It is a pleasure to offer you a Research Project Assistantship

							   Sample RPA Offer/Appointment Letter

It is a pleasure to offer you a Research Project Assistantship (RPA) for the _____ academic year (or the ___
fall semester or ____ spring semester). RPAs are paid stipends from grant monies that flow through the
Research Foundation. Your award carries a stipend in the amount of $________ for the academic year [or
fall/spring semester] to be paid on a bi-weekly payroll. This award implies that you will perform research
services for the university under the direction of ____________________ (PI). Your award is expected to
extend from ___________ to ________ (if dates are known).

You will also receive a tuition scholarship in the amount of ______ for the [fall 2012 or spring 2013] 2012-
2013 academic year. To learn about the conditions governing this award, it is important for you to read the
enclosed Terms and Conditions for Acceptance of the Tuition Scholarship statement. To accept the tuition
scholarship, you must sign the Terms and Conditions and return them by ________. If you wish to decline
the tuition scholarship, please sign on the appropriate space of the Terms and Conditions and return as well.

RPAs are eligible for health benefits through the Research Foundation as long as they earn a minimum of
$160.00 biweekly. The cost is subsidized and reasonable. (Family plans are also available at an additional
charge.) Please note that your health benefits are not automatic; you must sign up for these. Direct deposit
is also available.

Please visit the Research Foundation Personnel/Payroll Office in BI 1214 to complete all necessary
paperwork for your stipend and to sign up for health benefits and/or direct deposit.

We hope you will accept this offer of a Research Project Assistantship. To accept, please sign and return
two copies of the enclosed Terms and Conditions statement. The final date for acceptance is __________.
[Note: this date cannot be earlier than April 15.] If you have questions concerning this offer, please
contact ____________ at ___________. We look forward to welcoming you to our graduate program.