Graduate College

The Graduate College
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5242 USA
(269) 387-8212

Graduate Assistantship (GA) Orientation

Congratulations on your assistantship with Western Michigan University!

We are proud to have you as a member of the WMU community, where teaching, research and scholarship are central to the mission of our institution. The Graduate College, the Graduate Student Association (GSA), graduate faculty, advisors and staff are all committed to supporting your success and creating a community that is welcoming, respectful and inclusive. 

At Western Michigan University approximately 20% of graduate students are on a Graduate Assistantship (GA) appointment and serve many  important roles at the university. Holding a GA position provides an excellent opportunity for  professional development in that you gain new skills that enhance your academic work, build valuable work experiences and develop your career network, in addition to having the financial support that comes with the appointment.

We have three types of Graduate Assistantships: 

1. Research Discovery Assistants (RDs) are research assistants who perform duties related to research and scholarship for their appointment. 
2. Research Application Assistants (RAs) includes all other professional work in the unit accepted as appropriate and germane to the student’s educational goal.
3. Teaching Assistants (TAs) serve in a role related to teaching; some are instructors of record (meaning they are the one primarily responsible for a course); some are instructors of lab sections; and some assist the instructor in some support capacity (such as grading or holding discussion sessions). TAs are part of the Teaching Assistants Union. 

Graduate Assistantship (GA) Orientation

To support and familiarize all newly appointed Graduate Assistants with their role and responsibilities, the WMU Graduate College requires you complete Graduate Assistantship (GA) Orientation, as well as type of appointment type specific training (RD, RA, or TA), and department-level training, if available. Please click the menu below based on the type of appointment you have been assigned to review the training requirements.

 

Research Discovery Assistants (RDs) are research assistants who perform duties related to research and scholarship for their appointment. 

1) View the GA Training Video 
Two session delivery modes are offered for GA Training, including a recorded video and a synchronous virtual training. The information presented in each of the synchronous virtual sessions is the same, with the live synchronous session offering the added benefit of having the Graduate College staff available to answer questions in real-time.  This required training will be presented as a virtual live session by the Graduate College, to register choose either Monday, August 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. or Tuesday, August 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

2) Research Discovery (RD) Training:  Research Discovery specific training will be offer virtually Tuesday, August 27 from 1-3 p.m., click here to join.
 

3) Review the Research Discovery Assistant (RD) Training Booklet
 

4) Familiarize yourself with several important policies:

Graduate Appointee policies

WMU FERPA Policy

WMU Policy on Sexual Misconduct (In cooperation with the Office of Institutional Equity, additional training on this topic will be emailed to all graduate students at the start of the semester.) 

Optional - Complete Graduate Student Online Orientation

For those who are new to WMU, we recommend you first complete the WMU Graduate Student Online Orientation available to all new graduate students. 

Reminder - Complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course is required to comply with requirements from national funding agencies and ensures that all graduate students at WMU are working to the highest possible standards of integrity. All new WMU graduate students admitted to WMU  for the Summer II  2024 session, including GAs, are required to complete the RCR course by August  20, 2024, students admitted for the Fall 2024 semester are required to complete the RCR course by December 17, 2024. First semester graduate students are sent an introductory message to their WMU email address with instructions to access the RCR course in Elearning the RCR course will show up in E Learning the first day of class in your first semester at WMU, Summer II classes start June 27, 2024 and Fall 2024 classes start August 28, 2024. There is no fee for the course, and no credit hours are earned. Completion of this course is a university-wide requirement and is not directly associated with any specific graduate program.

 

Research Application Assistants (RAs) includes all other professional work in the unit accepted as appropriate and germane to the student’s educational goal.

1) View the GA Training Video 
Two session delivery modes are offered for GA Training, including a recorded video and a synchronous virtual training. The information presented in each of the synchronous virtual sessions is the same, with the live synchronous session offering the added benefit of having the Graduate College staff available to answer questions in real-time.  This required training will be presented as a virtual live session by the Graduate College, you must register to attend, choose either Monday, August 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. or Tuesday, August 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

2) Research Application (RA) Training
 

3) Review the Research Application/Service Assistant (RA) Training Booklet

4) Familiarize yourself with several important policies:

Graduate Appointee policies

WMU FERPA Policy

WMU Policy on Sexual Misconduct (In cooperation with the Office of Institutional Equity, additional training on this topic will be emailed to all graduate students at the start of the semester.) 

 

Optional - Complete Graduate Student Online Orientation
For those who are new to WMU, we recommend you first complete the WMU Graduate Student Online Orientation available to all new graduate students. 

Reminder - Complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course is required to comply with requirements from national funding agencies and ensures that all graduate students at WMU are working to the highest possible standards of integrity. All new WMU graduate students admitted to WMU  for the Summer II  2024 session, including GAs, are required to complete the RCR course by August  20, 2024, students admitted for the Fall 2024 semester are required to complete the RCR course by December 17, 2024. First semester graduate students are sent an introductory message to their WMU email address with instructions to access the RCR course in Elearning the RCR course will show up in E Learning the first day of class in your first semester at WMU, Summer II classes start June 27, 2024 and Fall 2024 classes start August 28, 2024. There is no fee for the course, and no credit hours are earned. Completion of this course is a university-wide requirement and is not directly associated with any specific graduate program.

 

Teaching Assistants (TAs) serve in a role related to teaching; some are instructors of record (meaning they are the one primarily responsible for a course); some are instructors of lab sections; and some assist the instructor in some support capacity (such as grading or holding discussion sessions). TAs are part of the Teaching Assistants Union.  

1) View the GA Training Video 
Two session delivery modes are offered for GA Training, including a recorded video and a synchronous virtual training. The information presented in each of the synchronous virtual sessions is the same, with the live synchronous session offering the added benefit of having the Graduate College staff available to answer questions in real-time.  This required training will be presented as a virtual live session by the Graduate College, to register choose either Monday, August 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. or Tuesday, August 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

2)  Teaching Assistant (TA) Training
 

A synchronous virtual TA session will be held Tuesday, August 27, 2024 1-5 p.m. hosted by the Office of Faculty Development, check your wmich email for meeting link. 

3) Review the Teaching Assistant (TA) Training Booklet

4) Familiarize yourself with several important policies:

 

Optional - Complete Graduate Student Online Orientation
For those who are new to WMU, we recommend you first complete the WMU Graduate Student Online Orientation available to all new graduate students. 

Reminder - Complete the Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course
The Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Course is required to comply with requirements from national funding agencies and ensures that all graduate students at WMU are working to the highest possible standards of integrity. All new WMU graduate students admitted to WMU  for the Summer II  2024 session, including GAs, are required to complete the RCR course by August  20, 2024, students admitted for the Fall 2024 semester are required to complete the RCR course by December 17, 2024. First semester graduate students are sent an introductory message to their WMU email address with instructions to access the RCR course in Elearning the RCR course will show up in E Learning the first day of class in your first semester at WMU, Summer II classes start June 27, 2024 and Fall 2024 classes start August 28, 2024. There is no fee for the course, and no credit hours are earned. Completion of this course is a university-wide requirement and is not directly associated with any specific graduate program.

 

Reminder - Watch the Fire Safety Training Video
The State of Michigan requires fire safety training for anyone who will be teaching. Please click here to watch the fire safety video.