In most academic disciplines, graduate assistantships are viewed as rewards for past success, encouragement for future academic accomplishment, and enticement for enrollment. Tuition and/or stipend benefits are provided to students in exchange for service to the academic department awarding the assistantship. In SAHE, such assistantships are also viewed as important opportunities to gain valuable practical experience in the field of student affairs, because the sites for service are usually traditional student affairs offices. Assistantships are “half-time,” which commit the student to approximately 20 hours per week of service to the site. Because SAHE assistantships are served at 麻豆视频 and other institutions in our region, compensation packages vary, but they are usually equivalent to 麻豆视频's compensation of a tuition waiver and a stipend of $5,540 per academic year. Assistantships which include service to Residence Life areas often also include apartments and/or meals within their compensation plans, especially for those positions entitled graduate residence directors.