West Virginia University

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

• Academics
  • Q:   What does it mean to be a “Graduate Teaching Assistant” at WVU?
  • A:   Technically, a graduate teaching assistant is a person who holds a graduate teaching assistantship and is obligated to the extent of teaching two three-hour courses per semester, or for the equivalent in laboratory classes, or for other forms of departmental assistance, except research assistance, amounting to a minimum of 12 clock hours per week. These assistantships are generally registered to academic units. For more information visit Graduate Education.
    
    
  • Q:   What are my choices of graduate degree programs?
  • A:   For a complete list of majors and programs available at WVU go to http://www.wvu.edu/Majors/index2.html
    
    
  • Q:   Can you give me some information on cultural diversity and minority studies on the WVU campus?
  • A:   WVU's student body is comprised of 28,113 students (Fall 2007 semester). These students hail from all West Virginia counties, 49 states, the District of Columbia, 3 territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and Guam), and 91 other nations. WVU's overall minority percentage is approximately 7%.
    
    The Center for Black Culture and Research was established in 1987 to educate faculty, staff, students, and the community on the history and culture of African people and to insure student support and development. The center sponsors a number of events throughout the year ranging from lecture series to a Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.
    
    The Center for Women's Studies coordinates teaching and research on women and offers major and minor degrees in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, as well as a University-wide certificate program. The center also sponsors lectures, films, colloquia, symposia, conferences, faculty development programs, and scholarships.
    
    
• Housing
  • Q:   What are my choices in off campus housing?
  • A:   You will find a complete off campus housing guide at http://studentlife.wvu.edu/OffCampusHousing/.
    
    
  • Q:   I would like to learn more about campus housing.
  • A:   For more information on University housing please visit http://housing.wvu.edu/.
    
    
• Transportation and Parking
  • Q:   Where is WVU and how do I reach the campus?
  • A:   WVU's main campus is located in Morgantown, a city of 29,000 in the Appalachian Mountains on West Virginia's northern border. While the state is rural and the community quiet, Morgantown is within easy traveling distance from Pittsburgh, which is 75 miles (115 kilometers) north, and Baltimore and Washington, both of which are 200 miles (325 kilometers) east. Two major four-lane highways, Interstate 79 and Interstate 68, pass through Morgantown. U.S. Routes 19 and 119 also pass through Morgantown.
    
    
  • Q:   Do I need a permit to park on campus?
  • A:   Parking permits are required for all campus parking areas between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parking in these areas after 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, on weekends, and University observed holidays, is allowed without a permit except in posted areas, which are permanently restricted.
    
    Free parking without a permit is available only on the Evansdale campus at the WVU Coliseum, located off Monongahela Boulevard. Parking availability is determined by the requirements of the Athletic Department on a daily basis. Overnight parking at the Coliseum is not allowed without a permit.
    
    Short-term parking for an hourly rate is available on the downtown campus at the Mountainlair Parking Garage located on Prospect Street, a lot in Sunnyside along University Avenue, and near the Evansdale Library.
    
    
  • Q:   Are there off-campus parking locations?
  • A:   Visit the Office of Student Life at http://studentlife.wvu.edu/offcampushousing for information on off-campus parking locations.
    
    
• Visit Campus
  • Q:   Do you offer campus tours for graduate students?
  • A:   Yes, we would be glad to show you our campus! The WVU Visitors Resource Center provides tours specifically for graduate and transfer students on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. and Fridays at 10 a.m. To schedule your tour, call 1-800-344-9881, Opt. 2, or sign up online at https://eservices.wvu.edu/visit.
    
    If you are unable to visit campus in person, you can take our online campus tour.
    
    
  • Q:   What is the city of Morgantown like?
  • A:   Morgantown, a city of 29,000, has been named the #1 Small City in the East and has plenty of shopping, international restaurants, and recreational activities, such as hiking, fishing, skiing, biking, boating, whitewater rafting, and canoeing, available locally and in nearby state parks. Downtown Morgantown has numerous clothing stores, sports outfitters, restaurants, banks, and boutiques.
    
    For information about the Morgantown area, students can visit the Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau home page at http://www.tourmorgantown.com or the City of Morgantown home page at http://www.morgantown.com.
    
    
  • Q:   What's the weather like in Morgantown?
  • A:   The mean annual temperature is 52 degrees, and the annual rainfall is 41.2 inches. What this means is that Morgantown enjoys all of the seasons, and the weather is generally mild. There is rain in the spring and snow in the winter.
    
    
• Questions About This Site
  • Q:   I’m having technical problems with this Web site. Who do I contact?
  • A:   Please send an e-mail to Web_Services@mail.wvu.edu.
    
    
  • Q:   I forgot my password for this site. What do I do?
  • A:   Enter your e-mail address at https://admissions.wvu.edu/graduate/apply/secure/adm_lostPassword.asp and your password will be e-mailed to you.