Support for Research and Practice

Graduate assistantships at RISD provide meaningful and mentored professional training. Most graduate assistantships originate in departments with graduate programs and are assigned by the department’s graduate program director (GPD).

Types of graduate assistantships include:

• program-related (exhibitions, lecture series, accreditation and other types of program enhancements)
• department-based research
• teaching I (high-level assistance of a faculty member in teaching or preparing for a course)
• teaching II (as instructor of record)
• technical (requiring and developing technical skills for the discipline)

Range of pay: $20-$25 per hour.

• assisting a faculty member with a course: $20/hour
• technical assistantships: $20/hour
• research or program assistantships: $22.50/hour
• faculty of record: $3,000 for team taught courses; $4,000 for single taught

Contact your GPD directly to learn more.

The Graduate Commons Grant is a competitive annual grant program that supports creative open-ended explorations and goal-oriented projects. An internal committee chaired by the Director of Graduate Studies will review proposals and determine recipients and final award amounts.

Important Dates:
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 by 9:00 pm: application deadline
Friday, March 29, 2024: Grant recipient notified
Tuesday, January 21, 2025: Deadline for 2024 recipient’s Post-Grant Report*

Student Eligibility:

• Your Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or above.
• You must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at time of application.
• If you received a 2023 grant you need to complete the post-grant report to be eligible to apply in 2024.
• You may only submit one individual application or be a part of one collaborative application.
• If you have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), taxes will not be withheld from the grant award.
• If you are a non-resident of the U.S and do not hold a U.S. (SSN) you will be taxed on the award amount, up to 30% of the total amount. This tax will be deducted/withheld from your payment.
• All recipients are encouraged to consult a tax professional with any questions.

Evaluative Criteria include:

• clarity of the proposal as expressed in the written statement and supporting materials
• coherent and detailed budget
• feasibility of proposal
• proposal should describe either a specific outcome to be achieved, or how this component of the project/research will concretely contribute to the achievement of a long-term project/research
• evidence of commitment to your discipline or field of research, and how the project will contribute to your creative, intellectual or artistic development

Your application, submitted as one PDF must include:

1. Title of Proposal
2. Abstract (maximum 50 words). Summarize objectives (essential goals and anticipated outcomes) for your use of the grant.
3. Proposal narrative (maximum 500 words). Effective narratives include:
   1. An introductory framework about how this project/research fits into your practice
   2. Detailed description of what the focus of your work will be during the grant period.
   3. Description of how you will go about this work in a way that attests to the feasibility of your project.
   4. Concrete or anticipated outcomes (body or work, further questions, acquired knowledge, etc.
4. Images: When relevant you may include up to 5 images.
5. Budget request: include materials, equipment, rentals, travel, fabrication, services, other related expenses, and in-kind or other contributions.
6. Indicate other grants, if any, you are currently seeking for this project (e.g., Maharam Fellowship, etc.)
7. Collaborative proposals may include current graduate students in any program, any year, with no limit on the group size. One student must act as the primary contact, who will receive the grant check and will be responsible for managing project funds.
8. Curriculum Vitæ (CV) or Résumé: No more than 2 pages (per person). Everyone in a collaborative proposal must submit a cv/résumé.

Complete the 2024 Graduate Commons Grant Application Form

*The Post-Grant Report (maximum 500 words) is due January 21, 2025 must include:

1. A summary of grant activity including travel, research, and work successfully completed.
2. Significant discoveries and insights you developed as a consequence of this grant
3. How you imagine the work completed for this grant will inform your future research or projects
4. Your response to expected and/or unanticipated challenges
5. Description and explanation of any significant changes from the original proposed project/research or budget
6. 5-8 images that represent the outcome of the grant.

NOTE: Images and information about recipients’ grant activities may be included on RISD’s website and other materials.

Questions? Contact Graduate Studies

These assistantships are hosted by the RISD Museum, Co-Works, RISD Careers, Fleet Library, Center for Arts & Language, Nature Lab, RISD Global, RISD Research and other offices are also available each year. In addition, faculty may identify a research assistant for their own research projects.

Graduate students can view open opportunities by visiting Artworks, the job board hosted by RISD Careers.

