Recommended Payroll Start and End Dates

The recommended start and end dates for contractual (supported) graduate students are as follows:

Academic Year 2026-2027

  • Fall 2026: 08/16/2026 - 12/19/2026 (18 weeks)
  • Spring 2027: 12/20/2026 - 04/24/2027 (18 weeks)
  • Summer 2027: 04/25/2027 - 08/14/2027 (16 weeks)

Academic Year 2025-2026

  • Fall 2025: 08/17/2025 - 12/20/2025 (18 weeks)
  • Spring 2026: 12/21/2025 - 04/25/2026 (18 weeks)
  • Summer 2026: 04/26/2026 - 08/15/2026 (16 weeks)

Electronic Personnel Action Forms (EPAFs)

  • The Graduate School does not approve EPAFs for hourly (P541H) graduate students.
  • All EPAFs for graduate students are due in the Graduate School for approval by noon on Friday of the first week of the pay period.
    • Once approved by the Graduate School, EPAFs will be forwarded to the appropriate department (Sponsored Programs Accounting for approval or Payroll Services for processing).

Other Recommendations

  • We request that students be placed on payroll via one EPAF for the full year.
    • If semester by semester, please notify the student that the amount of their check could change depending on the semester in which they are working, because semesters may vary in length.
  • All termination of support requests must be reviewed and approved by the Graduate School before terminating a student's support.