Promised TA Position Advice

[erew]

When I accepted admission to the program I'm now enrolled in, I was awarded a small scholarship and at least $5200 towards a teaching/research assistantship position ("at least" was their exact words).

 

At the beginning of August, I received my welcome package, which stated that I should check the school's website for jobs on a regular basis. Confused (after all, the letter stated I was awarded a position, not that I had to go through a job pool of any sort), I Emailed my advisor asking what exactly was the process for matching students with positions. I was told my CV was forwarded to the undergrad office in my line of work and that once they had a position for me, I would be contacted and asked to apply online. I was reassured I would be guaranteed something.

 

Well, school starts in less than two weeks and I haven't received any notices to apply online for a position, nor have I even seen a posted position for which I qualify (there was one I really wanted to apply to, but they asked for a 4th year undergrad). Not only do I feel lost, but I'm starting to feel cheated out of funding I was promised.

 

[Note: I'm an international student and with my permit regulations, I can't work off campus until I've worked at the school for six months, which means that I might not be able to get a job during the summer if I'm not hired at least by Winter term. Plus, if I'm not hired at all this first year, that's $5000 that has to appear out of thin air because I was told it would be covered.]

 

I've already contacted my advisor once over the whole job issue, but would it be impolite to contact the advisor again and ask for further assistance? I don't want to come off as pushy or obnoxious before I even meet them in person, but at the same time I'm really frustrated with the situation. I understand they're advisors and that's part of the job, but at the same time I'm a graduate student and feel I should be able to find these answers and take care of it myself.

 

Any advice is immensely appreciated. It's already been a long process moving to a foreign country and dealing with everything that entails, so kind, reassuring words are welcomed.

[Lisa44201]

Oh, wow. Does your department have a specific person who is responsible for the Grad students? If so, I'd contact that person; if not, contact your adviser again (ask him/her who to contact), and/or the Graduate College, and/or whomever's signature was on the letter saying you were awarded the position. 

[danieleWrites]

No! You are not being pushy. This is of grave concern to you because you need the promised money for your expenditures. Do not rely on your adviser's promises because he has no control over your placement. Call your adviser and ask him for the name and contact details of the person in charge of the office that's in charge of matching you to your job. Contact that person directly. You should have a copy of your award letter, promising you that you would have a position that would earn you at least 5,200 and for what time frame the award covers, and who is responsible for promising you this award. Do not let them tell you it's policy or that this is just the way it's done and you have to wait. If they promised the position with a minimum amount of pay, it is the university's duty to provide that for you. Now, it's important to have that promise in writing. If the only promise is from a phone conversation with an adviser, who likely has no authority to promise that the position actually exists rather than say that you may apply for one, then the university has no obligation to provide a job.