The Conference & Exhibition Fund is now closed. We will start accepting applications again on July 1, 2024.

Established to support professional development, the Graduate Student Conference & Exhibition Fund assists graduate students who have been invited to present creative or scholarly work at an exhibition, conference, symposium, or other similar public event.

Award amounts vary and do not typically exceed $1,000. After awardees attend an event, they submit expenses, and will receive funds in the form of reimbursement. Students will receive an email with details of the reimbursement process after award funding has been confirmed. You must provide receipts for each expense in which you are requesting to be reimbursed (up to $1,000). Funds can be used to support travel to/from the event, accommodations, meals, and conference/participation fees.

To help you estimate average hotel and meal costs you can refer to the RISD Spending Guidelines. You do not have to use these exact rates, but they can give you a better understanding of the costs you may encounter.

Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis each academic year. Students are encouraged to apply early, as funds are limited. To apply, complete the Graduate Student Conference & Exhibition Fund form.

Eligibility

To receive support through this program you must be a full-time graduate student, in good academic standing, have a confirmed invitation to publicly present your work, and have the support of your graduate program director. Students are only eligible to receive conference fund support once per academic year.

Receipts

To ensure you receive funding for your conference or exhibition expenses, please follow these instructions:

1. Timely Submission: As soon as you return from your conference or exhibition, you must submit your receipts for reimbursement. If you do not submit your receipts within 30 days of return you will not receive reimbursement.
2. Itemized Receipts: All receipts you submit must be itemized. An itemized receipt is a detailed sales draft that provides comprehensive information about your transaction. It typically includes the following details:
   1. A breakdown of the purchase, listing individual items.
   2. Date and time of the transaction.
   3. Store or vendor name.
   4. Price for each item.
   5. Tax charges (if applicable).
   6. The total amount of the transaction.
   7. Payment method used.
3. Individual Expenses: Please note that only expenses incurred by the individual awarded funding will be covered. If you are traveling with another RISD student who was also awarded funding, please make sure to get separate receipts for all costs, do not split costs. For example:
   1. Meals: Only the portion of the meal for the person awarded the funding will be reimbursed. Expenses for others will not be covered.
   2. Transportation: Ensure that expenses for transportation (e.g., Uber, Amtrak) only account for the individual awarded funding.
4. Transportation Receipts: For transportation expenses, such as Uber or Amtrak, it's crucial that the receipt includes the point of origin and destination. In the case of Uber, you can provide both the receipt and your ride details for clarity. If you wish to be reimbursed for gas please provide images of your odometer at the beginning of your trip and at the end as well as an image of the exact route you traveled (could be a screenshot of Google Maps, Maps, MapQuest, etc.) with the origin address and destination address listed/visible on the route map. RISD reimburses $0.655/mile based on IRS guidelines.
5. Missing Receipts: If you were not issued an itemized receipt or have lost your receipt, you can use the "Missing Receipt Affidavit" for each expense. This form allows you to provide essential details about your expenditure when a standard receipt is unavailable. The Missing Receipt Affidavit must be present with a credit card/bank statement of the purchase.
6. Naming JPEGS/PDFS: When naming the JPEG or PDF of your receipts please use the following format: Last Name.First Initial_storename/purchase.jpeg/pdf - Examples: Snyder.P_JetBlue.jpeg or Snyder.P_Dunkin.pdf
7. The amount on the receipts should add up to the total amount requested. If there are items on your receipt that are not for reimbursement, then cross those off your receipt.

By following these instructions, you'll ensure that your expenses are processed smoothly, and you receive the funding you're entitled to. It is also good practice to take pictures of the receipts as you receive them in case they do get lost, you have a copy.

Questions? Contact Graduate Studies

Graduate students interested in teaching and pedagogy find many opportunities to begin developing a teaching practice while at RISD. In addition to offerings through the Department of Teaching + Learning in Art + Design (TLAD), RISD offers electives, workshops and lectures focused on collegiate teaching.

Interested graduate students also have opportunities to teach in their major, either as a teaching assistant or instructor of record for an introductory course. Wintersession also offers graduate students opportunities to develop and propose original courses of their own design. Interested students should speak to their GPD to learn about Wintersession teaching opportunities. (See below for more information.)

