Office of Faculty Affairs

Classification and Qualification Standards and Appointment Information

Graduate Assistants (GA), Teaching Associates (TA), and Instructional Student Assistants (ISA) positions are governed under the   Unit 11 Collective Bargaining Agreement. Only appropriately qualified students may be hired into these classifications. Colleges and departments maintain a listing of open positions on their websites. Open hire positions are those positions available for currently enrolled or admitted students that are not used to fulfill a prior commitment of support made to a student (a) at the time of admission or (b) under an existing advising relationship with a faculty member. Please visit College or equivalent unit websites for open positions for Teaching Associates and Graduate Assistants.  Visit the Career Center website for Instructional Student Assistant open positions on campus.

Generally, incumbents in Unit 11 positions may not work more than 20 hours per week during academic periods, and may work full-time during academic break periods.  Teaching Associates, Graduate Assistants and Instructional Student Assistants may have concurrent assignments in other   student  classifications as long as the maximum hours are not exceeded.  Please contact Faculty Affairs for questions and specific information concerning work hour limitations.  

Under immediate supervision, the Graduate Assistant assists a regular faculty member or the teaching staff with various professional and technical duties associated generally with the subjects or programs in which the assistant is performing graduate work. This work should not take precedence over the successful completion of the graduate degree program by the student in a timely manner.

Prior to hiring Graduate Assistants, the department/program should consult the Unit 11 CBA as well as the Classification and Qualification Standards and relevant CSU Coded Memoranda.

Graduate students must be hired into one of the following job/class codes (pdf):

  • 2355 – Graduate Assistants, Academic Year
  • 2325 – Graduate Assistants, Monthly (and Summer)
  • 2326 – On-Campus Work-Study

The Teaching Associate classification provides currently enrolled or admitted CSU graduate students with part-time employment offering practical teaching experience in fields related to their advanced study. Teaching Associates are typically responsible for providing classroom and/or laboratory instruction and they may also assist faculty or teaching staff with various professional and technical activities. Work assignments are closely associated with their program of study or the academic department in which they are enrolled.

Range A represents the salary range for CSU graduate students who (1) are currently enrolled or admitted to master’s degree programs and (2) usually teach credit-bearing courses. Range B represents the salary range for CSU graduate students who (1) are currently enrolled or admitted to doctoral degree programs, or hold a doctorate, and (2) usually teach credit-bearing courses.

Prior to hiring Teaching Associates, the department/program should consult the Unit 11 CBA as well as the Minimum Classification and Qualification Standards and relevant CSU Coded Memoranda.

Teaching Associates must be hired into one of the following job/class codes (pdf):

  • 2354 – Teaching Associates, Academic Year
  • 2353 – Teaching Associates, 12-Month
  • 2324 – Teaching Associates, Summer Term
  • 2309 – Teaching Associate, Extended Education – For Credit

Under supervision, Instructional Student Assistants in this classification perform teaching, grading or tutoring duties for the majority of work hours in a given appointment in a given academic department or equivalent administrative unit over the course of an academic term. Assignments are made by academic department or equivalent administrative unit by a specific supervisor at a CSU campus. The work may be performed on-campus or at an off-campus public agency or private non-profit organization under an agreement with a campus in the CSU system.

Prior to hiring Instructional Student Assistants, the department/program should consult the Unit 11 CBA as well as the Minimum Classification and Qualification Standards and relevant CSU Coded Memoranda.

Instructional Student Assistants must be hired into the following job/class codes (pdf):

  • 1150 – Instructional Student Assistant (On-Campus)
  • 1151 – Instructional Student Assistant (On-Campus Work Study)
  • 1152 – Instructional Student Assistant (Off-Campus)
  • 1153 – Instructional Student Assistant (Off-Campus Work Study