New Graduate Student Employees

New Graduate Student Employee Orientation

TBD for Fall 2024

Mandatory orientations are held for new graduate student employees at the beginning of each semester. The orientation will take place in the form of a webinar. The link will be sent out to all required attendees two weeks prior to the event.

As a first-time graduate student employee you are required to attend this meeting. At the New Graduate Student Employee Orientation, representatives from your union—the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO)—and the UAW/UMass Health and Welfare Trust Fund will provide important information on several topics, including your dental, vision, childcare, and wellness benefits. University Health Services (UHS) staff will also present an overview of your student health insurance and will detail immunization requirements.

The GEO collective bargaining requires that the orientation be mandatory, however any teaching obligations take precedence and should be prioritized. However the session will be recorded and distributed following the orientation for those who are unable to attend. There will not be a make-up session.

Please email geo [at] umass [dot] edu (GEO[at]umass[dot]edu) if you have any questions about the New Graduate Student Employee Orientation.

Human Resources

Please complete all payroll forms and submit them in person or via mail to Human Resources.

All graduate student employees must complete and submit the documents listed below to Human Resources at least two weeks before their assistantship starts. Adhering to this timeline will help ensure that your appointment as a graduate assistant is processed in a timely manner and that you receive a paycheck on the first scheduled pay date.

Please follow the procedure outlined below if you are one of the following:

• A graduate student who will be employed on the university payroll for the first time
• A returning graduate student employee who has not worked at the university for a year or more
• A graduate student employee whose work authorization has expired

I-9 Form

Please complete the I-9 Form (Employment Eligibility Verification) using one of these options:

Via UMass Human Resources

Students living on or near campus should simply stop by UMass Amherst Human Resources (HR) with their original, unexpired supporting documents to complete the I-9 Form (for international students, this includes a printed copy of their most recent I-94 Form). Students currently living outside the United States (including international students) should bring the above documents to Human Resources immediately upon their arrival in the Amherst area.

Via Notary Public

Students living off-campus but in the United States may complete the I-9 form through a notary public. To do so, please bring your original, unexpired I-9 supporting documents (including a printed copy of your most recent I-94 Form if you are an international student) to a notary public, complete section 1 of the I-9 form in the presence of the notary, and have the notary complete section 2. Upon completion, the I-9 form, completed attachments, copies of I-9 supporting documents, and completed payroll documents should be mailed to Human Resources.

Via the CUPA I-9 Consortium

Students living off-campus but in the United States may also submit their I-9 forms through the CUPA I-9 Consortium by bringing their original, unexpired I-9 supporting documents (including a printed copy of your most recent I-94 if you are an international student) to the HR office of a participating college or university. Upon completion, the I-9 form, completed attachments, and copies of I-9 supporting documents, and completed payroll documents should be mailed to Human Resources at the address below.

Questions and Additional Resources

Questions regarding any aspect of the hiring packet for NEW graduate student employees should be directed to AskHR [at] umass [dot] edu (AskHR[at]umass[dot]edu)

Visiting or Mailing Forms to HR

Human Resources is located in Room 325 of the Whitmore Administration Building. Please check their web page for location and open hours.

If you are submitting your I-9 and payroll forms by mail, please use the following address:

University of Massachusetts Amherst
181 Presidents’ Drive
325 Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst, MA 01003
Attn: Graduate Student/Human Resources