Beyond the Program…Why UConn?

photo of Storrs Downtown
Shopping and Services in Storrs Downton (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

photo of COMM grad students carving pumpkins
The Comm Grad Student Association plans events for grad students and their families and friends.

photo of a TA teaching a discussion section
A G.A. teaching a COMM 1000 discussion section.

UConn is one of the top public research universities in the nation.

UConn is one of the top public research universities in the nation, with more than 30,000 students pursuing answers to critical questions in labs, lecture halls, and the community. Knowledge exploration throughout the University’s network of campuses is united by a culture of innovation. An unprecedented commitment from the state of Connecticut ensures UConn attracts internationally renowned faculty and the world’s brightest students. A tradition of coaching winning athletes makes UConn a standout in Division l sports and fuels our academic spirit. As a vibrant, progressive leader, UConn fosters a diverse and dynamic culture that meets the challenges of a changing global society.

For the big picture, start at https://uconn.edu/.

Check out the virtual tour.

 

photo from drone above UConn Storrs

 

Central and Eastern Connecticut have great quality of life.

UConn-Storrs Faculty and Graduate Students live in a variety of places in Central and Eastern Connecticut.

Check out the cost of living in Eastern Connecticut https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/search/cost-of-living/s/connecticut/.

photo of Storrs Downtown
Shopping and Services in Storrs Downton (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo)

photo of Fox Hill tower in Vernon CT
The Tower at Fox Hill in Vernon, CT

photo of Blue Back Square in West Hartford CT
The Blue Back Square shopping area in West Hartford, CT

 

 

Storrs, CT is in a great location.

Located in northeastern Connecticut, UConn's main campus in Storrs is conveniently accessible from various interstates, and is approximately 25 miles east of Hartford, 50 miles west of Providence, 100 miles southwest of Boston, and 150 miles northeast of New York City.

map of New York City to Boston

UConn Graduate Assistants earn a great salary and benefits.

Salary

Check out the 2021-2022 Academic Year Salary for Graduate Assistants

  • Stipend rates for graduate assistants are graduated in terms of progress toward the advanced degree and experience.
    • Level B/I: for graduate assistants with at least the baccalaureate.
    • Level M/II: for experienced graduate assistants in a doctoral program with at least the master’s degree or its equivalent in the field of graduate study.
    • Level P/III: for students with experience as graduate assistants who have at least the master’s degree or its equivalent and who have passed the doctoral general examination.

Tuition Waiver

Half-time (10 hrs/wk) and full-time (20 hrs/wk) GAs receive a full tuition waiver.

Fees

  • half-price parking permit with access to employee and commuter lots
  • waiver of Infrastructure Fee and Visa Compliance Fee
  • $300 credit toward General University Fee each semester
  •  Relief payment equivalent to the Student Recreation Center fee

Health Insurance

As a Graduate Assistant, you have the opportunity to obtain health benefits through the “Connecticut Partnership Plan”.

Time off, holidays, vacation, and leaves

  • 3 days of paid leave per semester
  • 5 holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • 20 business days of time off per year (generally taken during academic break periods)
  • 6-8 weeks of paid maternity leave
  • 21 days of paid parental leave (for non-birth parent)
  • See the Graduate Employees Union contract for details.

Child Care expense reimbursement

  • funds available for reimbursement of child care expenses

UConn Graduate Assistants are represented by the Graduate Employees Union.

Get more information about the GEU-AUW.

Check out the GEU-AUW 2018-2022 labor contract.

And, of course, there is UConn’s Dairy Bar.

photo of ice cream being scooped

The UConn Dairy Bar opened in 1953 to sell dairy products that were made by the Creamery. The Creamery was established in the early 1900s and bottled milk all the way up until 1991. Today, the Creamery makes ice cream according to its original recipe and sells this ice cream through the Dairy Bar retail establishments, along with a variety of cheeses. All of the ice cream and cheese sold in the UConn Dairy Bar is produced in the Creamery with fresh milk from UConn’s Kellogg Dairy Center.