thesis or dissertation can apply for an exception in their last two semesters. To
be eligible for this exception the student must have completed all their master’s or doctoral course
work including the required thesis (4-6) or dissertation (15) hours.) To request this exception, ask
your graduate coordinator to complete and approve the Graduate Assistant Reduced Course Load
Request Form. If your appointment comes from outside of your department/school, ask your
appointing unit to complete the form and have them forward it to your academic department/school
for approval and signature. Once complete, the department/school will forward the form to the
Graduate School for review. You and your department/school will receive written notification of the
outcome from the Graduate School after determining eligibility. If your appointment comes from
outside of your department/school, ask your appointing unit to complete the form and have them
forward it to your academic department/school for approval and signature. Once complete, the
department/school will forward the form to the Graduate School for review.
You and your department/school will receive written notification of the outcome from the Graduate
School after determining eligibility.
Exception for less than full-time enrollment
A student can apply for an exception if the student wishes to accommodate a preference for part- time
enrollment, in anticipation of especially demanding courses, for shortage of sufficient course
offerings in a given semester, or for scheduling of other employment. These requests are very rarely
granted. To request this exception, ask your graduate coordinator to complete and approve the
Graduate Assistant Reduced Course Load Request Form. If your appointment comes from outside of
your department/school, ask your appointing unit to complete the form and have them forward it to
your academic department/school for approval and signature. Once complete, the department/school
will forward the form to the Graduate School for review. You and your department/school will
receive written notification of the outcome from the Graduate School after determining eligibility.
PERS 938 Graduate Assistant Reduced Course Load Request Form
The Payroll Office requires form PERS 938 for those student employees who are in their last