SAMPLE APPOINTMENT LETTER Graduate Project Assistant Appointments Initial Letter of Offer Date Name Address Dear __________________:

ALL LETTERS:
With the approval of the Dean of the School/College of ________________, I am pleased to offer you an appointment to a position as a graduate project assistant in the (insert name of the graduate program unit) for the 2012-2013 academic year. Your appointment begins ____________________ and ends ________________, coinciding with the academic year beginning and ending dates. [NOTE: Appointments other than for the academic year should indicate the information pertaining to that appointment, i.e., for annual appointments, one-semester appointments, or summer appointments.] Your appointment is contingent upon your admission, enrollment, maintenance of minimum credit requirements, and good standing in the [insert name of the graduate program unit] and the Graduate School. The conditions for continuing in good standing, as determined by [insert name of the graduate program unit], are available in the [insert name of the graduate program unit] office. This salary offer will be $______ for a ______% [nine month/12 month] appointment as a [nondoctoral, doctoral, or dissertator] graduate [insert: program or project] assistant. With a ____% appointment you are required to register for and complete a minimum of six (6) credits per semester, subject to the regulations and provisions specified in the UWM Teaching and Project Assistants Policies and the requirements of the [insert name of graduate program unit]. A copy of the Policies is available on the Graduate School Web site, http://graduateschool.uwm.edu/faculty-staff/administrative-financial/ta-pa-policies/ The University distributes pay by direct deposit. The Direct Deposit form, http://uwservice.wisc.edu/docs/forms/pay-direct-deposit.pdf , should be completed and returned to your School or College. Under the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, you will be considered an employee of the University. Appropriate taxes will be withheld and earnings will be reported on a W-2 form. As an employee, educational expenses may not be deducted in arriving at taxable income.

1) FOR APPOINTMENTS OF 33% OR MORE:

You will receive a tuition remission (both resident and non-resident tuition, if applicable) because

your appointment is for ____% time. At this time, the value of resident tuition for graduate students enrolled for six credits is $4,186.54 for a resident, and $9,019.36 for a nonresident per semester. In order to maintain eligibility for a tuition remission, you must meet minimum credit requirements for each semester of your appointment. A payroll deduction plan is available for payment of tuition, segregated fees or other special fees that may apply to your course of study. Please see the payment methods webpage for more information, http://www4.uwm.edu/bfs/depts/bursar/payment-methods.cfm. Insurance Benefits. If you are interested in applying for health insurance or other fringe benefits, you have thirty (30) days from your contractual date of hire (insert the contractual beginning date as reflected in HRS) to apply for benefits. A completed application for health insurance must be received in the Benefits Office, Engelmann Hall 125, by 4:30 p.m. on or before the 30th day. If your contractual date of employment is August 20, 2012, the last day to turn in health insurance applications (within 30 days of August 20) will be September 19, 2012. If the 30th day should fall on a legal holiday or weekend, the application must be received on the previous work day. You may turn in the application early. Failure to apply on a timely basis may limit your options to a higher cost standard plan with a 180 day pre-existing condition waiting period. Health insurance is effective the first of the month on or after the application is received. Example: An employee begins employment on August 20. Health coverage will begin September 1, if the application is received in the Benefits Office by 4:30 p.m. of that date or the last previous work day. If the application is received on September 2, coverage will be effective October 1. It is highly recommended that you attend a Benefits Review http://www4.uwm.edu/hr/benefits/benefits_reviews.cfm within the first 30 days of your initial employment. Please contact the benefits office at [email protected] to ask any questions regarding benefits, including eligibility. Please see the enclosed benefits reminder. At this time, for 2012-13, the annual value of a single health insurance plan with the State of Wisconsin is not less than $6,103.20 for a year. Your contribution, should you enroll for single plan health insurance, would be about $40.50 per month. The annual value of a family health insurance plan with the State of Wisconsin is not less than $15,208.80 per year. Your contribution, should you enroll for health insurance, would be about $100.50 per month.

