Graduate Employment (GE) Resources

GE Basics

Graduate employees (GEs) are employees at the University of Oregon who are graduate students. 

Compensation 
GEs receive monthly salary, full-time tuition waiver, mandatory fees subsidy and subsidized health insurance premiums, including coverage for eligible dependents. 

Types
1) Teaching (grader, discussion section* instructor, lab instructor, and instructor of record) 
2) Research
3) Administration 

Terms and Conditions
The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the University and the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation details the rights and responsibilities of the GE.

Visit the Division of Graduate Studies GE website for more GE information.

*What is a discussion section?

Discussion sections usually accompany a large lecture class in the social sciences and humanities. When a student registers for a large lecture class taught by a professor, they are sometimes required to register for a weekly, 50-minute discussion section led by a GE as well. 

With 25 students or fewer, discussion sections are designed to provide opportunities for more engagement among students and between students and instructors.

Back to Top

General Duties and Responsibilities Statements (GDRS)

Each GE hiring unit prepares a General Duties and Responsibilities Statement (GDRS) that describes the conditions under which GE appointments and reappointments are made. It includes a description of the job requirements, workload and work assignment information, health and safety information, absence procedures, and discrimination grievance procedures. 

You can find your hiring unit's GDRS on the Division of Graduate Studies webpage.

Back to Top

Paid and Unpaid Leave for GEs

The collective bargaining agreement gives all GEs sick time. 

Paid Sick Days
GEs accrue 3 work days of paid sick leave for every term of paid GE work. GEs can accrue a maximum of 10 work days of sick leave. 

Absence Notification Procedure
Read your hiring unit’s General Duties and Responsibilities Statements (GDRS) and be prepared work with your supervisor to identify how missed time can be made up.

Long-Term Absences
If you miss more than five days in a term, contact the Division of Graduate Studies.

Paid Family and Medical Leave - Oregon Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML)
GEs are eligible for up to 12 weeks paid leave under the PFML program.

Unpaid Family Leave - GE Family and Medical Leave (GEFML)
GEs are also eligible for up to 4 weeks of unpaid leave under the GEFML program.
Visit the UO Human Resources website to learn more. 

See the Graduate Employee (GE) Family Medical Leave Overview to learn more.

Back to Top

Finding a GE Position

Your major department/program may have GE positions available for students. To find GE positions in other departments and programs, check out the GE Job Openings.

Back to Top

Disability Accommodations for GEs

The UO offers a wide range of accommodations to support graduate students and GEs with disabilities. You can request disability-related support through the Office of Human Resources (HR) and the Accessible Education Center (AEC). 

Visit our Disability Accommodations page to find out what disability-related support is available for you.

Back to Top

Reporting Obligation

Under current UO policy, GEs are designated reporters of disclosures of discriminatory misconduct. 

This means that if you receive disclosures of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation from students in your class, or students your are advising or otherwise supporting as part of your GE role, you must report them to the Title IX coordinator. A failure to report may be subject to discipline or other appropriate corrective measures.

Visit the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access webpage to learn more about your responsibilities as a designated reporter. 

Back to Top

Grievance Procedure

If you experience a problem related to your GE work, you may want to file a grievance. A “grievance” is a formal complaint alleging a violation of the collective bargaining agreement. 

Visit our Grievance Procedure page to learn more.

Back to Top

GE Expectations

GE is a unique form of employment that involves a dual role as both an employee and a student, as well as a dual relationship with supervisors.

This HR webpage gives guidance around GE expectation setting, performance management, and discipline to help provide a positive onboarding experience for GEs and their supervisors.

Back to Top

Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation (GTFF)

GTFF is a labor union representing all GEs at the University of Oregon. 

Collective Bargaining
GTFF negotiates with the University over wages, benefits, working conditions, and other work-related issues in a process known as collective bargaining. You can view the current collective bargaining agreement on the HR website and the GTFF webpage.

Grievance Procedure
GTFF also deals with GE grievances to enforce the contract. See Article 13 of the CBA to learn more about the grievance procedure. 

Informal Support
If you experience problems at work, you can talk to your GTFF stewards (department representatives), caucus chairs, and executive board members to seek a solution.

Community
GTFF offers a community for GEs from various backgrounds. In particular, its caucuses function as spaces where GEs with similar interests, concerns, backgrounds, or beliefs can work together on issues that affect them and their community.

Website: Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation 
Location: 609 E. 13th Ave.

Back to Top

Human Resources

As UO employees, GEs have access to the resources offered by the HR Office. 

Website: UO Human Resources

Back to Top

Division of Graduate Studies

If you have any questions regarding your GE role, short/long-term leave, grievance, and disability accommodations among others, contact the Division of Graduate Studies for consultations. 

Email: graduatestudies@uoregon.edu

Back to Top

Office of Equal Opportunity and Access

For questions and concerns related to harassment and discrimination, contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access (OEOA).

Website: Office of Equal Opportunity and Access

Back to Top

Reusable Office Supplies Exchange (ROSE) Room 

If you need office supplies for your class, check out the Reusable Office Supplies Exchange (ROSE) Room. The ROSE room is a free store for students, faculty, and staff for school supplies and office items. 

Location: Prince Lucien Campbell Hall, Room 182
Website: Waste Reduction
Email: sscreusables@uoregon.edu

Back to Top

Student Well-being Toolkit

The Office of Provost has created the Student Well-being Toolkit to support instructors in applying doable well-being practices in their teaching. It features Canvas Commons resources, templated language, and other ready-made tools.

Back to Top

UO Acronyms

UO acronyms list gives you the acronym and meaning about words and terms found throughout the University of Oregon.

Back to Top

IT Support

If you need free software (including Microsoft 365), laptop checkout, and IT service for your GE role, see the Basic Needs Technology page.

Back to Top

Forms for Concerns about a Student

If you are a teaching/grading GE and concerned about a student, see the list of resources below: 

Community Care and Support Form: Use this form if you are concerned about a student's physical or mental wellbeing, if they are demonstrating concerning behaviors, or if you are concerned they are missing
Faculty and Staff Referral Outreach Form: Use this form to share concerns related to non-attendance, non-engagement, a student being unresponsive to communication, or a sudden drop in performance
Conduct Report: Use this if you have concerns about student misconduct, including academic misconduct

Back to Top

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

In collaboration with the Accessible Education Center (AEC), instructors play a key role in facilitating academic accommodations so that students with disabilities can engage with course material and equitably demonstrate knowledge. 

Read AEC Guidelines to learn more about your responsibilities as a teaching GE. 

Back to Top

Teaching Support and Innovation

The UO Teaching Engagement Program (TEP) has created a webpage dedicated to GEs.

Consultations
TEP offers individual consultations in any area related to your teaching duty.

Department Discussions
TEP offers workshops tailored to address questions and issues specific to a department’s GEs.

Workshops
Check out TEP's Event Calendar for training opportunities. 

Teaching Consultation

TEP's faculty consultant, Ali Söken, provides consultations for international GEs to help them navigate the responsibilities of teaching in the U.S. classroom.

Email: alisoken@uoregon.edu

Back to Top

International GE Success Series

TEP has launched the International GE Success Series—a workshop series for international GEs to build community and improve their teaching skills.

See TEP website to learn more. 

Back to Top

Back to Top