What is Full-Time/Half-Time Status?
The definition of half-time status for Graduate/Professional students for financial aid purposes at WVU is as follows: During the fall and spring semesters, one to four credit hours will be considered less than half-time enrollment, five credit hours will be half-time enrollment, six to eight hours will be three-quarters time, and nine hours will remain full-time. Students will need to be enrolled in at least five credit hours during fall and spring semesters for federal loan eligibility.
Enrollment Status eligibility for Graduate / Professional Students
Full Time
Fall and Spring - 9 credit hours
Summer - 6 credit hours
3/4 Time
Fall and Spring - 6 to 8 credit hours
Summer - 4 to 5 credit hours
Half Time
Fall and Spring - 5 credit hours
Summer - 3 credit hours
Less Than Half Time
Fall and Spring - 1 to 4 credit hours
Summer - 1 to 2 credit hours
Graduate Assistantships
Ph.D. students admitted to the program based on their academic competitiveness determined by the PSP graduate faculty may receive financial support during their training, provided that they remain in good academic standing. Financial support is offered to graduate students in the form of graduate assistantships. This support includes an annual stipend, full tuition waiver, and health insurance. These assistantships are intended to provide financial support to graduate students to “earn and learn” during their graduate studies.
Ph.D. students may be eligible for loans. For more information about loans students must contact the WVU Financial Aid Office.
In general, students receive their assistantship awards from the PSP department for two years. After that, they are typically funded through research or training grants and fellowships. It is the policy of WVU that a graduate student may hold no more than one graduate assistantship.
Graduate assistantships are offered to students who have been formally admitted as regular, full time students. Contractual appointment letters will be signed by the graduate student, the department chairperson, the graduate program director, and placed in the student’s file. The assignment of teaching assistantship duties will be made by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in consultation with the graduate program director at the beginning of each semester and summer session. A faculty supervisor will be responsible for the schedule, work assignment, performance and evaluation of the designated graduate assistants.
Mentored Research Assistantships
Mentored research assistantships are offered to students by faculty advisors through their research/grant funds. Students who accept the offer of a mentored research assistantship must devote full time to the intended research project and graduate education. However, mentored research assistants may request and perform teaching related assignments to enrich their graduate educational training. Some students also participate in off-site internships supported by the pharmaceutical industry that are typically for one summer. During such paid internships students will not receive any TA/RA stipend. Approval must be sought from the student advisor and the graduate program director prior to applying for any off-campus internship.
On rare occasions, a mentored graduate assistant may work on a research project that is supported by a faculty member other than the student’s major advisor, provided that:
- The project requires finite and limited hours for completion, and
- The student has received written approval from his/her major advisor.
Fellowships
Students may receive fellowships or scholarships from extramural sources through competitive applications. In accepting these, they are bound by provisions stipulated by the granting agencies and by the University policy on financial assistance and graduate education. Recipients of fellowships or scholarships may be required to perform teaching related assignments, in addition to their research and didactic training, to further their educational goals. Should the fellowship amount not reach the regular stipend, supplements are available from the mentor’s grants or institutional sources as allowed.
Benefits
Graduate assistants are eligible for health insurance, but no sick or vacation leave.
Outside Employment
PhD education is a multifaceted experience with objectives and learning opportunities requiring the student’s full attention. Outside employment, in addition to a TA/RA/fellowship, is generally discouraged. It may offer an occasional advantage if it contributes to pharmacy training or leads to enhanced instructional program and/or research ideas and design. More frequently, however, students enter outside employment with the principal intent to earn extra money for personal needs, which may compete with graduate studies.
Despite intentions to balance full-time graduate study and responsibilities with outside work activity, students may exceed their personal limitations and find themselves “burning the candle at both ends.” This results in an inability to meet all facets of the program’s objectives in a timely manner. Outside work is an unacceptable excuse for not completing assignments, research projects, and/or plans of study in a timely and quality manner.
The long term consequences of outside part-time employment must be carefully considered by each individual student. If students believe they have a need for outside work during their graduate program, they must petition and obtain approval from their mentor and the graduate program director to engage in such activities. International students must abide by the stipulations associated with their student visa.