(divide by 3 for approximate
monthly stipend)
Please note- Standard Rate
applies to the following programs:
Anthropology, Communication
Sciences and Disorders, English, History, PEHR, Political
Science, Psychology, Science Education, Music, MBA, Geography
and all Education programs.
|
Full Time |
Half Time |
Standard Rate |
$3,549 |
$1,774 |
| Biology |
$4,039 |
$2,019 |
Chemistry |
$4,532 |
$2,266 |
Computer Science |
$3,737 |
$1,868 |
Environmental Science |
$3,822 |
$1,911 |
Geology |
$3,730 |
$1,865 |
| Mathematics |
$3,991 |
$1,995 |
| |
Resident |
Non-Resident |
| credits |
Full-Time |
Half-Time |
Full-Time |
Half-Time |
| 2 |
$1.40 |
$220.40 |
$1.40 |
$542.40 |
| 3 |
$2.10 |
$330.60 |
$2.10 |
$813.60 |
| 4 |
$2.80 |
$440.80 |
$2.80 |
$1,084.80 |
| 5 |
$3.50 |
$551.00 |
$3.50 |
$1,356.00 |
| 6* |
$176.20 |
$903.20 |
$176.20 |
$1,799.20 |
| 7* |
$176.90 |
$1013.40 |
$176.90 |
$2,070.40 |
| 8* |
$177.60 |
$1123.60 |
$177.60 |
$2,341.60 |
| 9* |
$178.30 |
$1233.80 |
$178.30 |
$2,612.80 |
| 10-18* |
$179.00 |
$1344.00 |
$179.00 |
$2,881.50 |
* $35 building fee, $17 technology fee, $25 Transportation
fee and $95 recreation center fee are charged to students
registered for 6 or more credits. These fees cannot be waived.
Students registered for fewer than 6 credits are only charged
a renewable energy fee at a rate of $.70 per credit.
a) Tuition is charged at the standard graduate rate. The
billing statement will itemize the amount of tuition and
fees charged and the amount waived. The Amount Due represents
your portion of tuition and fees, based on your registration
as of the date indicated, plus any personal charges you
may have incurred. Statements are not mailed to
students. Check your account status on the Web4U.
b) A Health Services charge will show on your statement
as a current term charge. This will be waived by a TA/RA
health benefit listed under current term credit after you
have paid your portion of tuition and fees. Do not
pay the Health Services fee. If you are on Financial
Aid, you must accept this aid type on your award letter
in order for the waiver to apply to your student account.
The Health Services fee amount will not be added to your
total loan amount. It is suggested that you check the box
to accept this aid type, so that you do not pay the charge.
Schedule Changes
Your tuition and fee waiver applies to your account based
on your current registration. A change in the number of
credits you are registered for may affect your tuition,
waiver and balance due. Schedule changes within the 10-18
credit range will not affect tuition charges, but may create
changes in applicable fees. If you make a schedule
change, do not forget to check your student account online
for any concomitant charges.
Q: How often am I paid?
A: You are paid twice a month on, or close to the 10th and
the 25th of each month. See the following website: http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/hr/payroll/HRPayrollSchedule.pdf
for a detailed calendar of pay dates.
Q: Do I get paid twice in December for fall quarter?
A: Yes, see pay schedule above: http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/hr/payroll/HRPayrollSchedule.pdf
Q: Do I get paid twice in June for spring quarter?
A: Yes, see pay schedule above: http://www.acadweb.wwu.edu/hr/payroll/HRPayrollSchedule.pdf
Q: Where do I pick up my check?
A: You can pick up your check in the Cashier’s office
(Old Main 245) or if you have Direct Deposit, it will automatically
deposit into your bank account. See https://west.wwu.edu/admcs/forms/Payroll/elecFundsTrans.htm
for Direct Deposit form and information.
Q: As a TA, how much will I pay out of pocket in
tuition and fees each quarter?
A: The TA appointment includes not only the stipend but
also a waiver of the operating fees portion of tuition and
fees (see codes STOW, STTA, STOX, or STTB on your account).
In addition the student health services fee is waived (code
DGHS). For specific dollar amounts that a TA pays out of
pocket, please see table above.
Q: What Employment
Forms or paperwork do I need to fill out?
I-9: The Employment Eligibility Verification
is required for employment purposes by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security. The I-9 should be completed
at least one month prior to starting work and must be completed
no later than your first day of work. The original is kept
on file in the HR office. This form is required prior to
payroll processing. You will not be paid if this form is
not on file. Delay in submitting it to HR may mean a delay
in receiving your pay check.
W-4: Please give your permanent address
or the address where you want your W-2 to be mailed in January.
A completed W-4 form with valid social security number,
or note of verification if you are applying for a social
security number, is a condition of employment at WWU. Human
Resources requires this form prior to payroll processing.
