GRADUATE TEACHING ASSOCIATE DESIGNATION

The Graduate Teaching Associate designation (GTA) signifies that a graduate teaching assistant has met the University’s requirement to serve as teacher of record for lower division courses (courses numbered 100-299).  The GTA designation is usually earned in the second year and an additional stipend is paid for each course that the GTA is the official teacher of record.  The teaching by a GTA must proceed under the direct supervision of a faculty member experienced in the discipline. 

Achieving the Graduate Teaching Associate designation is an honor, and an excellent opportunity for those graduate assistants who aspire to a teaching career in post secondary education or who wish to excel in their graduate program.  The program has the following objectives for the University and students:

 

1)    To prepare graduate students to have a successful teaching experience so that their students profit from the instruction,

2)    To ensure graduate student teachers are exposed to the fundamentals of good practice and campus resources for further assistance with their teaching

3)    To help graduate students explore a teaching career,

4)    To document the graduate student’s special personal accomplishment, and

5)    To ensure appropriate documentation is maintained for the University accreditation processes.

 

Upon completion of the program, the graduate student shall:

1)    Have acquired basic teaching skills in the areas of classroom activities and assessment

2)    Understand what campus resources are available for help with teaching.

The following checklist must be completed prior to earning the Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) designation:

____    Successful completion of the Basic Skills in College Teaching Program offered by the Faculty Center for Excellence in Teaching (FaCET).  Topics focus on strategies for successful teaching at the collegiate level.  Students earn credit by completing three required on-line modules plus three elective activities.  Contact FaCET by e-mail facet@wku.edu or on-line http://www.wku.edu/teaching/bsct or in person at 1783 Chestnut Street, 270-745-6508, for additional information about this program;

____    Successful completion of 18 graduate hours in the major with a GPA of at least 3.0;

____    Successful completion of the appropriate departmental teacher training programs or, if none is offered, a full semester course in teaching resulting in at least one earned graduate credit hour;

____    Completion, submission, and approval of the application for the Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA) designation.  The GTA application is available, upon request, in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research. 

About the GTA Designation Application Form

The application for GTA designation should be submitted during the semester in which 18 graduate hours will be completed but after the Basic Skills in College Teaching at FaCET has been completed.  The Certificate of Completion from this program must be included with the GTA application form. 

As indicated on the GTA application form, the following endorsement/approval process must be followed:

1. Student submits complete application to the department head for nomination to  GTA status.

2. Department head completes the checklist and endorses the nomination.

3. Appropriate academic college dean approves the GTA application.

4. GTA application is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research for final approval. 

The Graduate Dean has the right to refuse approval even if approved by all the other parties. 

The GTA application must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research after all the other parties have given their signed approvals.  Incomplete applications will be returned to the student for completion and will delay the approval process.

 

Important Information about the GTA Designation

Once recognized with the Graduate Teaching Associate designation, the honoree will receive an additional stipend of $300 for each class taught per semester.  If two classes per semester are taught, the GTA bonus will be $600.

Graduate Teaching Associates may teach a maximum of two classes per semester, not to exceed a teaching load of 6 credit hours. 

Graduate Teaching Associates must also enroll in appropriate graduate classes during the period of designation as a GTA.  The combined load of teaching responsibilities and graduate course enrollment may not exceed 15 hours per semester.