1. Overview of financial aid
Teaching Assistantships
Most of the graduate students in the mathematics department receive teaching assistantships. These awards include tuition waivers, monthly stipends, and a reduction in the cost of the University's student health insurance plan.
Tuition Waiver
Students with full-time teaching assistantships are granted a tuition waiver, which covers up to 18 credits each semester. Note that graduate students cannot enroll in more than 15 credits without approval by the Graduate School. The tuition waiver does not cover student fees required by the university.
First year domestic graduate students who are not Colorado residents will receive tuition waivers at the out-of-state rate. After the first year, all domestic non-resident graduate students (including permanent residents) must obtain Colorado in-state tuition classification prior to the start of their second year. International graduate students will receive tuition waivers as long as they are in the program.
Monthly Stipend
Graduate students awarded a teaching assistantship are paid on a monthly basis, on the last working day of each month. A student with an academic year appointment will receive their first paycheck on the last working day in September and the last paycheck on the last working day of May. The exact stipend amount is generally available at the end of July prior to the beginning of the academic year.
Health Insurance
Graduate students are required by the university to have some form of health insurance. Students are automatically enrolled in the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan. In this case, the teaching assistantship helps to cover the costs of the insurance. The exact amount covered is generally available at the end of July prior to the beginning of the academic year. Students with private health insurance may waive the Student Gold Health Insurance Plan at the beginning of the semester.
Conditions
Appointees must be enrolled as a full-time, degree seeking graduate student each semester, with no grade of “incomplete” in any course (with the exception of thesis or dissertation hours), and with at least a 3.5 grade point average. Students also must maintain satisfactory academic performance and progress toward their degree.
Students funded as teaching assistants are expected to work 20 hours per week, a combination of class time, grading, office hours, Mathematics Undergraduate Resource Center hours, preparation, and course wide meetings. The specific combination of hours depends on the position. All teaching assistants are responsible for having their classes, office hours, and Mathematics Undergraduate Resource Center hours covered by others in case of illness or other unavailability. Students who do not show up for such hours without finding a substitute are subject to immediate termination of their funding.
Students must be available on campus the week before classes start in order to attend course coordination meetings and prepare for classes.
Teaching assistantships are conditional upon doing an acceptable job teaching. Failure to show up for classes or recitations is grounds for dismissal.
Responsibilties
First-year graduate students funded through teaching assistantships are usually assigned to TA for a few sections of a coordinated course. Typically, a teaching assistant meets with the students once a week during the course’s recitation to do tutorial activities. Teaching assistants are also responsible for collecting/grading some assignments, attending course-wide meetings, working assigned hours at the Mathematics Academic Resource Center, and contributing to exam grading.
MATH 5905 Mathematics Teaching Training
All new graduate students who are funded through teaching assistantship are required to take the one-credit course MATH-5905 Mathematics Teaching Training during their first semester. This course meets once a week and is designed to train students to become effective teachers. Discussions particular to the teaching of mathematics are facilitated by a faculty member and the lead TAs during the weekly meetings.
Summer Funding
First Year Summer Research Opportunity
Graduate students in the summer after their first year have the opportunity to participate in a research project as part of the internal math research experience (only CU students). In this program, first year graduate students work with strong undergraduates and a faculty mentor in small groups on research problems. Ideally, graduate students can take this as an opportunity to explore new areas of research, but it is also possible to test the waters in their area of primary interest. Here is a list of past projects.
Summer Teaching Positions
Graduate students that have not passed their comprehensive exam are often offered summer teaching positions. These positions generally consist of one course split between two students (one student teaches the first half half of the course and the other student teaches the second half). Funding for these positions is dependent on availability. The Graduate Assistant will seek out those interested in receiving such a position in the spring semester. If you have any questions, consult the Graduate Assistant.
Summer Research Funding
Graduate students who have passed their comprehensive exam are eligible for summer research fellowships including the Thron, Stribic and University fellowships. The Graduate Assistant will email post-comp students to confirm students' intent to seek summer funding during the spring semester. Students awarded such a fellowship are expected to pursue dissertation research exclusively and are NOT permitted any other form of employment. If you have any questions, consult the Graduate Assistant.
Travel Grants
Department Travel Grants
Students who have passed their comprehensive exam are eligible for departmental travel grants for conferences, usually $400 for domestic and $500 for international. Requests must be signed off on by advisors and directed to the Graduate Chair. It is suggested that students make these requests at least two months in advance of their proposed travel dates. See the Graduate Assistant for more information.
Graduate School Travel Grants
The Graduate School offers travel grants for both international and domestic travel. To be eligible, a student must be the primary author on the work being presented. For more information, see Graduate School Travel Grants.
UGGS Travel Grants
The United Government of Graduate Students (UGGS) offers travel grants for graduate students at all stages of the program for conferences and meetings such as the Field of Dreams conference. For information on how to apply for such a grant and details on eligibility, see UGGS Travel Grants.