# Assistantships and Funding The UNLV Percussion Area deploys funding opportunities for graduate students in to forms: "Graduate Assistantship" and "Part-Time Instructor (PTI)" appointments. Each form of financial aid comes with its pros and cons and are outlined below. ## Graduate Assistantship Often referred to as a "GA" or at many schools a "TA," the a Graduate Assistantship appointment is considered a distinguished appointment that is earned by way of thorough consideration by the pedagogues and committees who review candidates for their respective areas and "allotments" of GA positions. Each college and department has a finite (and often fluctuating) number of GA slots that can be offered/filled in a given time period. Thus, the abundance of opportunity to earn a GA can rise and fall with the times. The UNLV Percussion Area is fortunate to (typically) have four (4) slots that are a hybrid appointment between Percussion Area duties and Rock History Area duties. ### Duties and Pay What makes a GA a viable source of financial aid is that GAs are (essentially) employees of the University with an assigned workload that, in return, provides credit waiver and monthly income. This workload varies by Area and GA type. A thorough list of duties and expectations can be found in [[7.3.1 GA Duties and Expectations]] #### Compensation Because GA Pay Packages vary from year to year. Please see this link for information regarding pay and credit waivers. ## Part-Time Instructor (PTI) Appointments