Summer
Research Registration
Students in the Graduate School
of Arts and Sciences who are engaged during
the summer in full-time research as an essential
component of their graduate degree programs
are eligible to register for Summer Research
registration status. The purpose is to provide
a no-cost mechanism whereby graduate students
who are engaged in academic research during
the summer can be appropriately recognized
as students for purposes of loan eligibility
and tax considerations.
What
a student should do:
A student seeking Summer
Research status should complete the Summer
Research Status Registration Form, obtain
appropriate signatures, and submit the form
to his or her department for forwarding
to the Graduate School Records Office. This
registration will not generate a tuition
charge. The form includes a certification
of full-time study that will document the
student’s commitment to research during
the summer. By signing the form, the department
vouches that the student will be doing research
full time for the twelve weeks of the Summer
I and Summer II terms. GRS will enter the
registration on the student's records. Forms
should be submitted before the beginning
of the Summer II term. The form can be downloaded
by clicking here.
Details:
Currently most graduate students
do not register in the summer. Often this
may not be a problem, but there can be two
negative consequences: an unregistered student
is ineligible for student loans; if an unregistered
student is paid as a Research Assistant
then FICA tax (7.65%) is deducted. Summer
Research registration is an option that
allows a student to maintain an official
status that is consistent with the student's
actual engagement in academic research during
the summer. The combination of registration
and full-time certification for both Summer
Terms will meet the criteria for FICA exemption
and loan eligibility.
Regarding the FICA tax, the
University's financial systems will continue
to operate as they have in past years: FICA
tax will be deducted from student pay during
the summer months; in September, the summer
enrollment status of each student will be
reviewed to determine if they met the minimum
requirements for exemption from FICA; students
who met the requirements will receive a
refund of their FICA contributions.
Registration for Summer Research
status is controlled by the Graduate School.
Summer Research status is available only
for students continuing their studies in
the Fall; this status does not satisfy the
mandatory registration for the final two
semesters during which degree requirements
are completed.
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