A model for the allocation of graduate assistant hours: An anecdote on the application of operations research

As the allocation of GA hours is inadequate to support all deserving applicants, GA hours are a constrained resource for which the faculty areas in the College of Business and Management (the College) of the University of Maryland compete. A GA allocation formula is equitable and fair if it recognizes and accounts for the different uses of the graduate students and is politically acceptable to the different faculty areas within the College. In this paper, the process for developing a formula for the equitable allocation of graduate assistant hours to the seven faculty areas in the College is presented. The results of this Formula have been accepted by the faculty and administration in the College. The Formula has been used to allocate graduate assistant hours since the 1986-1987 academic year.