Department Chairs' Perceptions and Use of Externally Funded Graduate Assistantships

Abstract

This survey explored the perceptions and use of externally funded graduate assistantships by chairpersons of graduate health education programs. A majority had used outside funded graduate assistantships (59%), perceived them to be of the same quality (69%), and identified them as having the same level of funding (53%) as internally funded department assistantships. The majority (65%) would recommend them to other chairpersons. Problems associated with external assistantships use were trouble to administer (92.6%), stipends not sufficient (19.2%), too much time expected of the students (19.2%), agency and university calendars conflicted (19.2%), and work schedules interfered with class schedules (19.2%).