• The Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery (AOK) has many resources besides the physical texts you can check out in person and the digital ones you can access online. This facility is equally helpful for TA's and RA's.

• You can request texts not already available from the USM (University System of Maryland) for free from Interlibrary Loan (but please do not abuse this service - it is costly for the university).

• You can make fast, high-quality scans (such as searchable PDFs) for free from the easy-to-use scanners on the ground floor of AOK.

• You can check out or use audio/video equipment for free from the Digital Media Lab on the second floor of AOK.

• You can use the software installed on the library computers for free, and some softwares are also available through remote login from any computer, smart phone or tablet, whether inside or outside the library. Available software includes Adobe, Anaconda3, Maple, MATLAB, Wolfram Mathematica, etc.

• As a GA, your stipends are taxable income. Graduate Assistants (GA) will receive a 1099 and W-4 form at the beginning of each calendar year to use when filing taxes.

• If you did not get the 1099 form by February 15, call the IRS for help at 1-800-829-1040.

• Every paycheck reflects the amount deducted for state and federal taxes, however, the GA stipends are FICA exempt. 
• You can use the net pay calculator for estimating taxes and net pay.

• If you are a nonresident alien individual who qualifies as a resident of a treaty country, you might be eligible for a tax exemption of certain amount depending upon your country of citizenship. Tax exempt students need to fill out form 8233 and submit it to their HR to get enrolled for tax exemption.

• As an international student, if you received US income during 2022, you are legally required to file a tax return by April 18, 2023. 
• Even if you did not work or receive income in the US, you are still obliged to file a Form 8843 with the IRS.
• UMBC has arranged access to a tax filing software, Sprintax, for you. 
• Sprintax will guide you through the tax preparation process, arrange the necessary documents, and check if you are due a tax refund. 
• You should have received a discount code from ISSS in your mailbox to use at checkout time on Sprintax.
  
• In case of further queries, please refer to ISSS tax resource guide.

• The Payroll calendar outlines when paperwork is due for transactions including new hires, position changes and other job and pay related actions along with time entry, holidays and campus closures, and paycheck dates. 

• Want to add the paycheck calendar to your google calendar? Copy this link: umbc.edu_q0pqfl66o6ssml2f7k1u7kpbe0@group.calendar.google.com, go to the "Other Calendars" box in your google calendar, and add the link after choosing "Subscribe to Calendar".

• As a GA, you are paid with other USM employees on a bi-weekly basis, i.e every alternate Friday. You can sign-up at Maryland POSC to view your past, current and upcoming paychecks and W-2/W-4 forms here. You can also change your address details on this website.
• For clarity on tax deductions, you can use the net pay calculator for estimating taxes and net pay.

The benefits of collective bargaining for graduate assistants include:

1. Improved wages and benefits: through collective bargaining, graduate assistants can negotiate for better wages, health insurance, and other benefits.
2. Job security: A collective bargaining contract provides protection against arbitrary layoffs or other forms of job insecurity.
3. A voice in the workplace: Collective bargaining allows graduate assistants to have a say in the decisions that affect their working conditions and employment.
4. Legal representation: If there are disputes or disagreements, graduate assistants are represented by their union during the collective bargaining process.

• Meet and Confer (M&C) is a policy adopted by the University System of Maryland (USM) which allows Graduate Assistants (GAs) to engage in formal discussions with the administration regarding employment issues.
• Graduate Assistant (GAs) can use M&C platform to voice their concern regarding issues related to employment benefits, compensation, etc. in the absence of unionization and collective bargaining.
• GAAC meets with the administration for these discussions twice a year.  In addition to meeting with the administration M&C also allows GAs to vote on whether or not to bring in outside representation (including unions) confer with GAAC during the discussions. However, the negotiations do not legally bind the Graduate School to take any action.

• USM Policy on Meet & Confer. 
  
• 2022 Meet & Confer report by UMBC can be found here.
  
• Upcoming Collective Bargaining Bill 2023 - House Bill / Senate Bill
• A factsheet created by students at UMD can be found here.
• UMBC GSA's statement from last year can be found here.