Graduate Assistantship

Overview

Graduate assistantships at Virginia State University provide critical instructional, research, and administrative support that advances the University’s academic mission. Through these appointments, graduate students gain professional experience, develop advanced competencies, and apply disciplinary knowledge under the supervision of qualified faculty or administrative staff.

Assistantships are awarded on a competitive, semester-by-semester basis and are subject to institutional policies, funding availability, and student performance.

Administration and Oversight

The College of Graduate Studies administers all graduate assistantship processes, including recruitment, selection, onboarding, and compliance monitoring. Each graduate assistant is assigned a designated Graduate Assistant (GA) Supervisor, who is responsible for direct supervision, assignment of duties, and performance evaluation. The College of Graduate Studies ensures:

• Alignment of assistantship duties with institutional and academic objectives
• Compliance with University policies and accreditation standards
• Ongoing monitoring of student eligibility and performance

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a graduate assistantship, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be fully admitted to a graduate program at Virginia State University
• Maintain full-time enrollment (minimum of 9 graduate credit hours per semester)
• Possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate GPA for new students; graduate GPA for continuing students)
• Submit all required admission materials, including official standardized test scores (e.g., GRE, Praxis, VCLA), if applicable.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Eligibility is verified at the time of appointment and monitored throughout the semester to ensure
continued compliance.

Roles and Responsibilities

Graduate assistants support academic and administrative functions in ways that enhance student learning and institutional effectiveness. Responsibilities may include:

• Assisting with instructional support activities, laboratories, or academic services
• Performing research-related tasks under faculty guidance
• Providing administrative and programmatic support
• Holding scheduled office hours or supporting student engagement initiatives
• Duties are at the discretion of a designated faculty member or administrator referred to as
  the GA (Graduate Assistant) supervisor.
• Graduate assistants may not be assigned to regular classroom instruction duties nor may
  they serve as an instructor of record for any instructional activity.
• Attend the orientation session and other assigned events that are organized by the College of Graduate Studies specifically for graduate assistants.

Compliance Requirement:

Graduate assistants may not serve as instructors of record or assume sole responsibility for course instruction.

Appointment Terms and Conditions

Graduate assistantships are governed by the following conditions:

• Students may receive assistantship support for a maximum of four (4) semesters
• A formal Graduate Assistantship Contract must be signed each semester
• Students may not hold additional employment (on-campus or off-campus) while serving as a graduate assistant

Workload and Time Commitment

Graduate assistants are required to:

• Work a minimum of 20 hours per week within their assigned department
• Accurately document hours worked using the Graduate Assistant Work Log
• Submit monthly work logs within five (5) business days following the end of each month

Academic and Performance Standards

To maintain an assistantship, students must:

• Remain enrolled full-time (minimum of 9 credit hours per semester)
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Successfully complete all assigned duties in a professional and timely manner

Students who fail to meet academic or performance standards will have their assistantship terminated. They may reapply once eligibility requirements are restored.

Incomplete Grades Policy:

Students receiving a grade of “I” (Incomplete) are ineligible to continue in the assistantship until the grade is resolved and GPA requirements are met.

Evaluation and Assessment

Graduate assistants are evaluated to ensure accountability, effectiveness, and continuous improvement:

• Mid-Semester Evaluation: Provides formative feedback on performance
• End-of-Semester Evaluation: Determines overall performance and eligibility for renewal

Satisfactory evaluations are required for continued participation in the assistantship program.

Orientation and Professional Development

All graduate assistants are required to:

• Attend a mandatory Granduate Assistant Orientation
• Participate in training sessions and professional development opportunities as assigned by the College of Graduate Studies
• These activities are designed to support role clarity, compliance, and professional growth.

Application Process

Assistantship opportunities are announced each semester by the College of Graduate Studies. Interested students should follow application instructions provided in the official announcement.

For additional information, please contact:
College of Graduate Studies
Email: gradstudies@vsu.edu
Phone: 804-524-3692

Compliance Statement

All graduate assistantships at Virginia State University are administered in accordance with
institutional policies and aligned with standards for academic support, student services, and
institutional effectiveness. The College of Graduate Studies maintains documentation and
assessment practices to ensure transparency, accountability, and continuous program improvement.