Tuition Waivers

The following outlines the Tuition Waiver Assistance Program at West Virginia University for Graduate Students. Undergraduate students must seek assistance in the Scholars Office located in the Mountainlair. Staff members who have not yet completed their bachelor's degree must apply for tuition waivers through Staff Council using their appropriate forms and deadlines.

Graduate Assistant/Fellows

Employment
In order to receive a tuition waiver individuals in this category must hold a current appointment assignment, be paid through a state or state-special account, receive at least the current minimum stipend as determined by the Office of Provost, and fulfill the requirements described below for one of the five categories:

• Graduate Administrative or Service Assistant - A student employed as a graduate administrative assistant works part time in one of the administrative offices of WVU. Assistantships obligate the student to no less than 12 or more than 20 hours of work per week in any semester.
• Graduate Teaching Assistant - A person who holds a graduate teaching assistantship is obligated to the extent of teaching two three-hour courses per semester, or the equivalent in laboratory classes, or other forms of departmental assistance, except research assistance, amounting to a minumum of 12 clock hours per week. These assistantships are generally assigned to academic units for their distribution.
• Graduate Research Assistant - A graduate research assistant is a graduate student whose duties consist of assisting in the research of a faculty member and carry an obligation of not less than 15 or more than 20 clock hours per week in any semester.
• Graduate Residence Assistant (Housing and Residence Life) - Resident Assistant positions are available for single undergraduate and graduate students. There are nine University-supervised residence halls that house approximately 3,600 undergraduate students. Resident assistants are required to provide educational, cultural, recreational, and social opportunities and programs for their residents. Graduate students may also receive a tuition waiver for a few specialized, live-in positions.
• Advising Center Assistant - Assistantships are available through the University Academic Services Center for students who have been admitted to a graduate program. Those who are accepted will provide academic advising services to freshman and sophomore students. A stipend is paid and the graduate student is eligible for waiver of tuition.

Enrollment Requirements
All students employed in the above categories must maintain a minimum enrollment of 9 credit hours during the fall and spring semesters and, if employed during the summer, at least 6 credit hours for both summer sessions combined.

Recipient Fee Responsibilities
Waiver recipients must pay the Mandatory Special Fee Schedule A and any lab or college/program specific fees incurred. Payment of Special Fees B, which includes Athletics, Counseling Service and Programs, Students Affairs, and Transportation (i.e. PRT), is at the graduate assistants/fellows option. If these services are needed the graduate assistant or fellow must come into the Office of Graduate Education to request removal of the abatement and then proceed to the Office of Student Accounts and pay for the whole Special Fee B package.

Graduate Students Receiving Meritorious Waiver Hours

Employment
Meritorious waiver r ecipients should not be employed as graduate assistants. These waivers are awarded in the form of scholarships for meritorious students and, therefore, no employment is expected as a condition of an award. Each academic unit at the University receives a limited number of waivers each semester that are available for this purpose. An individual can receive support in the form of a tuition waiver from only one academic unit.

Maximum Number of Waived Hours
Meritorious tuition waivers may be awarded for part-time or full-time enrollment. The number is limited by availability and by priorities set by the awarding unit.

Enrollment Requirements
The recipient should be enrolled as a graduate student in the college approving the waiver. Enrollment must be for a least the total number of credit hours waived.

Recipient Fee Responsibilities
Recipients must pay the University's Special Fee Schedule A, lab fees or any other program/college specific fee. Payment of Special Fees B, which includes Athletics, Counseling Service and Programs, Students Affairs, and Transportation (i.e. PRT), is at the student's option. If these services are needed by the student they must come into the Office of Graduate Education to remove the abatement and proceed to the Office of Student Accounts and pay for the whole Special Fee B package.

Faculty/Staff Receiving Meritorious Hours

Employment
Recipients must be a full-time, benefits-eligible, regular faculty, staff, or administrator at a West Virginia institution of higher education. Human Resources defines benefits-eligible as applying to a classified or non-classified position that has been created to last at least nine months of a twelve-month period and where the individual is scheduled to work a minimum of 1040 hours during the twelve-month period. Newly hired classified staff must wait until the 6 month probationary period is ended before applying for a tuition waiver. Faculty benefits-eligible is defined as employed for a full academic year (fall and spring semesters), with a minimum 9-month contract, with at least 6 credit hours teaching per semester or its equivalent. Classified Staff work release time to attend classes (with supervisory approval) will be granted up to 90 clock hours per each acedemic year.

Maximum Number of Waived Hours
Faculty/Staff waiver recipients are limited to receipt of a total of 6 credit hours each semester and a total of 6 credit hours for both summer sessions combined.

Enrollment Requirements
The receipient must have been accepted for graduate study at West Virginia University and be able to register through the West Virginia University Banner System. Enrollment must be for at least the total number of credit hours awarded.

Recipient Fee Responsibilities
Recipients must pay the University's Special Fee Schedule A, lab fees or any other program/college specific fee. Payment of Special Fees B which include Athletics, Counseling Service and Programs, Students Affairs, and Transportation (i.e. PRT), is at the faculty/staff's option. If these services are needed by the faculty/staff member they must go to the Office of Student Accounts to sign a waiver to remove the abatement and pay the whole Special Fee B package, then proceed to the Office of Graduate Education with a copy of the waiver and receipt of payment and the abatement will be removed.