[Date]

Name
Address
City, State, Zip

Dear _______________:

The [department/division/unit] of _________ is pleased to offer you a position as a [teaching/research] [assistant/associate] [(TA)/(RA)] for the [fall semester 2008/academic year 2008-2009, etc.]. This is a half-time (20 hours per week) appointment carrying a compensatory stipend of [$_________]. ASU stipends are paid bi-weekly; your first pay date will be [list first pay date].

TAs/RAs with half-time appointments are not charged tuition. For the academic year 2008-09, the value of this benefit for students enrolling in 7 or more hours is $6,789 for residents and $19,354 for nonresidents. The university covers the cost of individual health insurance premiums for TAs/RAs with half-time appointments. If you need health insurance, please be sure to select that option when registering for classes on the Interactive-if you decline, you will be without coverage. The value of the health insurance premium for 2008-09 is $1,491. If you have applied for and/or received financial aid, acceptance of this assistantship may decrease your financial aid funding eligibility.

Add a paragraph describing, as specifically as possible, the assistantship assignment and any orientation/training required by the department. Be sure to include dates, responsibilities, and faculty supervision.

Please be advised that as an employee of ASU, you will be subject to Arizona Board of Regents Policy 6-908 relating to the ownership of intellectual property (see www.abor.asu.edu/1_the_regents/policymanual/index.html). ASU retains the right to retain ownership in intellectual property developed by its employees. Employees receive recognition for and share in the revenue of intellectual property with commercial value. The Arizona Technology Enterprises (AzTE) is responsible for the development and commercialization of intellectual property developed by ASU employees (see www.azte.com). As an employee, you have an obligation to disclose any intellectual property you create to AzTE.

Add a paragraph on TA training if it is applicable to your hire, as follows:

New TAs are required to attend an Orientation and Training Program for Teaching Assistants and Associates. Two sessions are available: Monday, August 18 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm and Tuesday, August 19 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. For more information, please visit graduate.asu.edu/taorientation.html. The first pay period of the [fall/spring] semester includes the hours spent at the TA orientation sessions. Failure to comply with orientation requirements may jeopardize eligibility for Graduate College awards programs and graduate appointments (e.g., travel grants, research awards and the assistantship).

If this offer is being made to a student whose primary language is not English, the student must provide a TSE (Test of Spoken English) or SPEAK score. If so, add the following:

Arizona State University requires all students wishing to accept teaching assistantships or associateships whose primary language is not English to take either the Test of Spoken English (TSE) or the SPEAK test. TAs must earn a minimum score of 55 on the TSE and SPEAK tests (50 if the position is for a lab assistant or a tutor).

Please note that TAs/RAs must enroll for a minimum of six (6) non-audit units each fall and spring semester of their assistantship/associateship appointment and a minimum of one credit hour per each summer session employed as a TA/RA. See the TA/RA Handbook for additional information. It is available at graduate.asu.edu/tarahandbook/index.html.

We are pleased to be able to provide this [teaching/research] [assistantship/associateship] appointment and appreciate your interest in our program and faculty. We would like to hear of your decision within two weeks of the date of this letter. You will want to review the enclosed statement from the Council of Graduate Schools about offers of assistantships and scholarships, including deadlines. If you prefer to defer your acceptance until April 15 in accord with these guidelines, we ask that you let us know of this decision within two weeks [modify the preceding statement to fit spring, summer, or appointments for other times].

Please indicate your acceptance of this [assistantship/associateship] by signing below and returning this form to the department. If you have any questions about these offers or the program, please call (480) 965-_____.

Cordially,

Encls:

CGS statement [available from the Graduate College]

_______ I accept this assistantship.

_______ I am unable to accept this assistantship.

_______________________________	______________________________	________
(Print name)	(signature)	(date)