Frequently Asked Questions

What It Means to Be a “Graduate Teaching Assistant” at WVU

What is the “official” definition of a graduate teaching assistant?

Technically, a graduate teaching assistant is a person who holds a graduate teaching assistantship and is obligated to the extent of teaching two three-hour courses per semester, or for the equivalent in laboratory classes, or for other forms of departmental assistance, except research assistance, amounting to a minimum of 12 clock hours per week. These assistantships are generally registered to academic units.

How many graduate assistantships does West Virginia University award per year?

West Virginia University annually awards approximately 1,500 graduate assistantships supported from state appropriations, federal funds, private grants and contracts. WVU also awards about 200 fellowships and traineeships derived from federal agencies and from industries and private foundations.

GTA Rights and Responsibilities

How will I know if I have been awarded an assistantship? How will I know what my job as a graduate assistant is?

Upon initial appointment, and prior to subsequent appointments, each graduate assistant must be provided with a letter of appointment which describes and clearly defines his/her work assignment, term of appointment, and expectations of the position.

As a graduate assistant, am I required to be a full-time student? Can I be a graduate assistant if I am not enrolled into a program?

No one may be offered an assistantship unless he/she is a full-time graduate student and until she/he has been accepted into a graduate or professional program. Non-degree students may not hold a graduate teaching assistantship.

How much time per week will my duties as a graduate assistant involve?

The maximum work assignment associated with the assistantship, including any preparation time, should not exceed an average of 20 hours per week for the semester.

As a graduate assistant, will I receive a waiver of my tuition and fees? What are the time limits for receiving a waiver?

All graduate assistants are provided with full waiver of tuition and mandatory fees -- a fee waiver period for a master's student is up to 3 years while that for doctoral students continuing beyond the master's is up to 5 years. Exceptions to these time limits may be requested from the Office of Graduate Education.

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Terms of Employment

What kinds of tasks would not be appropriate to my position as a graduate assistant?

Graduate assistants should not be assigned clerical duties or other duties generally considered to be "hourly-rate activity." Such assignments are reserved for student assistants who are treated as employees. A graduate assistantship must provide for the enhancement of the student's professional skills and knowledge.

When do I need to attend the WVU GTA Professional Development Workshop?

All graduate teaching assistants, except those at the Health Sciences Center, are required to attend the WVU GTA Professional Development Workshop in the first fall semester of their appointment. While attendance at this workshop is mandatory for all newly appointed GTAs, experienced GTAs and those from the Health Sciences are encouraged to participate.

What are the usual terms of service for graduate assistants receiving a stipend?

Stipends for graduate assistantships are generally stated in terms of nine- or twelve-month appointments and require service to the institution. The term of service normally runs from August 15 to May 15 for nine-month appointments or from August 15 to December 31 for the fall semester or January 1 until May 15 for spring semester. The total hours of work, as well as the particular days of service (e.g., weekends and/or holidays) required, must be made clear to the student by the appropriate graduate department at the time of assigning the assistantship.

May I have more than one assistantship at a time?

Students may not hold more than the total equivalent of one assistantship. This rule applies even if the appointment comes from several sources (e.g., graduate teaching assistantship, graduate research assistantship, graduate administrative assistantship, graduate residence hall assistantship, and/or teaching fellow).

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Policy on Remuneration for Graduate Assistants

How are the minimum salaries for graduate assistants set?

Graduate assistant salaries must meet or exceed the University minimum on a 9-month equated basis as set by the Office of Academic Affairs, with the minimum salary for doctoral students set higher than the minimum for master's level students.

What requirements are used to establish graduate teaching assistant salary ranges?

Academic and other units are required to establish discipline-based salary ranges by student level (i.e., master's, doctoral, first-professional) for graduate assistants funded in their units.

What criteria must international graduate teaching assistants meet to qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility?

International students must meet financial support criteria from an assistantship and/or other sources in order to qualify for a Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or IAP-66) and, subsequently, a student visa.

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Remission of Fees

Are graduate teaching assistants eligible for remission of fees? Which fees must graduate teaching assistants pay?

Students appointed as graduate assistants are eligible to apply for remission of tuition and certain fees. All students must pay the Mountainlair construction, radio station, Daily Athenaeum, Technology, and Health Services fee. Payment of most other fees is at the graduate assistant’s option.