Graduate College

Graduate Assistantship

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)

A student who is appointed in an academic department or program and

1. directly participates in the teaching mission of the unit as instructor of
   record, lab instructor, recitation leader, lab or lecture assistant, or who has
   responsibilities in direct support of classroom instruction in the unit, such
   as setting up labs or working in an instructional computer lab;
2. provides general support to the teaching mission of the department or
   program such as grading papers and other administrative services for the
   instructor.

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

A student who is appointed in an academic department or program and

1. directly participates in the research mission of the unit, or an on-campus or off-campus
   organization that is affiliated with the unit, in the design of experiments, data collection,
   analysis, or reporting of research results in the student's field of study, where research may,
   but is not required to, contribute directly to the student's thesis; or
2. provides general support to the research mission of the unit or discipline.

Resources

• Graduate Assistantship Application
• Temporary Personnel Action Form (For Graduate Students Only)

Checklist for Request, Approval, and Hiring

Step 1: Determine Eligibility & Funding

• Confirm interest in hosting a Graduate Assistant (GA)
• Identify funding source
  • Graduate College Grant-funded
  • Alternative funding source
• Note: GA positions for non-academic departments are not guaranteed and must be approved annually by the Graduate College.

Step 2: Request Approval

• Submit request for GA position approval to the Graduate College Dean via the Graduate College email (graduatecollege@wssu.edu)
• Clearly indicate funding source in request
• Await approval decision
  • Departments will be notified once decisions are finalized
  • No advance notice is provided prior to approval decisions

Step 3: Develop Job Description

• Create a detailed job description aligned with one approved GA category:

Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA)

• Supports the university teaching mission (instruction, labs, grading, classroom support)

Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

• Supports university research mission (data collection, analysis, reporting, research support)
• Ensure responsibilities clearly match only one of the above categories

Step 4: Submit Job Description for Review

• Send completed job description to the Graduate College Dean for approval via the graduatecollege@wssu.edu email.
• Wait for final approval before moving forward

Step 5: Position Advertising

• Once approved, the Graduate Assistant processing office will:
  • Advertise the position to all eligible graduate students (Unless you have already identified a graduate student.)
  • Collect applications and generate interest

Step 6: Department Screening & Selection

• Review applicant pool provided
• Conduct interviews and/or screening process
• Select final candidate

Step 7: Submit Hiring Paperwork

• Complete all required GA hiring documents
  • GA Application
  • 2 Letters of Recommendation
  • Term Academic Schedule
  • Temporary Personnel Form
• Submit paperwork to the Graduate Assistant processing office (graduatecollege@wssu.edu)

Step 8: Final Processing

• Graduate Assistant processing office will:
  • Review and process all submitted paperwork
  • Submit documentation to Faculty Affairs for final approval
  • GA’s will work with Faculty Affairs on employee paperwork and start date will be confirmed.

Important Notes

• GA opportunities are traditionally housed within academic programs, which manage their own budgets and selection processes
• Non-academic GA roles are limited and subject to annual approval
• Assistantships typically last one to two semesters
• All GA paperwork, regardless of funding source, must be processed through the designated office and submitted to Faculty Affairs
• Students interested in GA roles should still be encouraged to connect with academic programs for additional opportunities.

• Application for Extension of Time
• Application to Take a Class at Another Institution
• Course Creation, Revision, Discontinue Form
• Graduate Fellowship Application
• Graduate Student Withdrawal Form
• Independent Study and Directed Study
• Program Structure/Curriculum Change Form
• Project Submission Form
• Suspension Appeal Form
• Transfer Credit Form

• Student Request Form