Graduate Programs

Policies and Procedures for Appointment
Conditions of Employment and Fee Assessment

A. Conditions of Employment

1. Graduate assistants must be fully admitted, registered full-time* graduate students at Western Oregon University, working toward a WOU graduate degree at Western. Appointment as an assistant may not be for less than .15 FTE nor more than .49 FTE each term.  The University has established maximum numbers of credit hours for which assistants may register. (see II, A, 3.) These limits are related to work hours and FTE appointment. Registration for hours in excess of the listed maximums during any term requires prior approval of the Graduate Director.

   *Full time is defined as nine (9) quarter hours during the academic year and six (6) quarter hours during summer session.  Graduate students in their last term may register for less hours as needed for their degree.

2. If an assistant has been on an academic year appointment, serving in that appointment spring term, and the institution intends to re-appoint the assistant during the following fall term, the assistant may exercise the study privilege during the intermediate summer term.

B. Fee Assessments

1. Graduate students appointed by the University are paid at established institutional salary rates based on minimum wage and are exempt from the payment of the instruction fee (tuition), on the first twelve (12) credit hours per term. Graduate assistants are assessed and are individually responsible for payment of the building fee, incidental fee, health fee and any other fee approved for the University according towith the graduate student fee schedule. See WOU tuition and fees schedule


2. The instruction fee up to 12 credits will be assessed to the employing division within the University. The Budget/Payroll Office will transfer funds to the employing division based upon the allocation determined. Upon the conclusion of the Fall term funding allocations will be reviewed and adjusted accordingly.


3. When an assistant is authorized to register for more than twelve (12) credit hours per term, the institution shall charge the assistant the resident rate for additional instruction fee for the excess of the twelve credit hour limit.   

Procedures for Employment of Graduate Assistants

A. Employment Parameters

1. Full-time salary rate of $13,806 - $19,008 for a 9 month appointment.


2. Calculate FTE on the basis of clock hours, using a 40 hour week for 5 days as the basis. For example, a student who is expected to work 12 hours per week as a graduate assistant would be budgeted at .30 FTE. Likewise one working 19.6 hours per week should be budgeted .49 FTE.  This calculation should also be used for Summer Session pay.

Quarter hour enrollment limitations should be set according to the following schedule:

Deviations from the above listed credit hours requires prior approval of the Graduate Director.
** Graduate Assistantships are awarded for 9 - 12 credit hours, additional hours must be paid by the student.

B. Employment Procedures

1. Departments seeking authorization to offer assistantships should obtain approval by utilizing an "Employment Authorization". This form can be obtained from the Human Resources Office, Administration 205 or off the website. Employment Authorization form


2. When the assistantship is approved, the position should be advertised with specific applicable information (description of work, salary, FTE assignment, duration of position, enrollment limitations, application procedures).


3. After selection of an assistant the sponsoring division should complete the Employment Authorization and forward it to the appropriate Dean. The Dean will approve and forward to the Budget/Payroll Office for processing.

C. Enrollment Procedures
There must be an approved Employment Authorization before the tuition remission is applied. Failure to complete the Employment Authorization in a timely manner may result in late fees for the assistant.

To obtain remission of the instruction (tuition) portion of enrollment costs a graduate assistant should:

1. Complete the Graduate Assistant Approval Request. This form is available online and should be input into the online google document for tuition remission.


2. Obtain signature of Division Chair (Division Chair should review conditions of appointment to determine that the enrollment request is appropriate to applicant's assignment).


3. Secure approval from Graduate Director.


4. Submit approved request form to the Budget/Payroll Office for determination of fee remission applied directly to the students account.