Assistantships

A number of graduate assistantships are available each year to students in the Greatbatch School of Music. Generally, these positions are awarded to students within their major field of study or for services in which they hold special expertise. Assistantships are normally reserved for graduate music students who are enrolled full time toward their degree. Awards may be for either part or all of the academic year. There are full- and half-time assistantships. Full-time assistants are assigned 20 hours of work per week; half-time assistants, 10 hours (or equivalent academic or performance duties). Full-time assistants normally receive a stipend for the academic year and remission of graduate tuition and applied music fees. Half-time assistants normally receive a half-tuition remission, up to a half stipend and waiver of one-half of applied music fees.

Students holding full assistantships are normally limited to course loads of eight to nine credit hours per semester, and students holding half assistantships will normally carry a course load of no more than 12 credit hours per semester.

Assistants are given teaching, performance and/or staff duties that support and supplement the work of the faculty of the Greatbatch School of Music. Graduate assistantships are renewable for a second year.

School of Music graduate awards are based on the recommendation of the faculty. Awards are not granted on the basis of the student’s financial need. Though not required, we encourage students seeking need-based financial aid to apply for federal financial aid. To do so the student must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is recommended that they submit the FAFSA by March 1,  for full consideration. International students are not eligible to submit the FAFSA.

Download the graduate admission and GA application packet (PDF, 152KB).

You may also apply online. 

Financial Information

The following financial information, drawn from the 2006-2007 Graduate Bulletin, is intended to give you an overview of the benefit afforded by our graduate assistantships. The stipend amount associated with a full graduate award for 2007-2008 is $7,200.

Application fee: $40

Graduate Tuition: $697 (per credit hour)

Housing (The College Flats)
The College Flats facility provides the busy graduate student with the following amenities at no additional charge:  telephone line, cable service, heat, electricity, high-speed network access and a modern kitchen with dishwasher and microwave.  Laundry facilities, located on the ground-floor common area, are also provided free of charge.  Flats are subject to availability on a first-come, first-served basis, with graduate student reservations due no later than May 15.  Rent is assessed by the semester, with reduced summer rent between years one and two for students continuing to rent for the following fall. Students renting for fall and spring semesters retain their flats over the Christmas break as well.

Rent (per housing unit):

• One bedroom: $3,330 per semester
• Two bedrooms: $3,825 per semester (to be split if occupied by two students)

Rental contract dates:

• Summer Semester: June 1 - August 19
• Fall Semester: August 20 - December 31
• Spring Semester: January 1 - May 31

Rent is to be paid at the beginning of the semester or, for graduate students with an assistantship, by bi-weekly payroll deduction. It is not payable by the month. For students desiring to seek their own housing, a variety of housing options are available in the community and surrounding towns.

Board rate
Following are the rates per semester for the various weekly meal plans:

• 21 meals/210 block $1,610
• 14 meals/165 block $1,380
• 7 meals /85 block $760

Insurance & Health Center
All graduate students entering Fall 2007 or after must carry health insurance, either by enrolling in the college insurance plan or by documenting independent coverage at least equal to college plan coverage. A waiver form for exemption will be made available by Health Center personnel at graduate orientation. All students have the option of enrolling in a college insurance plan even if they are covered under an existing plan.  The Blanket Accident and Health Plan covers students for a full year (August 13, 2007 – August 13, 2008).  

Accident-only insurance is available as a supplement to students who have an existing health insurance plan.  Coverage runs from  August 15th to June 1st.  It is a secondary plan and will cover co-pays, deductibles and other expenses not covered by a student’s primary plan.  Complete insurance information is available from the Student      Health Center.

All graduate students must comply with New York State Public Health immunization laws. Proof of 2 measles, 1 mumps and 1 rubella immunization, received after the age of 12 months, must be submitted prior to the start of classes.  In addition, the meningococcal form must be signed indicating that the student has either had, would like to receive, or declines immunization to meningitis.  A tetanus booster within 10 years is highly recommended.

Students who have had a physical examination within 12 months of the start of classes are eligible for services at the Student Health Center.  Fees for physician visits will be billed to the student’s insurance.  Generally, there is no charge for nursing services.  The Health Center maintains a Self-Care Center with single dose packets of analgesic and cold medication, band-aids, cough drops, disposable thermometers and self-care information available.  There is also a dispenser with similar medications at ten cents per packet available in the Health Center foyer. 

Enrollment Deposit
An enrollment deposit is required annually of all students and reserves the student’s position in the fall registration list. Due by May 1, the deposit is not refundable but is credited toward tuition.

Late Registration
A late registration fee is assessed to each student who fails to complete the full registration process, including payment in full for the account balance (less financial aid and amounts budgeted through Academic Management Services, Inc.) two weeks prior to the start of registration week.

Transcript
Students are charged for each copy of a transcript of record and must be paid before a transcript can be issued.

Vehicle Registration and Parking
All student vehicles must display a current registration sticker. Costs vary depending on desired parking location.

Payments
Semester charges are due two weeks prior to the start of the semester. Timely payments will reduce time spent being deregistered from classes and incurring a late registration fee. Checks should be made payable to Houghton College and should be sent to the student financial services office along with the payment agreement.

A monthly payment plan is available through Academic Management Services, Inc. that allows fixed payments of annual college expenses over a 10-month period, with the initial payment due June 15. The plan also guarantees payment of the current year’s account in the event of the death of the enrolling parent. Complete information about the plan is available upon request from the student financial services office.

College Fees

• Application: $40
• Enrollment deposit (credited to student account)
  • New students $300
  • Returning students $100
• Applied music ( Some lesson fees may be included in  graduate assistantships. )
  • Half-hour lesson (1-2 hours credit) $330
  • One-hour lesson (3-4 hours credit) $660
  • One-and-a-half-hour lesson (5-6 hours credit) $990
• Thesis binding fee $35
• Transcript fee (each copy) while a student $5
• Transcript fee (each copy) after leaving school $5
• Vehicle registration, depending on parking location $25-150
• Computer dial-up (per semester) $30
• Sickness and accident coverage (12 months; optional) $664
• Late registration fee $100