If your assistantship or employment from a previous year
is continuing, the W-4 is already on file. If you wish to
change the number of exemptions, please submit a new W-4
to Human Resources. If your W-2 address changes, submit
an address change form online from your Web4U
account. (Note: This is the same site at which you can
change your mailing or permanent address.) If you need a
duplicate W-2, you will be charged a fee of $6 (subject
to change).
Employee Info Form: This is an internal
WWU form that may be submitted electronically.
Q: Where do I submit my employee documents?
A: Employment documents should be submitted to Human Resources:
Administrative Center B
405 32nd Street, 3rd Floor Bellingham, Washington (#48 on
this Campus
Map).
Q: As a TA, am I eligible for other employment
or salary from WWU?
A: Students with academic year assignments (fall, winter
and spring quarters) are in pay status from September 15,
2008, through June 15, 2009.
Full-time TAs work 20 hours per week within their department
and, in accordance with University regulation at this time,
are not allowed additional salary or employment from any
other university office or program. Full-time graduate teaching
assistants who become employed in other offices during the
quarter they have been awarded a TA jeopardize their standing
as TAs.
Half-time TA’s work 10 hours per week within their
department. They may work additional hours, but not to exceed
20 hours per week, in accordance with University regulation
at this time. Half-time graduate TA’s who become employed
in other offices and work more than 20 hours per week during
the quarter they have been awarded a TA jeopardize their
standing as TAs.
Q: How do I determine if I am eligible to register
for less than eight credits?
A: Check your academic history (enrollment) against your
plan of study. If you have registered for all course work,
with the exception of your thesis or research, then you
are probably eligible to register for less than eight credits.
If you have completed all the coursework (1) with exception
of 690 or 691 (research), (2) or if a remaining course is
offered in a future quarter, you also may be eligible to
register for as few as 2 credits. Then contact the Graduate
School at gradschool@wwu.edu, for final approval.
For the graduate assistantship, all credits must be state-supported
courses, not credits through the Extended Education and
Summer Programs (EESP), or other universities. If you are
on federal or state-sponsored financial aid (receiving a
Federal Direct Loan, for example), you must be enrolled
for a minimum of 8 credits each quarter for full time aid.
This is a condition of eligibility for financial assistance.
A student who needs to defer loan payments should check
with the lending agency or loan regulations to determine
eligibility for deferment status based on the number of
credits per quarter for which the student is enrolled.
Q: Why am I not covered by health insurance immediately
upon employment?
A: You are not immediately covered because the Graduate
School selected Basic Health insurance, a state and federally
subsidized health care program for low income residents.
BH application processing time is one to three months. TA’s
who are current individual Basic Health members are transferred
to the TA Group effective October 1. An advantage of this
health insurance program is that after you are no longer
eligible to be in the WWU Graduate Assistant group, you
may continue on an individual, self-pay basis if you are
income eligible. Basic Health information at: http://www.basichealth.hca.wa.gov.
Q: My student account doesn’t look right,
what is wrong?
A: You might be missing your TA waivers. Contact Graduate
School with questions at gradschool@wwu.edu.
Q: I'm an International Student. How do I apply
for a Social Security Number?
A: If you need to obtain a Social Security number, please
contact International Programs and
Exchanges Office (IPE), College Hall 104, (360)650-3298.
Please have your assistantship award letter available to
show IPE. That office will provide a confirmation memo for
you to take to the Social Security Administration office
where you must apply for the number. The memo states that
you are a full time student and in status.
Take the IPE Confirmation memo, your I-20, and your passport
with visa and I-94 to the Social Security Administration
office. If Canadian, take your Confirmation memo, I-20,
passport and I- 94. In Bellingham, the Social Security office
is located in the Federal Building, Room 109, 104 Magnolia
Street (corner of Cornwall and Magnolia Streets). The application
form, available at the Social Security Administration office,
is brief and simple to complete. When you have completed
and submitted the application form, ask for a “note
of verification” from the Social Security Administration
office. This note provides verification that you have applied
for the Social Security number. Attach the note of verification
when you submit the W-4. It usually takes two weeks to receive
your Social Security Card. Contact Human Resources (650-3326)
with your Social Security number as soon as you receive
it to complete the employment requirement.
You should apply for the Social Security number as quickly
as possible after you have been
awarded the graduate assistantship. The Social Security
number is a condition of employment.
Official employment cannot begin until you have obtained
the Social Security number (or have a note of verification)
and the I-9 is completed.
If you have any questions about obtaining the Social Security
number, please contact the
International Programs and Exchanges Office, (360) 650-3298.
Tax Treaty Info for International Students
The United States has entered into tax treaties with many
countries that may limit or modify the amount of federal
withholding income tax you will have deducted from your
paycheck. Please contact Payroll Services (360-650-3565)
to ensure your tax status is correct.
If you have a question that you think many other TA’s
have, but it is not listed here, please send the question
to the Graduate School, at gradschool@wwu.edu
. Thank you!
