The Vietnam Education Foundation 2011 Annual Report

Page 134 Annual Report 2011
E. GRANT CONTINUANCE
The continuation of your Fellowship grant depends upon:
1. Full compliance with the terms and conditions of this document;
2. Full compliance with J-1 immigration regulations and maintenance of J-1 status;
3. Good academic standing at your University, which is typically a Grade Point Average (GPA) of B/3.0 or better;
4. Evidence of your academic progress toward degree completion;
5. Your University financial support;
6. Availability of VEF funds; and
7. Your financial requirements.
F. GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement with Section E. ______________________
A graduate assistantship is an integral part of graduate training in the United States. You may be required by your University
or Department to have a graduate assistantship during your first two years. If you are in a doctoral degree program, you are
expected to seek and acquire a graduate assistantship from your University no later than your third year so that you are fully
funded by your University. The graduate assistantship may be a research assistantship, a teaching assistantship, or a
combination of both. Your University may require you to take special courses, to reach and maintain a certain grade point
average (GPA), to seek out professors and request the assistantship, to compete against other graduate students, and/or to
demonstrate in advance your ability to be a graduate assistant. Graduate assistantships are competitive, and you must prove
that you are qualified, according to your university standards, to receive one. As a VEF Fellow, you are expected to learn
what is necessary to get a graduate assistantship at your University and to proceed proactively with that intention in order
to assure full support by your University by your third year.
As per J-1 immigration regulations, a VEF Fellow can only engage in part-time on-campus employment (maximum 20
hours per week) during the academic term while also continuing to be enrolled in a full course of study. A Fellow, who
holds a 20 hours/week graduate assistantship (or a combination of one or more graduate assistantships for a total of 20
hours/week), may enroll for a reduced course load as stipulated by the number of credits considered equivalent to full-time
enrollment for a graduate assistant as defined by the Fellow's university. The Fellow must secure verification from the
University’s International Office or the Registrar’s Office regarding what constitutes full-time enrollment for a graduate
assistant working 20 hours/week. Only formal graduate assistantships qualify for a reduced course load while hourly wage
employment, adjunct positions, or other fellowships do not qualify for a reduced course load. It is your responsibility not to
exceed the maximum number of hours per week you are permitted to work under immigration regulations. As per J-1
immigration requirements described below for on-campus employment, all graduate assistantships require written
authorization from VEF prior to the commencement of any employment. Working without authorization and/or
working beyond the stipulated hours per week constitutes a violation of the terms of your immigration status and will
result in a loss of status and departure from the United States.
Sign here to acknowledge your agreement with Section F. ______________________
7 | Page VEF Fellowship Grant Letter – Cohort 2011