Those with interests in pursuing teaching opportunities in higher education may also choose to enroll in the Collegiate Teaching Certificate Program.

The intensive, five-week Wintersession (WS) term between the fall and spring semesters provides graduate students with a unique opportunity to teach a course of their own design. To apply, interested students, in consultation with their graduate program director (GPD), submit a proposal in spring term prior to the next Wintersession.

To be eligible to teach a self-designed WS course, you must:

• speak with your GPD before February 21 if interested in developing a course for WS2025. You must notify your GPD and confirm your interest in teaching by this time or you will not be eligible to submit a proposal for WS2025
• be in the second or third year of their program by the time the course would run (WS 2025)
• possess a GPA of 3.0 or higher
• have completed one of the following before submitting a proposal:
  • syllabus writing workshop offered by department
  • collegiate Teaching: Preparation + Reflection course offered by TLAD
  • syllabus writing workshop (via zoom) offered by Graduate Studies (offered early in the spring term). Check your RISD email for information about syllabus workshop dates and times or email gradstudies@risd.edu.

Your GPD will advise and guide you through the process of developing and submitting a proposal. Graduate students may teach individually or co-teach with one other graduate student. Co-teaching students do not need to be in the same department but both departments must approve the proposal. Student instructors will receive a graduate assistantship as compensation.

Timeline for teaching in Academic Year 2024–25:

• Fall–Wintersession: speak with your GPD about your interest in developing a course
• Early spring: attend a syllabus writing workshop provided by your department or Graduate Studies. Information on syllabus workshops offered by Graduate Studies will be emailed to all graduate students. As an alternative, or in addition to a syllabus workshop, you can enroll in a collegiate teaching course. 
• By February 21: the Registrar’s Office will give you access to Coursedog which is where you will submit all necessary course materials.
• By March 19 at 6:00 pm: complete the course proposal form in Coursedog and upload your syllabus (using the required Syllabus Template and the Resource Request forms).
• After you submit your proposal, you will receive feedback on your syllabus before your course is submitted to your department and the Wintersession Committee for review.
• Late April: the Wintersession Committee (WCS) will review proposed courses and approve, reject, or return them to students for improvement. You may receive a request from the WSC to continue to refine your proposed course.

This is a selective process and not every course proposed will be approved. To increase your chances of selection, keep the following in mind. Your course must align with Wintersession’s intensive structure and speak to a cross-disciplinary audience of undergraduate and graduate students who may have little prior knowledge about the course’s subject The scope of work (both in class and out of class homework) should be achievable within the 5-week time frame. Due to consistent student interest, the WSC is especially interested in cross-disciplinary studio courses and hands-on courses offered at an introductory level.

Collegiate Teaching Practicum

All graduate students who are teaching a self-designed course are required to simultaneously take the Collegiate Teaching Practicum offered during Wintersession and will be automatically enrolled. NOTE: While the Practicum is compulsory for grads teaching a self-designed course, grads who are teaching an existing course assigned by their department may also register for the Practicum.

Collegiate Teaching Practicum (course description):

This course helps prepare graduate students to be effective educators while fostering a community of shared ideas. Designed to support graduate students while they are teaching their self-designed course in RISD's Wintersession, the course is a practicum in which participants discuss practical and theoretical concerns related to collegiate teaching and learning. As a forum, the course provides a space for group reflection on teaching experiences and challenges in addition to developing effective learning and assessment strategies. Through structured feedback from faculty, students evaluate their teaching effectiveness and document their development as teacher-scholars through preparing a well-designed teaching portfolio. As an immersive teaching and learning experience, graduate students will have an opportunity to share and apply knowledge of student learning and an awareness of student diversity to their discipline-focused art and design instruction.

If you are interested in receiving the Certificate in Collegiate Teaching in Art + Design upon graduating, the Collegiate Teaching Practicum course (GRAD-010G) is the second required course in this Certificate Program. A graduate student must have completed the first required course, TLAD-044G - Collegiate Teaching Preparation & Reflection, prior to taking GRAD-010G in order to receive the Certificate...no exceptions made. Visit Teaching + Learning in Art + Design for more information.