Graduate students who are non-degree seeking students and/or enrolled as part-time students are not eligible for graduate assistantship appointments.

Western Kentucky University awards assistantships to select graduate students in the graduate program. Educational goals at WKU are met in at least two important ways by the Graduate Assistantship program. Graduate assistantship stipends serve as the primary means of support for many graduate students enabling them to pursue higher degrees and grow professionally through the development and application of discipline-based knowledge. At the same time, the University gains the benefit of assistant-provided, high quality services at reasonable cost. Thus, the graduate assistantship program is mutually beneficial to both the student and the University. 

The Role of a Graduate Assistant
Programs of graduate study are designed to transform students into knowledgeable practitioners and/or professional scholars. The primary goal of the assistantship program is to facilitate the progress of the student toward the prompt and successful completion of the degree program. In no way should the graduate assistantship interfere or conflict with the educational objectives of the student. While the student makes progress toward an advanced degree, he/she also receives work experience in a chosen profession under the supervision of  faculty. 

The graduate assistant is a student and an employee. As a student, the graduate assistant is expected to do well academically. As an employee, the graduate assistant is expected to meet teaching, research, and/or service obligations. The student is to work under the supervision of experienced faculty and receive in-service training. The graduate assistant receives financial support for graduate study by contributing to the teaching, research, and service mission of the University. 

Standards for Assistantship Appointment
The following minimum requirements must be met for consideration as a graduate assistant: 

1. Admission to a graduate program. 
   
2. A completed assistantship application and three letters of professional recommendation (to be requested by the student) submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies and Research.
   PLEASE NOTE: A student may only apply for a graduate assistantship in the department that offers the degree program the student is pursuing.

 

3. All graduate assistants must be competent in spoken English. Graduate assistants whose native language is other than English must submit TOEFL scores of at least 550 (written TOFEL) or 213 (computerized TOFEL) and demonstrate an appropriate level of English comprehension by taking the Michigan Test administered by the Department of English. (These results are used for assigning assistantship responsibilities and for planning the academic program of study.)

 

4. Recommendation and approval of the department head and the college dean granting the assistantship.
   
   To receive maximum consideration, assistantship applications and letters should be received by the following dates:
   Fall Semester and/or Academic Year – June 30
   Spring Semester – October 15
   Summer Session – April 1

Continuation of the Assistantship
Graduate assistants are appointed for one academic year or one semester with the possibility of renewal. In those programs which require two years for completion, graduate assistants are allowed to hold an assistantship appointment for a maximum of two academic years. Continuation of the assistantship is contingent upon the following: 

1. Satisfactory progress toward the degree,
2. Maintaining a 3.0 or better cumulative GPA,
3. Completing graduate courses at the rate expected for a full-time student, and
4. Fulfillment of duties as determined in the assistantship appointment.

If you wish to be a graduate assistant in a department other than that of your initial assistantship application, you will need to submit a new graduate assistantship application and three professional letters of recommendation to support this application. 

The progress of the assistant will be evaluated at the end of each semester to determine his/her eligibility to continue in the position for the term of appointment. Academic department heads and college deans reserve the right to terminate a graduate assistant if the student is not fulfilling the terms of appointment. 

Assistantship Appointment Duties
The appointment of assistantship duties is determined by the contribution the assistant makes to the three areas of University productivity – teaching, research, and service. During a term of appointment, a graduate assistant may be assigned to a single area or to a combination of areas. All graduate assistants are required to work at least 20 hours per week for a half-time appointment (typical appointment) or 10 hours per week for a quarter-time appointment. 
 

Course Load and Work Load Requirements

1. During a regular semester, graduate assistants are required to be full-time (must be enrolled in at least 9 graduate hours, but not more than 12 hours of graduate or a combination of graduate and undergraduate courses).
2. During the final semester, an assistant may enroll in fewer than 9 hours of graduate work if all program course requirements are being completed during that semester.
3. During the summer term, graduate assistants should be enrolled in 3 hours of graduate credit.
4. An assistant may enroll in an undergraduate course(s) and apply those hours toward graduate assistant full-time status provided the course(s) is included on the official graduate program (Form B or C). When the course load includes both undergraduate and graduate courses, the student must enroll in a minimum of 6 hours of graduate credit and from 4 to 6 hours of undergraduate credit.

