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Media Arts and Technology |
For the 2011-2012 academic year, the quarterly registration and educational fees are $4,064 for graduate students (this includes a mandatory health insurance fee). Students who are not California residents are charged an additional tuition of $5,034 per quarter. These amounts are subject to change. For a complete listing of expenses, consult the UCSB General Catalog or the Schedule of Classes. Students can also go to the Registrar's Starting Point for Fee Information web page, www.registrar.ucsb.edu, and click on "Fee Information".
UCSB provides three main types of support for graduate students, offered through the Financial Aid Office: fellowship or merit based support, academic apprentice personnel positions (which include certain benefits of employment), and need-based support.
All U.S. citizens and permanent resident graduate students at UCSB are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available at www.fafsa.ed.gov, by the March 2 deadline to be considered for most of the student support funds. The FAFSA is used to compile a "need analysis" which is used in the determination of all financial support packages. The Graduate Division frequently uses University need-based monies to fund merit-based awards. Students can also check the Graduate Division's Funding Opportunities webpage at www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/Source.
A variety of fellowships are available to continuing students. They are awarded based on academic merit, scholarly achievement and promise. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in a full-time program of study and must have filed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 2 for primary consideration. After FAFSA has been filed, a FAN letter will come from the Financial Aid Office, a copy of which should be provided to the MAT Program for determining eligibility. A continuing student fee fellowship can cover part or all instate fees for one or more quarters. Some fellowships are restricted to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, while others are available to international students as well. Students are encouraged to visit the Graduate Division's web site, located at www.graddiv.ucsb.edu. The Funding Opportunities page lists available fellowships, specific information regarding fellowship criteria, and deadlines for application. Students may also contact the Graduate Division for further information about fellowships and funding.
Numerous competitive governmental and private sector fellowships are available to graduate students. Students can begin a funding search by visiting the Graduate Division's web site. Their Funding Opportunities page features regularly updated listings of national fellowship announcements and links to various funding sources and databases, including the Illinois Researcher and Information Service (IRIS), an extramural funding source database with extensive search capabilities. The Graduate Division also offers periodic workshops on extramural funding searches and grant proposal development. You are also encouraged to visit Table 4B in the reference section on the first floor of Davidson Library. It provides a variety of directories describing sources of funding and research opportunities including fellowships, grants, internships and jobs, and useful references on proposal and resume preparation. For information on any aspect of graduate student financial support, including deadlines, please contact the financial support section of the Graduate Division at (805) 893-4653.
Most of these awards are administered by the UCSB Graduate Division, whose financial support division can provide further information and guidance in applying for a fellowship. Faculty nominations and letters of recommendation are often required. Be sure to begin early when applying for any of these awards. A notebook describing the various awards and the deadlines is available in the MAT office. Applications are available in the MAT office for many of the awards. Contact the Graduate Division for exact deadlines.
The Institute of International Education has compiled two guides to help international students find potential sources of financial aid. The publications list fellowships, grants and scholarships available from government and private sources in the United States and elsewhere. Institute officials say that the publications will help students and scholars identify lesser-known sources of potential financial support. These publications are $39.95 each, plus $6 per copy for shipping (subject to change). They may be ordered from I.I.E. Books at (800) 445-0443. See www.iiebooks.org.
Media Arts and Technology has a limited number of Teaching Assistant (TA) positions available each quarter. TA appointments are made based on course needs and students. abilities in the various areas of instruction. Criteria for the selection of TA's are outlined below. Prospective TA's whose native language is not English must pass a language evaluation of proficiency in spoken English before they can be certified for teaching duties (see below, under Foreign Language Requirements).
Although new students are not typically appointed as TA's in their first quarter in MAT, first-year students will be considered eligible for TA appointments based on a combination of factors: academic record overall; area of specialization; prior experience as an instructor.
The following requirements hold for MAT TA's:
As the number of eligible students typically exceeds the number of available TAships, appointments will be made based on a combination of the following factors:
The general procedure for TA application and selection in MAT is as follows:
Email is sent to MAT graduate students a few weeks before a quarter starts to inform them that they may apply for TA positions. The applications include information on the student's status, GPA, TA experience, courses taken, preferred course(s) to TA, etc.
After the application deadline, the Vice Chair determines the TA assignments in consultation with the faculty.
Students are notified and those offered TA positions are asked to formally accept, and to contact the appropriate course instructors.
Teaching Assistants work with the course instructor to help maximize the effectiveness of a course; they have an important responsibility to both students and the instructor. TA's must therefore be readily accessible during the quarter, and must be present during the whole quarter (including the first week of classes and exam week). Any absences during the quarter must be approved and arranged with the instructor ahead of time.
Many MAT students have held TA appointments in other departments such as Art, Physics, Psychology, Computer Science, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Film Studies. Check with these and other UCSB departments for their TA openings and procedures. Students can also check the UCSB Academic Student Employee Positions site at www.ltsc.ucsb.edu/asep, and the Academic Employment Opportunities Bulletin site at www.registrar.ucsb.edu.
Graduate students holding a TA appointment of 25% time or more for the entire academic term will have a portion of their education fee (in-state fees) and mandatory health insurance (GSHIP) paid by the University for that term. Upon request, TA's are eligible to receive a deferment of payment of the registration fee and, where appropriate, nonresident tuition for the quarter during which they are appointed. Students should contact the Billing and Accounts Receivable (BARC) office for more specific information.
All TA's will have 7.5% of their gross earnings withheld for the University's Defined Contribution Plan (DCP) . the University's retirement fund . and 1.45% to Medicare unless they are enrolled in a minimum of 8 units during the regular academic term and their total appointment (both fixed and variable) must be 50% or less. Students teaching during summer session must enroll in at least 4 units and their appointment must be 50% or less to be considered exempt from this withholding. During inter-session breaks . the periods of time between fall and winter quarters, winter and spring quarters, and spring quarter and summer session . students will not be held to a unit requirement. However, to maintain exempt status the appointment must not exceed 50%. Questions regarding investment opportunities for the DCP contributions can be directed to the UCSB Benefits section of the Human Resources Office at (805) 893- 2489.
Federal law requires the university to certify that all apprentices are eligible to work in the U.S. If you work on or off campus, you will be required to provide documentation of your eligibility to work before you can be hired. Both U.S. and international students are required to provide this documentation. Your department, the Graduate Division, and the Office of International Students and Scholars can assist you with providing the necessary documentation.
Graduate students serving as TA's are considered first and foremost students with academic apprenticeships who must make timely progress toward degree completion. The University limits graduate students to 12 quarters of appointment as a teaching assistant or associate during regular sessions. Graduate students are normally limited to a maximum of 50% employment during the academic year. University policy prohibits the assignment of graduate students in academic titles. This policy was established to ensure that graduate students make timely progress toward degree completion, are not subject to the conflicting roles of student/faculty members and are not involved in the evaluation of their peers.
Departments may also appoint graduate students as readers or tutors. These positions have variable salaries, and provide health insurance as a benefit with appointments of at least 25%. However, MAT does not regularly appoint readers/tutors. The Campus Learning Assistance Services Office (CLAS) also hires students in all fields at variable salaries. Phone (805) 893-3269 or (805) 893-4248.