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Types of Graduate Assistantships
There are three major types of graduate assistantships that are managed through the graduate school.
Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA)
The School of Construction has a limited number of graduate teaching assistantship (GTA) positions. Students holding a GTA position may be involved in providing support in a formal laboratory setting, teaching selected lectures, holding office hours, grading homework assignments for various courses, and other requirements determined in conjunction with the faculty for the course being supported. Full time (100%) GTA positions are for 20 hours and include monthly stipend plus tuition and program fee waiver. Positions at less than 100% include pro-rated stipends and waivers. GTA contracts are limited to one semester, with an option to renew pending satisfactory performance.
Individual instructors select their GTAs. In the event that instructors have not identified a suitable GTA for an open position, a competitive application process will be conducted in October and April. All currently enrolled graduate students will be invited via email to apply for any open positions. In most cases, a competitive application process is not required.
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA)
GRA positions provide financial support that is directly linked to a funded research grant or contract. Students on a GRA appointment will have assigned duties that contribute to the overall objectives of that research grant or contract. GRA appointments are made directly by the faculty member responsible for the conduct of the specific research project being undertaken, and are generally linked to the specific funding time period provided by the research sponsor. Responsibilities vary based on the specific nature of the research and may include review of the scholarly literature, laboratory or field work, and assistance with publications and proposal writing.
More information about sponsored research being undertaken by faculty can be found on individual faculty web sites as well as the Department of Building Construction web site (https://mlsoc.vt.edu/programs/bc.html) and the School of Construction web site (https://mlsoc.vt.edu/). Students may also seek GRA appointments directly from other departments or research centers within the University that are commensurate with their individual skills and capabilities.
Graduate Assistantships (GA)
Upon occasion, the School of Construction may identify a need for specific technical or administrative support of department functions. When this need arises, it may be filled by qualified graduate students employed on an hourly basis. Examples of these types of requirements include development of web sites and marketing materials, logistical support for departmental activities, support of laboratory operations, and assistance with maintenance and supervision of facilities.
Graduate Assistants employed for these tasks work on an hourly basis for the duration of the task and receive no tuition waivers.
Selection and Appointment Process
The School of Construction does not typically provide assistantships to first semester M.S. students, and funding provided for one semester does not automatically imply that funding will be available in subsequent semesters.
Assistantship positions may be for 5, 10, or 20 hours per week. GRA and GTA positions (no GAs) also generally include a tuition waiver for the proportion of funding being provided (i.e., 5 hours per week = 25% tuition waiver; 10 hours = 50% tuition waiver; and 20 hours per week = 100% tuition waiver).
To be eligible for any graduate assistantships, students must
- be enrolled in 12-18 credit hours in fall and spring
- maintain a 3.0 GPA
- make satisfactory progress toward degree as defined by academic departments and the Graduate School
- meet requirements to be eligible for employment in the U.S.
Upon receiving any Assistantship appointment, regular performance reviews will be provided by the supervising faculty and will become a part of the student’s departmental record. These evaluations are reviewed by the Graduate Chair and Department Head of Building Construction. Continued appointment under an assistantship determined by the Graduate Chair and is contingent upon satisfactory performance.
For Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) additional performance and qualification requirements may be imposed by the sponsoring faculty to ensure that the requirements of performance for the sponsored research project are met.
