Teaching Assistants (TA) and Research Assistants (RA) Contract Process

TA-RA Approval Process and Timeline

  • Timeline for the processing of Teaching and Research Assistants contracts (effective April 2018)
  • DocuSign based TA/RA contracts for Academic Year (AY) 2026 are available for department use.
  • Human Resources / Payroll deadline to ensure that TA/RA's will be paid for the first pay period in Fall 2025听颈蝉: Friday, August 8, 2025聽and for聽2026 Spring is: Friday, January 2, 2026.

New Hire Forms: UMass Lowell Human Resources requires that all new student hires use the I-9 form to document both that they are eligible to work in the United States and that their identities match the information on their employment authorization documents. Please visit the HR payroll and Forms page.

Additional information on how to get paid can be found on the Human Resources website.


User Guides for UMass Lowell DocuSign Process


DocuSign Guided Process


Hiring Dates guidelines (for 2025 - 2024 academic year)

  • Fall Semester: August 17 - December 13, 2025 (9 pay periods; first paycheck is for 1/2 pay period)
  • Spring Semester: January 11 - May 9, 2026 (9 pay periods; last paycheck if for 1/2 pay period)
  • Full Academic Year: August 17, 2025 - May 9, 2026 (paid over 20 pay dates; 1st and last paychecks are for 1/2 pay periods)

Reserch Assistant Tuition Contribution

  • RA Contract Tuition Contribution page - (for a Manual Upload, if needed.)

Student Forms

Reduced Credit Approval for Teaching and Research Assistants

* For all Francis College of Engineering students, please send to the Associate Dean.

  • - DocuSign Process
  • - DocuSign Process
  • (FCE) - DocuSign Process

NOTE: Graduate students interested in applying for TA/RA positions must contact their department office.