Teaching Associate Status
Prior to being designated as a Graduate Teaching Associate, the graduate assistant must complete required training in teaching skills. He/she must gain an acceptable knowledge base in the discipline as evidenced by participation in departmental training, Center for Teaching and Learning workshops, seminars, and other training experiences sponsored by Graduate Studies and Research. Evidence of the accomplishments in teacher training activities must be documented by materials in the student application (paperwork can be obtained in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research). The application will serve as an important document showing participation in teacher preparation activities.  The approval process includes three steps: (a) the student will submit the application to the department head for approval; (b) after department head approval, the appropriate college dean must approve the application; and (c) the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research has final approval and reserves the right to refuse approval even if approved by other parties. A student who is applying for teaching associate status MUST begin the process early enough for complete approval prior to the start of the semester of the desired teaching associate status. The following requirements must be met for approval: 

1. Successful completion of 18 graduate hours in the teaching discipline;
2. Evidence in complete participation in six or more seminars on teaching as provided by the Center for Teaching and Learning, and/or other training approved by Graduate Studies and Research (only one videotape is allowed in lieu of actual seminar).
3. Continuous participation in the on-going departmental teacher training programs.

Graduate assistants approved as teaching associates will receive an extra $200 stipend for each class taught. A teaching associate may teach a maximum of two classes during any one semester; therefore, the maximum additional stipend is $400 per semester. The maximum teaching load for teaching associates is 6 hours (two classes). The combined load of teaching and course enrollments must not exceed 15 hours per semester.

 Remuneration of Graduate Assistants
Graduate assistantship stipends are funded from the instructional budget of the University or from grants and are awarded as remuneration for services rendered. Assistantship stipends are considered taxable income. The half-time assistantship generates a full stipend and the quarter-time assistantship generates a half stipend. Checks are issued monthly with students normally receiving four checks each semester. Receipt of the initial check is dependent upon when the student signs necessary tax forms in the appropriate college dean’s office.  

A graduate assistant identification card (ID) card will be issued which entitles the graduate assistant to a 20% discount on most purchases at the University Bookstore, excluding books.

Tuition
Graduate assistants are required to pay the in-state tuition fees; however, the out-of-state portion of the fee for non-resident students is paid by the University during the period of appointment.

Rights & Responsibilities of Graduate Assistants
Graduate assistants are expected to observe the guiding principles of the University as described in the Faculty Handbook section on “Academic Information” and in the WKU Student Handbook.  In addition, the following statements of rights and responsibilities apply to graduate assistants: 

1. Students are responsible for meeting academic requirements in their respective degree programs.
2. Students are responsible for meeting the assistantship responsibilities as outlined in the letter of appointment.
3. Graduate assistants must attend orientations conducted by Graduate Studies, the academic college, or the department, and must participate in departmental training activities. 
4. If problems or conflicts arise in the performance of duties or pursuit of the degree, the graduate assistant should discuss the situation with his/her graduate advisor. If the problem is not resolved at that level, then the problem should be taken through the following levels until a resolution is reached: the department head, the appropriate college dean, the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, and the Graduate Council.
5. The graduate assistant assumes responsibility to notify the supervisor if the term of appointment can not be completed. A letter of resignation must be submitted to the department head, the departmental graduate advisor, and the college dean no later than two weeks before his/her leaving the position unless emergency conditions exist. When termination occurs prior to the end of the appointment period, the final check will be prorated according to the number of days of service.
6. If an assistant is terminated before the previously designated date of the assistantship, whether because of funding problems or because of the inability of the assistant to perform duties adequately, the graduate assistant will be notified by letter no later than two weeks prior to termination. A copy of the letter describing the reasons for dismissal will be submitted to the appropriate college dean and the Dean of Graduate Studies and Research.
7. The graduate assistant is invited to submit to the department head suggestions concerning the assistantship experience during the evaluation procedure at the end of each semester.
8. All graduate assistants are expected to demonstrate personal honesty and professional integrity.

Appointment Procedures and Regulations
Students awarded a graduate assistantship will receive a letter of appointment with beginning and ending dates from the appropriate college dean’s office. Students must sign the acceptance letter and return to the college dean’s office by the date indicated in the letter. Failure to submit a signed letter by the indicated date will result in the cancellation of the assistantship offer. Students who accept an assistantship must provide verification of eligibility to work (I-9) and complete various tax-related forms (W-4, K-4, WSOT-1) prior to the first day of employment. International Students who do not already have a Social Security Number must contact the Office of International Programs at 270-745-4857 to receive instructions on applying for a Social Security Number prior to the start date of employment.

Graduate assistants are discouraged from holding concurrent jobs during the dates of the appointment. Graduate assistants may not be employed in a second job on campus.  Graduate assistants may hold other employment for the periods between semesters/terms or when the University is officially closed. 

Office of Graduate Studies and Research
1906 College Heights Blvd. | Phone: 1-270-745-2446| Fax: 1-270-745-6950
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