Introduction: Why and How to Use this Handbook

Dear Graduate Students, 

This handbook was created to provide students with one place to go for all campus-level policies and procedures related to Graduate Assistants at UWM. It is the most convenient and authoritative record of the rules related to assistantships on campus. It also contains information that new and continuing assistants might find helpful, such as guidance on teaching practices, laboratory conduct and decorum, considerations for international students, reasonable expectations of students in these roles, and campus resources. It was written collaboratively by a group of faculty, staff and—most importantly—Graduate Assistants. This handbook is reviewed/updated at least annually, in-part or in-full, to assure that it is a living document that is as up-to-date, as possible. Please note that the Handbook is not a contract and does not create any contractual rights or obligations.  The Graduate School reserves the right to amend, modify, or terminate the Handbook at any time in its sole discretion. 

Think of the Graduate Assistant Handbook as something like a travel guide for your journey at UWM! It is not designed to be read from start to finish. Graduate Assistants will most likely consult different parts of this Handbook at different times, as questions arise. Questions could range from understanding your appointment or benefits, to being aware of your rights as a Graduate Assistant and how to navigate expectations that a supervisor has of you. You might use this resource heavily at the outset of your assistantship. Just as importantly, you will also want to consult it along the way. 

This Handbook is organized in sections, each of which is broken down into subtopics that you should be able to identify quickly by scanning the table of contents. If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, you can search the entire handbook too. If the Handbook doesn’t answer your questions, please feel free to contact the Graduate School at gs-assistantships@uwm.edu. 

(For Graduate Program Representatives and program staff, the early sections of the Handbook that collect all policies and procedures will probably be most useful. The Graduate School will update these pages continuously as policies and procedures change. If students or programs have suggestions for future inclusions, please fill out this feedback form.) 

Sincerely,  

Graduate Assistant Handbook Working Group, 2025 

Ying Hu 
Center for International Education 

Victoria Moerchen 
Associate Dean, Graduate School 

Jacqueline Nguyen 
Associate Professor and Chair of Educational Psychology 

Bryan Porter 
Dean of the Graduate School 

Erin Flynn 
Associate Dean of Students, Graduate School 

Steven Strehlow 
Marketing Director, Graduate School 

Lane Sunwall 
Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning 

Riley Harrison 
Policies and Appeals Coordinator, Graduate School 

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