2) FOR APPOINTMENTS OF LESS THAN 33%:

Tuition/fee payments may be made using several methods. Please see the payment methods webpage for more information, http://www4.uwm.edu/bfs/depts/bursar/payment-methods.cfm. A payroll deduction plan is available for the payment of your segregated fees.

ALL LETTERS:
Your duties as a graduate project assistant are specified [(in the attached job description) (in a job 2

description maintained in the office of [insert name of the graduate program unit])]. Your supervisor will be Professor ______________________, who is responsible for directing you in your duties. The first semester [or "the first six (6) months" for annual appointments] of your appointment constitutes a probationary period for service as a project assistant. The amount of time you would expect to spend in these responsibilities is reflected in the appointment level. [Choose the appropriate of the following:] [For a one-quarter 25% time annual pay bay basis appointment you should anticipate working approximately 520 hours over the 12 months. For a one third 33% time annual pay basis appointment you should anticipate working approximately 686 hours over the 12 months. For a one- half 50% time annual pay bay basis appointment you should anticipate working approximately 1040 hours over the 12 months. For a one-quarter 25% time academic pay bay basis appointment you should anticipate working approximately 390 hours over the nine months. For a one-third 33% time academic pay bay basis appointment you should anticipate working approximately 515 hours over the nine months. For a one-half 50% time academic pay bay basis appointment you should anticipate working approximately 780 hours over the nine months.] UWM has strong policies against illegal discrimination, including sexual and racial harassment. Your employment is conditioned upon your compliance with these policies. Complaints of discrimination and harassment may be made to the Office of Equity/Diversity Services in Mitchell Hall, Room 359, or to your Department Chair or Dean. Copies of policies are available on line, http://www4.uwm.edu/eds/index.cfm, http://www4.uwm.edu/sexualharassment/.

3) ALL LETTERS ISSUED PRIOR TO APRIL 15:

If this appointment is acceptable to you, please sign a copy of this letter in the space provided and return it by April 20. [NOTE: Date must be after April 15.] It is understood that acceptance of this letter completes an agreement which both you and this institution expect to honor. Should you accept prior to April 15 and subsequently desire to change your plans, please submit in writing a letter of resignation before that date. Please see the enclosed Council of Graduate Schools Resolution that UWM supports.

4) ALL LETTERS ISSUED AFTER APRIL 15:

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If this appointment is acceptable to you, please sign a copy of this letter in the space provided and return it to me no later than 10 days after receipt of this letter of appointment. It is understood that acceptance of this letter completes an agreement which both you and this institution expect to honor. Please see the enclosed Council of Graduate Schools Resolution that UWM supports. Should you accept and subsequently desire to change your plans, please submit in writing a letter of resignation as soon as possible.

ALL LETTERS:
This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated. This offer of employment is contingent upon verification of your identity and eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. It is your responsibility to obtain and provide the appropriate identity verification and work authorization. Failure to provide identity verification and work authorization prior to the commencement of your employment may result in UWM withdrawing this offer. If you accept this offer, please complete and return the enclosed W-4 form (Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate) with this letter of acceptance. Salary payments cannot be made until the Payroll Office has your W-4 form on file. If you have any questions, I will be glad to be of assistance. It will be a pleasure to have you as a member of the University staff and a student in our graduate program. Sincerely,

Name Title Name of graduate program unit Enclosures: Graduate Assistant Health Insurance Eligibility Notice Council of Graduate Schools Resolution I-9 form Immigration Requirements (for International Students) Dear Professor __________________________: 4

The above appointment is acceptable to me. ___________________________________ Signature __________________________________ Date NOTE: OPTIONAL PARAGRAPHS 1) Appointment of 33% or more 2) Appointment of less than 33% 3) Offers made prior to April 15 4) Offers made after April 15 Revised 1/12

THANK YOU ALL MY NEAR AND DEAR ONES FOR BELIEVING ON ME AFTER SEVEN TIRESOME YEARS AT K M C I HAVE OPENED A NEW COLLEGE STARTING THIS YEAR I DO WANT THE SAME LOVE AND BELIEVE FROM U ALL